AMS track surface makes racing fun

As Atlanta Motor Speedway celebrates its Golden Anniversary, the asphalt racing surface is on its 13th. And where the outcome of Sunday night’s Emory Healthcare 500 is concerned, the most recent anniversary will be much more important.

In asphalt years, 13 is an eternity, but old, worn and abrasive isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless you’re the one stuck with the bill for the tires chewed up by the aging pavement.

Drivers generally agree that slipping and sliding around Atlanta Motor Speedway is as fun as it gets on a superspeedway.

“I made a comment here last year racing [while] in the race car during the race, ‘Are you sure we're not in Rockingham?'’ said Jeff Burton, referring to the old North Carolina Speedway that was known for its old, worn pavement and side-by-side racing. “The place was so slick. The speed fell off so much, which is why it's fun.

“The cars move around a lot here. There's a lot of rear movement in the car. It's a very, very difficult racetrack.”

Burton pointed out that the fast qualifying speeds posted while running on brand-new tires don’t reflect race speeds, which are far slower because drivers can’t run wide-open on old tires because of the loss of grip.

“Qualifying is so fast, crazy fast, and then you get 20 laps into the race and you're like ‘my God, you cannot believe how slow it gets.’

“To me, that's what's fun about it. That's why you see, at this racetrack more than anywhere else, you'll see a car that was really running well and all of a sudden he's not running well anymore. And you'll see a car that wasn't running well and all of a sudden he is running well. Because the track is so slick, small changes make a big difference in how the car drives. But I think it's fun like that."

But the rapid wearing of tires makes for some interesting pit strategy, especially in the closing laps of the race. Staying on the track during a caution period to gain track position might work fine at other places, but it’s risky at AMS, even with just a few laps left to run.

“This track right now is very, very abrasive,” Jeff Gordon said. “It wears tires very quickly. You are taking a real gamble by staying out there.

“The only thing that can work in your favor is if it is going to be a green-white-checkered and the caution comes out. Otherwise, if you stay out on tires, you are going to get beat. I just don’t think there is anyway around it.”

Gordon explained that new tires have much more grip than those with only a lap or two on them.