Atlanta Motor Speedway

Few who saw Atlanta Motor Speedway in its infancy would recognize the track today. A majestic structure situated on 870 acres in Hampton, Ga., just 25 miles south of Atlanta, today's Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the country's top sports, corporate, family and entertainment facilities.
 

But it's a far cry from the structure planned in 1958 by Walker Jackson, Lloyd Smith, Garland Bagley, Ralph Sceiano and Ike Supporter. Before construction of the proposed superspeedway had been completed, insufficient funds forced four of the founders to abandon ship. Dr. Warren Gremmel, Bill Boyd, Jack Black and Art Lester joined Bagley in the venture and spent $1.8 million to get the facility ready.
 

When the 1.5-mile track, then called Atlanta International Raceway, finally made its debut on July 31, 1960, it became the seventh superspeedway,a paved facility of one mile or more, to play host to a Cup race.
 

But the Atlanta track's future was hazy in the 1960s and '70s, when it suffered several financial setbacks. The track was reorganized under Chapter Ten bankruptcy proceedings in the 1970s and went through several general managers before settling down with Walt Nix, who served as general manager for much of the next two decades except for a brief period when NASCAR president Mike Helton was in charge.
 

"It was just the Weaver Grandstand and wooden bleachers on the backstretch," Former Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket manager Frances Goss recalled. "Fans would bring blankets and sit on the dirt bank." Bruton Smith changed all that when he purchased Atlanta International Raceway on October 23, 1990, and renamed the facility Atlanta Motor Speedway. A year later, the addition of the East Turn Grandstand expanded the seating capacity by 25,000, and the 30 suites that rimmed the top gave new meaning to the word "luxurious."
 

Under Smith's stewardship, Atlanta Motor Speedway not only has undergone massive expansion, but it has dramatically increased its menu, hosting everything from Busch Series, ARCA, Drag Racing and Indy car racing to dog shows, concerts and business conventions.
 

In 1994, Tara Place, the nine-story building that houses 46 luxury condominiums, Tara Ballroom, the speedway office complex and more luxury suites opened, as did the adjacent Tara Clubhouse and its accompanying swimming pool and tennis courts. A year later, the Earnhardt Grandstand opened, and in 1997, the great transformation was completed. The Champions Grandstand was added, and the total of luxury suites was increased to 137. When the Champions Grandstand was built, the start/finish line was moved from the west to the east side of the track, and two doglegs were added to the frontstretch to form a 1.54-mile quad-oval, which replaced the original oval. New media facilities, garages and countless fan support buildings were added to what has become a modern motorsports palace.
 

In October, 2006 Atlanta Motor Speedway added another Grandstand, the Winners Grandstand, offering fans a great view of the frontstretch and pit road. A Trackside Terrace Luxury RV Camping area replaced the aged Weaver Grandstands as well.
 

Sitting atop the Winners Grandstand is a public suite called Club One. Limited to just 1,000 occupants, the exclusive club offers a climate controlled vue of the entire track as well as a rooftop sight and sound observation deck.
 

Bruton told me before he ever bought the track, 'I'd like to see what could be done with this place,'" Goss recalled. "He's made it. I never would have believed Atlanta Motor Speedway would look like it does today."
 

 

Track Facts Information:

Location: 20 miles south of Atlanta on Highways 19 & 41
 

Constructed: 1959-60; reconfiguration completed Nov. 1997
 

Property: 870 acres
 

Track: 1.54-mile quad-oval
 

Racing surface: 55-60 feet wide
 

Turns: Approximately one-quarter mile, banked 24 degrees
 

Straightaways: Banked 5 degrees
 

Length of frontstretch (including dogleg): 2,332 feet
 

Length of backstretch: 1,800 feet
 

Pit Road: 1320 feet
 

Infield: Approximately 120 acres
 

First race: July 31, 1960 (Dixie 200)
 

Winner - Fireball Roberts
 

Pole - Fireball Roberts (133.870 - four-lap average)
 

One-lap qualifying record:
 

NASCAR Nextel Cup - Geoffrey Bodine - 197.478 mph, 28.074 seconds (Nov. 15, 1997)
 

Indy Racing League - Billy Boat - 224.145 mph, 24.734 seconds (Aug. 28, 1998)
 

500-mile race record (1.54-mile configuration): 159.904 mph (3 hours, 7 minutes, 48 seconds) set by Bobby Labonte (11/16/97)
 

500-mile race record (1.55-mile configuration): 163.633 mph (3 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds) set by Dale Earnhardt (11/12/95)
 

Owner: Bruton Smith purchased Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 23, 1990; Speedway Motorsports, Inc. - a public corporation - was formed in 1995
 

Policy Information:

NO GOLF CARS OR ATVS ALLOWED ON SPEEDWAY GROUNDS. PURPOSE-BUILT SINGLE PERSON MOTORIZED VEHCILES FOR PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED WILL BE ALLOWED.UNAUTORIZED VEHICLES WILL BE IMPOUNDED UPON ENTRANCE TO SPEEDWAY PROPERTY AND RETURN UPON EXIT. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO COOLERS MORE THAN 14X14X14 PERMITTED IN GRANDSTANDS. NO GLASS CONTAINERS. NO UMBRELLAS. NO STROLLERS
 

NOT ALLOWED: Pets, Campfires (Grills Only), Attachments to the fence, umbrellas (in grandstands only), ATVs, scooters, go-carts, bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, firearms, tractor-trailers, lift trucks, any truck affixed attachment taller than 10', portable toilets, advertising banners on RVs, outside speakers or loud music after 11 p.m.
 

PIT & GARAGE AREA DRESS CODE: As always, any one credentialed must be at least 14 years old and have appropriate attire in accordance with the NASCAR guidelines to enter the pit area during pre-race activities. No shorts, No skirts, No sleeveless shirts or tank tops and No open-toed shoes are permitted in the pit area at anytime.
 

PETS: No pets are allowed inside speedway gates. No kennels on site.
 

CHILDREN: AMS welcomes families. Children in reserved seat areas must have a reserved seat ticket.
 

FIRST AID: Available in each grandstand in the concourse area.
 

HANDICAPPED PARKING: Available at Gate #10 (Weaver Grandstand), Gate #2 (East Turn/Petty Grandstand), and Gates 12-15 (Earnhardt/Champions Grandstand). Golf cart assistance is provided at all gates. If you have any special handling needs, please notify us prior to arriving at the track for information and directions.
 

LOST AND FOUND: For information concerning lost items call (770) 707-7904.
 

PROGRAMS: If you were unable to get a program while visiting AMS, call the gift shop. Call (770) 707-7970.
 

TICKET RESALE: No tickets may be resold on Speedway property.
 

USHERS: Grandstand captains are located in each grandstand. Look for red caps if you have seating problems.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION: Reserved parking stickers must be displayed on vehicle windshield at all time. Infield vehicular traffic will be limited to finding a parking space until the completion of the race or upon exiting the track. Absolutely NO vehicle outs will be issued once inside the infield area. NO CRUISING after entrance to infield. TUNNEL The tunnel entrance is located between Turn 1 & 2 and allows access for vehicles up to 14'6" high at any time during our event weekends.
 

For any additional information, feel free to call one of our Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket agents. They will be more than happy to assist you with your needs. Call (770) 946-4211 or EMAIL: amstix@atlantamotorspeedway.com.