in the summer of 2012, the speedway announced track improvements including repaving of the existing track surface, reconfiguration of the oval, and the addition of the road course, the project immediately followed the stp 400 on april 22nd, the changes to the oval centered on the introduction of progressive banking over 17-20 degrees, with the front straightaway banked 9-11 degrees, and the back straightway 5 degrees, portions of the field were graded and paved as part of the road course development. the repaving in particular drew praise to the nascar drivers when they attended a tire test in august of that year.