Q: Why are all the seats in the Bill Elliott Grandstand being removed at the Atlanta Motor Speedway? Weren’t all of them replaced after the tornado several years ago?
—Judy Marchman, Hampton
A: The Elliott Grandstand, which was outside Turn 3, is being dismantled because the area, "including the suite level, concessions areas and restrooms were no longer up to par with the rest of the AMS facilities," a track spokesman told Q&A on the News in an email. Also, the Elliott Grandstand was built 24 years ago and AMS no longer needs those seats, he wrote.
The tornadoes in 2006 caused little damage to that area of the facility and no seats were replaced at that time, he wrote. Track officials will decide how to use that area after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 on March 1.
Q: Can you provide an update on the lady who drove her car into a pond while delivering the newspaper?
—Jerry Skidmore, Tucker
A: Shanell Latrice Anderson, a contracted employee for an Atlanta Journal-Constitution distributor who was delivering the paper when the accident occurred late last month, died Jan. 9. She lost control of her Nissan Xterra around 4 a.m. Dec. 29, when it left the Fairway, near Milton, and entered a pond, where it completely submerged. Anderson, 31, called 911 and was rescued by members of the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. She was taken to North Fulton Hospital, where she was in critical condition in the days after the accident.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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