NEWTON — Local auto racing will notice some changes when they return to Hickory Motor Speedway for the start of the season in a few months.
The racetrack is currently in the process of making some upgrades, using a $568,000 grant from the state.
The money comes from the Motorsports Relief Fund, which allocates pandemic relief funding for improvements to racing venues across the state. North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord and Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem are among the recipients of the funding.
The city of Hickory received the money from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and passed it through to the track with assistance from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, which is administering the grant.
No funds from the city of Hickory are being used for the renovations, Hickory communications specialist Sarah Killian said.
Hickory Motor Speedway general manager Kevin Piercy says the track has spent about $528,000 on improvements after administrative costs were deducted.
The speedway is using the money for two projects — the repaving of pit road and an overhaul of the track bathrooms.
Given the nature of these projects, the work is being done during the track’s offseason between late November and early March.
Piercy said the workers were making good progress on the projects. Hickory Sealing and Striping finished the paving in the pit and their workers are expected to be back early next year to finish the striping for the lanes and pit stalls.
The new surface was much needed, Piercy said, because the old pavement was plagued by cracks and potholes.
“The competitors will have a safer ride down pit road, and they won’t have to worry about a chunk of asphalt coming up and hitting their car or something,” he said.
T.M. Caldwell Plumbing is in the process of renovating the bathrooms. When the work is finished, the bathrooms will have new epoxy floors, automatic flush toilets and partitions.
Piercy said the hope is that these upgrades will improve the experience for patrons.
“Our fans are loyal and they’re faithful to Hickory Motor Speedway and we appreciate them very much, and they deserve to be a part of this improvement and be beneficial to them, too,” Piercy said.
The track is also considering some other projects as funding allows, including bringing in new seating for its suites and installing a new scoreboard. However, any upgrades beyond the pit and bathrooms are not guaranteed.