NASCAR: New track-drying system to debut at Daytona 500

NASCAR will debut its new track drying system – known as the „Air Titan” – over the next two weeks at the Daytona International Speedway.

The aim of the new system is to reduce the drying time of tracks by as much as 80 percent. This means a 2.5-mile track like Daytona should be dried in 30 minutes.

“We’re looking at a decent reduction in time. I can’t point to an exact time because I don’t know what we’ll be facing, if we’re facing a downpour or if it’s hot or if it’s cold. All those things factor into how long it takes to dry,” NASCAR Senior Vice President Steve O’Donnell was quoted as saying by Sporting News.

The system is made up of air compressors sitting on trucks on the apron of the track with air running through a hose to small units being towed along the track. The units, which are grouped in three and cover about half the width of the track, blow air in narrow, highly pressurized sheets over the track surface.

Vacuum trucks will absorb water on the apron and jet dryers will dry any areas with excess water at a speed of 3-5 mph.