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Montpelier Motor Speedway Continues 2014 Facility Improvements Adding New Catch Fence System, Transponder Scoring, and New Front Stretch Wall.

After a long and tenuous winter, the Montpelier Motor Speedway staff is busy preparing the 111 year old East Central Indiana facility for the 2014 Season Opener on April 4 and April 5. The Speedway will see some of its biggest improvement in the history of the facility with an emphasis not only on appearance and facility upgrades, but a major focus on fan and competitor safety.

One major addition to the speedway’s facility improvement plan is the addition of a new catch fence system. The new catch fence system will increase the height, strength, and span over the top of the track to greatly increase the safety of both competitors and spectators along with allowing the speedway the option of hosting a wide range of racing classes. The fence system is NASCAR/Indy car approved and features fencing posts that weigh nearly 500 pounds each and is constructed high grade material with nearly one inch thick sidewalls. The system will feature new fencing material along with nearly 5,000 feet of 1 inch diameter steal cabling that is coupled in steal plating for additional strength. The new fence system will join a new concrete block wall that runs the length of the straightaway along with the removal of the wall in the corners to allow run off areas in the corners. Both upgrades are major safety improvements for both competitors and spectators.

The speedway is also adding a Westhold Transponder scoring loop to the facility that will allow race officials to use transponder scoring for the 2014 season. Each race car will carry a transponder near the right rear axle that will track the race car’s position, speed, and lap times during competition. Initially only Midgets, UMP Modifieds, NRA Sprint Invaders, and BOSS Sprint Cars will be required to use transponders The system will provide 100% accurate scoring along with affording the speedway the ability to offer individual or group qualifying for special events. The use of the transponders along with the RaceCeivers will also allow race officials to quickly reset race lineups after cautions helping to aid in a quickly moving show for competitors and race fans. Transponders can be purchased through the speedway or Internet or can be purchased through a MMS Speedway rent to own program. Single night rentals of the units are available for $10 per event.

Also, incorporated into the project will lighting system that will focus additional lighting into the corners and back stretch along with continuation of drainage projects to aid with drying the facilities with heavy rainfall. The track has received an additional racing grove off of turn 2 with additional racing room expanded in turns 3 and 4.

The Montpelier Motor Speedway, which began racing in 1903 and hosted its first automobile race in 1915, is one of America’s oldest remaining racing facilities. While the east central Indiana ¼ mile clay oval has a historic past, the facility has seen many major modern upgrades the past four seasons including new restrooms, bleachers along with the addition of many safety features. The Montpelier Motor Speedway commonly competes weekly on Saturday Nights with its popular Modified and Stock Car divisions, and is also the host to the popular Montpelier Motor Speedway Midget series. The speedway will also host a NRA Sprint Invader (Winged Sprint Cars) Border War event on June 7th followed by the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) on September 6. Others classes to be found at the speedway during the 2014 season include: Mod Lites, MTQRL (TQ Midgets), and Midwest Mini Sprint Association (MMSA) Winged Mini Sprints.

View Pictures of track progress at: www.MontpelierMotorSpeedway.com

Track Website – http://www.montpeliermotorspeedway/
Facebook – www.facebook.com/MontpelierMotorSpeedway