If you’re like most of us, when someone says Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS), your mind quickly thinks of NASCAR racing.
And that’s understandable since AMS is one of the crown jewels of NASCAR Cup racing. But beyond that, you might have heard of the Caffeine & Octane event, AMA Supercross, or a couple of others hosted there.
Would you guess Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts almost 1,000 events a year? Sometimes as many as three to five a day.
Surprised? I know we were.
So we reached out to Brandon Hutchison, the Executive Vice President & General Manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS), to find out what else we didn’t know about AMS.
A portion of an edited transcript of our discussion with Brandon follows.
If you want to hear the entire conversation, you can listen to it here, “Brandon Hutchison & The Newly Reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway.
20 In 20 Initiative
Rod Worley – Editor – In 2020, AMS unveiled a new 20 in 20 initiative. The program brought exciting new upgrades to the fan experience.
Can you share some of the details and the reception the initiative received?
Brandon Hutchison – EVP & GM of Atlanta Motor Speedway – We’ve been a world-class racing facility since July 31, 1960, when Fireball Roberts won the first race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
In every event since then, we’ve worked hard to provide entertainment value for our fans. The 20 in 20 initiatives focused on increasing that value even further.
The goal was to focus on 20 things we could do between the drop of the checkered flag in 2019 to the green flag start of the race in 2020 to enhance the fan experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
One aspect of the initiative was to upgrade the wi-fi system to give our fans more effective cell phone service throughout the facility. In addition, we widened camp spots in the infield to provide more room to stretch out when you get here.
Every television on the concourse level was upgraded to the quality you’d find in your home. We also added the Park Pavilion area, an open-air fire pit with bocce ball and cornhole courts, and a dog park.
In the Earnhardt Grandstand, we took down one of our top-selling souvenirs stands to create Bootleggers Bar. The new bar is a 64-foot, 360-degree open-air area overlooking the race track.
It’s a place where you can sit at the bar, order food, talk to friends and catch the action on TV. We’ve also added phone chargers throughout the facility and upgraded the restroom facilities.
Another new addition is the championship banner wall, where we honor the champions from the state of Georgia, such as Chase Elliott.
So those are just a few of the 20 in 20 initiatives we’ve added. At every point, we wanted to make our facility as much like home as possible.
The good news is our fans love the new initiate and the upgraded amenities we’ve added. And I can promise you that this 20-in-20 program doesn’t stop our continual quest to ensure that we provide the best possible entertainment in Georgia.
Track Tech & Weepers
Rod Worley – Editor – Racing technology today has extended beyond the Next Gen race car to the track itself. One of the latest advances has been in shedding water from the surface after a rain storm.
Can you give us some insight into the open drainage layer (ODL) and how it reduces “weepers?”
Brandon Hutchison – EVP & GM of Atlanta Motor Speedway – I can try. We’re getting above my pay grade here, talking about paving, asphalt, and “weepers.”
The open drainage layer (ODL) is a new technology incorporated into the AMS track surface.
So on a typical road surface, you’ve got the base, the gravel crushing run, and the top layer. We’ve put an open drainage layer over the crushing run.
The ODL is an asphalt layer that is not as tightly formed. This unique layer enables the water to find many paths to exit before it works its way up to the track’s surface.
Essentially the water slides down into the French drains installed at the bottom of the track. So not only does the ODL reduce drying time, but it reduces weepers.
Weepers are probably the biggest head-scratcher in motorsports. After it rains, you take an hour or two to dry the track.
And just when you think you’re good to go, you start seeing these little puddles of water “weeping” up to the surface.
A weeper is formed by water under the track that has worked its way up to the surface. The ODL technology helps to keep that from happening at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
1,000 Events Annually
Rod Worley – Editor –Atlanta Motor Speedway is a world-class racing facility nationally known for hosting NASCAR events. But the venue offers other family-friendly entertainment opportunities as well.
So what different type of events does the facilities host?
Brandon Hutchison – EVP & GM of Atlanta Motor Speedway – In a typical year, Atlanta Motor Speedway will host around 1,000 events. Our two crown jewel NASCAR race weekends only make up two weeks out of the year.
So we work hard throughout the year to bring exciting events to our facility that we would feel good taking our family to.
Some of the events include the popular AMA Supercross and Monster Jam shows. We also have a Spring Fair and the annual Georgia State Fair in the Fall.
In addition, we host Henry County High School graduations annually.
We just completed our 24th season of Thursday Thunder. This event is a short-track racing program where we see those ranging in age from as young as eight to 70 years old racing on our quarter-mile thunder ring.
For those searching for speed, there are many days when racing schools are on track, providing advanced driving instruction. These schools offer a specialized driving experience on the 28-degree high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
We also host Speedway Children’s Charities events. Some of these events give you a chance to walk the 1.54-mile track.
In contrast, others allow you to drive your personal vehicle and experience high banking for yourself. Here again, we focus on events you feel good about bringing the entire family to AMS.
Other popular events include Caffeine & Octane, Atlanta Truck Invasion, and the Import Alliance show. These events routinely draw thousands to our facilities.
At any given time, three to five events may be happening simultaneously. And that doesn’t even include our room rentals, where we see many weddings, wedding receptions, and business meetings.
So it runs the gamut of what you would see on site on any given day at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Speedway Children’s Charities
Rod Worley – Editor – Atlanta Motor Speedway gives back to the local community through Speedway Children’s Charities. Can you tell us more about it?
Brandon Hutchison – EVP & GM of Atlanta Motor Speedway – Speedway Children’s Charities originated in Charlotte in 1982. Our Chairman Bruton Smith wanted to give back to children’s organizations within the community where he did business.
And as Bruton purchased speedways in different markets, he also opened a Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) chapter. So across the nation, there are now 11 SCC chapters.
SCC helps children’s organizations within the individual state of the speedway. Kathy Bradley, the Director of Speedway Children’s Charities Atlanta, works hard to raise funds to donate locally.
Over the course of a year, we have had several opportunities for people to drive their cars at Atlanta Motor Speedway. There are also opportunities to walk on the track at each race weekend.
To raise funds, SCC also has 50/50 raffles, golf tournaments, and clay shoots. In addition, we’re working on some black tie events coming up in 2023.
The Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities works hard within the community to raise funds to give back to local children’s organizations.
We’re fortunate to have a strong board of directors and a great community that lends its support at every turn.
So, if you want to get involved, go to Speedway Children’s Charities to learn more.
Helping Others
After spending some time talking with Brandon Hutchison, we came away with a deeper appreciation for the Atlanta Motor Speedway. On a side note, AMS opened its doors during Covid to allow thousands of people to get drive-through vaccinations in the covered paddock area.
They also opened their camping facilities to those displaced during the last major Florida hurricane. Just one more example of AMS stepping up to help others.
Once again, thanks to Brandon Hutchison, Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Atlanta Motor Speedway, for sharing his time and knowledge.
Now that we learned more about all that the AMS facilities have to offer, we can’t wait for the next event!
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