Spring has always been a time for renewal. So it’s appropriate that Maple Grove Raceway’s track construction has wrapped up as April gives way to May.
 
The $300,000 project, which needed a snowplow in order to begin on time March 4, was finally finished late last week when the last of the asphalt was put in place from the end of the extended concrete launch pad to 250 beyond the finish line.
 
The project, which was completed in seven weeks, included:

With last of new pavement in place, Maple Grove is ready to go

Spring has always been a time for renewal. So it’s appropriate that Maple Grove Raceway’s track construction has wrapped up as April gives way to May.
 
The $300,000 project, which needed a snowplow in order to begin on time March 4, was finally finished late last week when the last of the asphalt was put in place from the end of the extended concrete launch pad to 250 beyond the finish line.
 
The project, which was completed in seven weeks, included:
 
* Extending the concrete launch pad by 300 feet to a total length of 820 feet.
* Milling the asphalt from the end of the new concrete pad by 2 inches and installing a new paving mix to 250 feet past the finish line at the quarter-mile mark.

The project has wrapped up in plenty of time for the opening of the 2010 schedule, which was pushed back by five weeks. Cars will run down the strip for the first time this season on Saturday, May 1 with a scheduled grudge race/test and tune.
 
Overall, the Stauffer family, who has owned the track since it opened in 1962, has invested nearly $500,000 in track improvements over the past year.
 
Last season, the track was extended to 4,075 feet; the pavement was aligned with Kachel Road, which runs through the strip; two sets of catch nets that measure 6- and 8-feet tall, respectively, were installed; and a 52-inch tall concrete retaining wall – the highest in drag racing – was also added.