Homestead track escapes brunt of Wilma, will host season finale
By JEFF PRICE, Associated Press Writer
October 25, 2005
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) -- Homestead-Miami Speedway sustained some damage from the strong winds of Hurricane Wilma, but next month's season-ending NASCAR race will go on as scheduled, the track president said Tuesday.
High winds blew parts of pit row's garage suites across the track and into the grandstand, damaging the seating area, debris fences and some of the track's new $8.5 million lighting system for night racing.
There was no structural damage to the racing surface, site of the Nextel Cup series' Ford 400 on Nov. . 20. Speedway president Curtis Gray said he was still waiting for a damage estimate.
``We're scrambling a little bit, but all the rest is under way,'' Gray said. ``We expect to be ready to go in three weeks.''
The garage suites, canvas coverings that sit atop the garages, were both a victim and a culprit of the damage. Gray rode out the storm and witnessed the entire quarter-mile long row of suites get picked up and blown away by the wind.
``I was here when it hit, so about 6 in the morning, I hear something almost like an explosion,'' Gray said. ``I looked out and I saw the canvas and it was just mind-boggling, how part of that could be on the back part of the grandstand.''
Twelve new light poles lining pit row were taken out by the storm, and debris also damaged one of the tracks new light towers. Some of the grandstand will have to be replaced, Gray said.
Also damaged were the debris fences lining the grandstand area, but the storm spared the track's new tower in turn one, which is still under construction. All of the track's stationary buildings withstood the winds.
Operation teams from Daytona International Speedway, which escaped damage from Wilma, and Talladega Superspeedway were expected to arrive late Tuesday to help with repairs, Gray said.
``That makes it good to have those resources, because most of South Florida was hit by this storm and we don't have long (to make repairs),'' Gray said
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