After a quick lesson, Zucker used the machine's bucket to hit the first concrete brick wall.  Seconds later it tumbled down.  She continued in the same fashion, maneuvering the loader around the building until all that remained was a pile of rubble on the ground.

"That was fun!  Not many people can say they have knocked down a building," Zucker said.  "Looking at the mess I've made, it really makes the new midway project a reality.

"California Speedway is setting the benchmark among NASCAR facilities with the redesign of our Midway.  We are doubling the size to include great fan amenities, including Wolfgang Puck's Apex, a town center, full service retail store, concert stage and shade and leisure areas.  This will all open during the NASCAR SONY HD 500 this Labor Day weekend."

At the site where the souvenir building stood, Wolfgang Puck's Apex restaurant will be built.  The restaurant will feature dine-in accommodations, as well as takeout windows for easy access for race fans during NASCAR events.  Next to Apex will sit a full service retail store where California Speedway guests can get all their Speedway and race team gear.  Behind the motorsports facility's grandstands, and south of Apex, will be grass leisure areas, a town center and a concert stage.

Driver merchandise trailers will wrap around promotional displays throughout the Midway to create a street festival atmosphere.  Guests will have easy access to the Midway from the west side of the property with a new accessible bridge from Lot 11.  Other key elements in the new Midway include shade features, modified entry gates, expanded hospitality areas, radio broadcast locations, giant video walls, leisure areas and grass and water accents.  The new midway, bringing the majority of the key entertainment features within California Speedway's fence line, will nearly double the midway footprint from 12.2 acres to 23.8 acres.

Demolition of asphalt began at California Speedway on March 6.  The new Midway will begin to take form later this spring and into the summer.  The first public opening of the Midway will take place during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series SONY HD 500 this Labor Day weekend (September 1-3).  For more information about California Speedway, please visit www.californiaspeedway.com.