Irwindale Dragstrip, the 1/8-mile, NHRA-sanctioned drag strip in Irwindale, California, has announced plans to improve the racing surface.

"I feel it is imperative that we continue to improve our facility each year. The new three-phase project will help give racers an outlined plan of what's to come at Irwindale Dragstrip,” Drag Strip Manager Charles Myers said.

The first phase, which has begun, included adding the PJ1 traction compound to the strip, the same formula used by the 330 mph NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters.

Part two, which will also be one of the largest capital investments in the track, includes the addition of a track scrubber, which will assist in cleaning up rain, oil downs and other fluid spills that are of a safety concern to drag strip competitors.

"One of the areas of improvement we are concentrating on is the amount of time it takes to clean up an oil down. With the addition of a track scrubber, the downtime will decrease drastically along with providing a cleaner surface to apply the traction compound,” Myers said.

The final phase of the project includes the addition of a tire dragging machine, which is designed to “even the rubber” across the track and create an improved surface for racers.

Irwindale Dragstrip is part of the Irwindale Event Center, which also includes the Irwindale Speedway. For more information, visit the Irwindale Dragstrip webpage.

(Photo courtesy of Irwindale Event Center).