^[1]In 2013, NASCAR will begin using a new track drying procedure that should significantly shorten track-drying times, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said via Motor Racing Network ^[2].

France set a goal for the Research and Development Center to improve drying times by 80 percent.

France said:

We engaged third-party help and we’ll have it for Daytona. We won’t be at 80 percent, but we’re going to be dramatically better with a whole new system on how to dry the track as much as 60 percent [faster] and we will get to the 80 percent goal.

The end goal is to see a larger speedway such as Daytona International Speedway dried in 30 minutes, and a smaller speedway like Martinsville Speedway dried in 15 minutes.

The new system uses an air-powered blower, which is followed by a vacuum. The new system is expected to be faster and “greener” in that it will not use the kerosene jet fuel currently used in jet dryers.

He added:

Think of it as giant tanks, scuba tanks, that drive air out and blow water — or anything else — off the surface in a dramatically better way. It’s a big solution. We’re not (all the way) there yet, but it’s ready now.