Seat-widening project planned at Dover International Speedway in 2012

Dover International Speedway has undergone several expansions over the years to accommodate NASCAR’s growing fan base.  Expansion of a different sort will begin in 2012.

Officials say a multi-year project to widen the seats in the grandstands will begin at Turns 2 and 3 at what’s known as The Monster Mile.  After the second Dover race of 2012, more seats will be widened at Turns 1 and 4, as well as the front stretch. 

The seats will grow in width from 18 to 22 inches.

“By widening our seats we are responding to suggestions from our fans and allowing them to enjoy the race in a far more comfortable setting,” Dover Motorsports President and CEO Denis McGlynn said. 

Once the project is completed in 2014, Dover International Speedway’s new capacity will be 113,000.  Some sold-out races have drawn an estimated 130,000 fans to the track. 

McGlynn said the project is being conducted in phases rather than all at once.  “Because many seats have already been renewed by our most loyal fans, we don’t want to displace them in an effort to make this change in one fell swoop,” he said. 

The 2012 race weekends in Dover are June 1st-3rd and September 28th-30th.