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THERE MAY BE A SLIGHT DELAY ON OUR NEW TRACK IN BAKERSFIELD
Date: 01/21/2008
The highly anticipated April opening of Kern County's New Home To NASCAR, the working title of the new track in Bakersfield-California that will replace the former Mesa Marin Raceway, has apparently hit a couple of minor snags and it now appears that the first event in the soon to be racing showplace may be moved up to June. There are two basic reasons for the postponement. The first one involves mother nature and the second one involves that pesky permit process that often comes with commercial development in the state of California.
When winter weather set in the new raceway's asphalt was being laid. The track itself needs two more layers and the infield area needs one more layer of asphalt. Adding to the situation is the moisture from the dense fog that often envelopes western Kern County during this time of the year. The needed layers had to be postponed for approximately three weeks. By the time you read this there should be improvements in the daily weather forecasts for Bakersfield that will allow the process to resume.
The second delay involved the four story structure above the main grandstands that will house the raceway's concessions, rest rooms, suites and administrative offices. The rough plumbing and framing for the structure has been in place for quite some time now. However, commercial development in this state can often be difficult and a snag has developed in obtaining the needed building permits to allow the construction of the building to continue. However, in recent weeks, officials were able to obtain a needed water permit and it's now hopeful that this is a sign that the remaining permits will follow in a short amount of time.
Raceway President Larry Collins remains philosophical about the situation despite the fact that he cannot commit to a firm opening date until he can be assured when the construction will be completed. In a recent interview, with the "Bakersfield Californian",Collins said that if they had to open the new track in June then that would be okay. They will just have to race more often, meaning no dark dates, and race into the month of November if necessary.
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