Houston Raceway Park is stepping up big for racers and fans in advance of the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, scheduled for March 27-29. Items addressed in recent weeks include the track surface, sportsman pit area, luxury suites, spectator parking, ticket offers, and permanent safety components.

"I think our family's commitment to the City of Baytown, the greater Houston area, and the people of southeast Texas and western Louisiana are clear," said Seth Angel, HRP's general manager. "We want to provide racers and fans with a top-notch venue and we've spent a lot of time and resources in the last 12 months to reach that goal. From the Grand Parkway/Highway 99 Spur off Interstate 10 that gets fans in and out of the racetrack faster than ever before to these latest improvements, we're doing everything in our power to be the best."
Houston Raceway Park is stepping up big for racers and fans in advance of the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, scheduled for March 27-29. Items addressed in recent weeks include the track surface, sportsman pit area, luxury suites, spectator parking, ticket offers, and permanent safety components.

"I think our family's commitment to the City of Baytown, the greater Houston area, and the people of southeast Texas and western Louisiana are clear," said Seth Angel, HRP's general manager. "We want to provide racers and fans with a top-notch venue and we've spent a lot of time and resources in the last 12 months to reach that goal. From the Grand Parkway/Highway 99 Spur off Interstate 10 that gets fans in and out of the racetrack faster than ever before to these latest improvements, we're doing everything in our power to be the best."

Professional and sportsman competitors will now enjoy the smoothest surface on the NHRA circuit following hundreds of hours of track smoothing by the Penhall Company, the largest corporation of its kind in the United States. From the start of the launch pad to the eight-mile mark, where the concrete transitions to asphalt, laser-guided Penhall machines grinded and milled up to a half-inch of material off the old surface to perfectly flat specifications.

Earlier this off-season, HRP did the same thing to the asphalt portion of the track, with the two areas now combining for the best racing surface possible.

Without prompting from any sanctioning body, track officials also moved the finish line scoreboards to a distance of 35 feet from the retaining wall to increase safety for the drivers. Furthermore, the top-end gravel trap was extended 150 feet to a total of 250 feet to safely help contain racecars
experiencing trouble slowing down.

After re-doing all of the professional pits last year, the track has now continued expanding the overall pit area to improve the sections used by sportsman racers at the national event.

Fans purchasing advance tickets will receive a $10 voucher for the NHRA's Nitro Mall souvenir area, while active military members with proper identification will receive free reserved seating for Friday's qualifying action. HRP also is working on a discounted general admission ticket with details to be announced in the near future.

Spectators will also noticed vastly improved permanent lighting throughout the parking lots to increase visibility and safety, while those visiting the tower will immediately notice a thorough and modern remodeling of each suite, including the media center and race control, complete with 42-inch plasma televisions.