by John Clark

PENDLETON, Ind. -- During the offseason, Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway owner Dave Wheeler embarked on an ambitious refurbishing of his facility, including a complete resurfacing of the 0.522- mile track. This may prove to be an equalizer between the ASA National Tour rookies who have not seen the facility, and those with many laps around the track as they head into Saturday's ASA Racing Jennerstown 250.

"I think that it will level the playing field for the veterans and the rookies because it will be a new surface for everybody and nobody has had a chance to test on it," said Peter Cozzolino, driver of the No. 44 McDonald's/EMCO/A&A Manufacturing Chevrolet. "It ought to be some good close racing."

In an interview earlier this season with Inside ASA, Wheeler said that the new surface is a cross between the surface of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway.

"We are using a true racing surface and not just asphalt," he explained. "It's a slag polymer top coat."

Wheeler said Jennerstown Speedway was last paved in 1988 and at the time was laid right on top of clay which made the track very bumpy. Since then the track has received complaints about the racing surface. He anticipates that the resurfacing project will eliminate those concerns.

"We're leveling it and grinding it which will make it a much smoother surface," Wheeler predicted. "It will have much more grip than we had before and it ought to provide for a lot better side-by-side racing without upsetting the cars like it has in the past with all the bumps in the track."

One concern for the teams is that the setup notes they have may no longer be applicable since the new surface is such an unknown at this point.

"I think they will be close, but it (the track) being smoother may change things a little bit," Cozzolino predicted. "The track could be either tight or loose depending on what the pavement causes it to do. I'm sure it is going to change, and I have a feeling it is probably going to be a little tighter than it was."

The Indianapolis-based Cozzolino said that he plans to bring his car with a similar setup to what he ran in last year's rain-shortened event.

"We'll be close to what we ran last year. We had a pretty decent car there last year and we may just loosen it up a little bit. We get a day of practice the day before so you basically got to be ready to go either way," Cozzolino said.

The facility improvements haven't stopped at the track surface. The temporary wall that had been used in the past is being replaced by a solid one-foot wall that runs the circumference of the track. Other improvements including moving the wiring to the pit area underground, new caution strobe lights and adding an automated scoring system. There is even a new track mascot to entertain the fans and kids.

The plans call for continued improvements as well. Wheeler says next year should see the addition of Musco lighting and a true pit wall.

Tickets are still available for the ASA Racing Jennerstown 250 by calling the track ticket office at (814) 629- 6677. The ASA National Tour feature event starts at 8 p.m., but the racing action begins at 6:15 p.m. with a 50-lap Super Late Model event, followed by a 25-lap Late Model race also. Grandstands open at 10 a.m. for fans wanting to see practice and qualifying sessions.

The American Speed Association is based in Pendleton, Ind., and has offered stock car racing programs since 1968, including the ASA National Tour, ASA Late Model Series, several regional touring series, and the ASA Member Track programs. For additional information, visit asaracing.com.