Construction underway to make Dover SAFER.

Construction is underway at Dover International Speedway in preparation for the fitting of new SAFER barriers, beginning with the complete reconstruction of the inside backstretch wall.

Because Dover International Speedway encircles Dover Downs Raceway, which features harness racing from November through to April, a great deal of work is required to prepare the wall to accommodate the energy-absorbing barriers. Over 1100 feet of the eight-inch thick concrete has been removed, and a twelve-inch rebar-reinforced, poured concrete replacement is currently being installed. The SAFER barrier will then be attached to the new wall.

Dover International Speedway is also waiting on additional recommendations from expert advisor Dr Dean Sicking, of the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska, to proceed with the installation of SAFER barriers at other locations at the track. Each SAFER barrier system is tailor-made to address each track's design challenges, and Dr Sicking and his team are still in the process of finalising a safe format that will work for other parts of Dover International Speedway.

Dover Motorsports Inc has insisted that it will have SAFER barriers installed at all of its facilities - including Nashville Superspeedway, Gateway International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park - ahead of their 2005 events.

"Anything we can do to decrease the risk of injury at the Dover Motorsports family of tracks is a positive," said CEO and president Denis McGlynn, "Auto racing is such an unpredictable sport. We are pleased to be able to improve our facilities, and protect our competitors, with the addition of the SAFER barriers."

The second 2004 triple-header of NASCAR action at Dover International Speedway begins on Friday 24 September, with the MBNA America 150 Busch North Series race. On Saturday, the NASCAR Busch Series returns to the 'Monster Mile' for the Stacker 2 Hundred, with the Nextel Cup racing in Sunday's MBNA America 400, the second of the final ten races of the season that forms part of the new 'Chase for the Championship'.