Medicine Hat drag strip hits budget snag as bad base found under track
Crews found the base beneath the right lane was mostly mud and dirt, forcing extra excavation that pushed the resurfacing project over budget.
A major resurfacing project at the Medicine Hat drag racing track has run into unexpected costs after crews discovered problems beneath the surface. Association president Dave Toth said in a social media update that after removing roughly 35-year-old concrete from the right lane, workers found the existing base was largely mud and dirt.
Toth said the team had to devise a new plan and secure additional funding after removing about two feet of material and installing proper base material in its place. He said the project, already funded through donations, grants and community support, has become somewhat over budget as a result.
Despite the setback, work is progressing. Toth said the right lane is nearing completion, with concrete removal on the left lane set to begin Friday, and the project on track for new concrete pouring by the end of the month.
The Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association has received support from GoFundMe donations, direct transfers, the Alberta government and the City of Medicine Hat, with a donor recognition sign planned for spring. Fundraising will continue, as further work is still needed on the track's remaining asphalt, and the association is seeking businesses interested in marketing partnerships, including facility naming opportunities.
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