Pit Road Improvements Underway at Thompson
Thompson, CT — Phase two of the pit road improvement at Thompson Int’l Speedway is in full swing. The design of the new and larger infield pit road was done during the winter months and a portion of the project was completed prior to the ICEBREAKER in April. The second phase includes extending and re-shaping of the exit in order to allow racecars a smoother and safer re-entry to the speedway following a pit stop.
The new pit road will be longer to accommodate more racecars and will exit onto the back straightaway of the historic 5/8ths mile oval. In addition to the construction and design of the road itself, considerable construction and re-construction of the concrete walls on both sides of pit road are also a major part of this improvement.
“This is something we have wanted to do for some time, said track owner and promoter, Don Hoenig. It’s a project that takes both the proper weather conditions and some time to complete. We have to construct a new exit road that runs from the current pit road all the way around to the back stretch and re-construct concrete walls. It’s a project we hope to have completed by the time we have our next event on Saturday, May 25th ,” said Hoenig.
The pit road project is just one of several improvements made already to the Thompson Int’l Speedway this year and more are expected. “We have a great facility here, said Hoenig, and we must continue to improve and update it for it to remain one of the premiere racing facilities in the country.” A brand new asphalt surface greeted drivers at the beginning of last year and a new and improved access road from the pit area to the track was completed prior to this year’s ICEBREAKER, the handicappers booth has been updated and remodeled and the pit area has been enlarged. “We have a long list of things we want to do to improve our facility but each takes time if they are to be done correctly. It seems like we complete one project and then add two new ones to our list,” concluded Hoenig with a smile. Fans and competitors will first see the new pit road when they return to Thompson for the Extreme Family Fun Night scheduled for Saturday, May 25th at 6:00 PM.
For more information on these improvements or the Thompson racing season, the track’s web site is almost always the best bet. The track office may also be contacted at (860)-923-2280.
Sources: Thompson International Speedway PR