[Stevensville Mike]

Went to opening night last night at Hartford Speedway. As most know, the track has been shortened to a 3/8 mile from a 1/2 mile by bringing Turns 3 & 4 closer to the infield.

No sprints, but they had late models, modifieds, and stockers.

To give one an idea of the track size now, the front running late models would come out of Turn 4 and be cocked to the side all the way down the front stretch into Turn 1, and likewise on the back stretch. You are right on top of the action all the time - unless you are sitting at the west end of the grandstand, which now goes past Turn 4. Laps go by fast and will do so when the sprints race there.

The new corners are essentially flat. A big, wide sweeper. As the night wore on, some of the stocks and mods were starting to diamond the corner to get a better launch onto the front stretch. There is a wall around 3 & 4, also. And, just like the wall around the old 3 & 4, it does not give when it is hit either, as a few poor drivers found out last night. The wall is needed for even though the corners are flat, they had to build the track surface up with clay and there is a steep drop off behind the wall.

The track lighting was moved in towards the infield, too. So all of the lights vice the front stretch are still in the infield pointing out and away from the grandstand (for the most part).

The pits are still where they were - behind the old 3 & 4. I was wondering if they were going to open up the track for the pits between the new 3 & 4 and the old 3 & 4, but they did not.

Part of the old wall around Turn 3 is gone now and the banking there removed. I think the clay was used for the new turns. A lot of the old 3 & 4 has been dug up and the clay moved.

The old 1/2 mile is unusable now for the transition for the new corners off and back onto the old track renders it that way. Plus, a majority of the clay is gone in the old corners (reference above).

Turns 1 & 2 are the same as before. More banked than the new 3 & 4 but not too high. I always though 1 & 2 was less banked than the old 3 & 4 anyways. Now it is the more banked end. But most of the cars last night were middle to low through 1 & 2. The banking really doesn't start until you start going upstairs anyways - progressive banking it has always been.

Although I hate to see the old 1/2 die, I honestly think the fans are going to like the racing there, especially when the sprints hit the track next Friday. SOD will be there and then at another new track the next night - Baer Field.

And.... a HUGE crowd for opening night last night. The Dibbles are off to a good start. We just gotta get little Timmy back up to snuff now and keep helping him out.

Reporting from Hartford....

Mike

[Stevensville Mike]

Oh.... I almost forgot: The flag stand has not been moved so it is essentially on the exit of Turn 4 now. I really do not think it makes a diff in the long haul, but it looks different, for sure. Who knows, maybe they will move it in the future?