Z-man teased about this on Eli Gold's NASCAR Live radio show a few weeks ago. Sounds like NASCAR is now more certainty about its readiness. But one quip caught my eye:

"Unlike jet dryers, which were owned by individual tracks, he said the governing body has a patent on the new machine that gives it proprietary rights."

Hmm, proprietary. OK, for the SYSTEM. But can they mandate its use at tracks (ahem, um, Bruton's tracks ?) as part of the races' sanctioning fees/agreements? Something tells me Bruton has his engineers hard at work designing something comparable yet with enough difference so as not to infringe on NASCAR's patent. No way will be want to pay for a system out of SMI's bank account to NASCAR's/ISC's coffers.

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/8872139/nascar-new-compressed-air-machines-dry-tracks-faster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will unveil next month at Daytona International Speedway a new piece of equipment that could revolutionize track drying.

Twenty-four machines will be ready for Speedweeks events leading up to the Feb. 24 Daytona 500, executive Steve O'Donnell said.

The equipment will rely on compressed air moving water off the track in a squeegee effect as opposed to traditional jet dryers that blow hot air onto the track.

It also will include vacuums that will work in conjunction with the compressed air that would help dry a 2.5-mile track such as DIS in about 30 minutes -- 20 percent of the current time.

DIS typically takes about 2.5 hours to dry. Last year's Daytona 500 was delayed until Monday night because of rain.

"There's a few faces out here that will remember when we used to dry tracks off with just a fleet of vehicles going around the racetrack, or dragging tires behind pickup trucks,'' NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "And then someone came along with the jet dryer that expedited it quite a bit and served its purpose for a long period of time.

"But in today's world with the expectations of getting the show done and getting it on, there was a high priority placed by [chairman] Brian [France] and the rest of us to come up with a way that we could expedite that. The R & D Center responded to that and come up with ideas, and this one seems to have quite a bit of validity to it.''

O'Donnell said the new device does not have a name yet. Unlike jet dryers, which were owned by individual tracks, he said the governing body has a patent on the new machine that gives it proprietary rights.

O'Donnell said the equipment isn't quite to the level of efficiency that France asked for.

Because of that, jet dryers also will be used at Daytona and perhaps ensuing races to help with the drying process.

O'Donnell said the equipment could revolutionize the drying procedure for other venues in sports.

Secret photos from NASCAR track drying research:

Competition/Officiating: Competition Management

TRAINING COORDINATOR

NASCARislooking for a Training Coordinator to be based out of our Concord, NC office. This person will be responsible for coordinating the training programs and student records in the Learning Management System. Additionally, this person will plan and facilitate the field based training, on-site at the tracks, for Emergency Track Services personnel.

Duties include but are not limited to:
Facilitate training to Emergency Track Services personnel at the track in advance of the event which includes working with the track on agenda planning, coordinating on-line registration for students, and preparing admin kits for training sessions. Training Sessions include track fire, rescue, towing and restoration personnel.
Coordinate the routing of the training trailer to training sessions in conjunction with the Transportation Department
Participates in pre- and post-event conference calls with facilities.
Attend and participate in training sessions and seminars
Work with NASCAR officials and at-track fire/rescue personnel before, during and after events to improve performance in accordance with the NASCAR-specific training program
Work with the Training Department to update and develop new curriculum for the NASCAR Track Services Training Program.
Trains, develops and maintains a high proficiency of NASCAR procedures.
Answer phone / email training assistance requests from students
Prepare reports for tracks regarding training history / student rosters as requested
Coordinate the Train the Trainer program.
60% travel is required, including weekends
Cross-train as a Track Services Coordinator to become proficient in working during an event weekend in the Chase Vehicle. Duties and responsibilities of a Track Services Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

• During caution periods on the track, the Track Services Coordinator becomes the NASCAR liaison for Track Services who, with guidance from race control personnel, helps to ensure that on-track procedures proceed smoothly and correctly . Responsible for helping to train and actively observe Track Services personnel in on-track extrication in addition to performing vehicle rollover response when necessary. Working in other areas pertaining to Track Services may also be required.
• Observes on an active race track during periods of caution (yellow flag) and red flag track incident scenes; acts as a liaison between NASCAR Track Services and the safety crews at the track during these times. Responds to and actively participants in all accidents on-track involving a roll-over.
• Pre-inspects race facilities to ensure adequate supplies, services and personnel are available within Track Services.
• Inspects the track's fire and rescue equipment, extrication, towing equipment and track clean-up and drying equipment daily.
• Conducts daily Track Services meetings with the safety crews at the track.
• Assists with maintaining updated presentations for Track Services Meetings.
• Stays current on NASCAR "Train the Trainer" program.

Required skills/experience:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
Experience with a Learning Management System
Minimum of five (5) years of experience administering training programs.
Minimum of six (6) years of experience as a professional firefighter with extrication experience. EMT certification and Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) certification required.
Proficient on Company provided hardware and software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Applications
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Excellent platform skills; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Knowledge of and ability to use extrication equipment.
CDL license preferred.

Restoration personnel?? What is this - racing's version of This Old House?

I think I saw them at Home Depot this morning loading up their trailer with Daytona Speedweeks supplies:

Job description also calls for " Excellent Platform Skills "

From what I can find out --it should work pretty good. They still having troubles getting the compressor to stay on line to supply sufficient volume of air on a regular basis. Robin Pemberton said a better hookup to the mouth of unit is needed.

Mouth should work better with the court liftiing all those gag orders:

Hopefully no jet dryers will be harmed this year in Daytona, unless Montoya goes out on a limb with Chips money and goes aerial

" Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals."?? You mean ... like this procedure manual?

Well, the book DOES say its for dummies...

It ain't exactly Bill Shakespeare. hahahahaha

The really sad part is its the SECOND edition. A double FAIL.

I think this is the reference book Bill, Jr. left to Brian:

Mark Martin won many Bush type cars--Isnt that still Nascar?

Mike Helton thought balloon while listening to Brian France describe the new NASCAR Track Dryer:

"What a bunch of B.S."

I went back and checked and YOU are right--it just seems as he was always winning in that Winn Dixie car. Not doubting you but it was hard to believe. Guess he won everything except the gold..

He's a multi-time ASA Champ, but never in NASCAR.

Mark won the pole as a rookie for the very first race I ever sponsored, the September 1981 Wrangler SanforSet 400 at Richmond. Our Wrangler ad agency had their Skippy Peanut Butter client at that race considering offering Mark a Winston Cup sponsorship for 1982.

Someone left a rag between the air cleaner and carburetor of that #02 pole car and it wouldn't crank at race time. By the time they figured out the problem, the race had started and Mark was 2 laps down. Skippy Peanut Butter went back to New York and Mark went back to ASA.

Dale Earnhardt was particularly fond of Mark's mom - and, I don't know who the someone was..

If you'll click this link and go toward the end of the story, you'll see the writer describe Mark's crew chief, Bobby Jones' animated conversation with the crewman who left the rag, as well as the writer's observation that Mark should have gotten the Goodys Headache Award that day.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19810916&id=...

You'll hear Mark talk about doing the set-up himself on his 1981 Rookie Pole car at Richmond in this interview. He was using his Late Model ASA crew.