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Atlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta, Georgia Owner Bruton Smith. Ed Clark, president and general manager General Contractor Rentenbach Constructors, Inc., Knoxville, TN. Ray Mathison, superintendent Interior Contractor F.L. Crane & Sons, Inc., 
One of the top 20 wall and ceiling contractors in the U.S., F.L. Crane & Sons, Inc. has built its reputation for excellence in interior and exterior finishing, carpet, ceilings and walls, according to the company's Web site. Based in Fulton, MS, employee-owned F.L. Crane & Sons, Inc. is also counted among the upper half of the nation's top 600 specialty contractors. General contractor Rentenbach Constructors, Inc. has ranked among America's Top 400 Contractors for more than 25 years. The 59-year-old company based in Knoxville, TN, also has offices in Greensboro, NC, and Dallas, TX. Damaged Atlanta Motor Speedway Fast Tracks Rebuilding DensArmor Plus® High-Performance Interior Panels Help Contractors Meet Tight Schedule An F2 tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Cindy hit the Atlanta Motor Speedway full force on July 6, 2005, severely damaging the trackside grandstands, suites, condominiums and offices. Officials and fans alike feared the worst—that the track wouldn't be usable by Atlanta Motor Speedway's next big NASCAR race of the season. The Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 Race Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 28-30, appeared to be in jeopardy. Just two weeks after the tornado hit, contractors were hired and assigned to specific areas of the $25 to $40 million rebuild. Rentenbach Constructors Inc., who was given the opportunity to tackle the Earnhardt Suites and Champions Grandstand, engaged F.L. Crane & Sons, Inc. to make the repairs and modifications to the interiors of those damaged structures. "The tornado ripped off significant portions of the roof covering the VIP suites, media center and NASCAR control," said Robert Abney, project manager for F.L. Crane & Sons. "We used DensArmor Plus for the walls because we could go ahead and put it up without worrying about further water damage while the roof was being installed. That meant that by the time the roof was completed, the carpet installer, painters and other finish trades could go ahead and get started immediately. That probably saved us three weeks. Without doubt we'll make our Oct. 14 deadline." DensArmor Plus® High-Performance Interior Panels with fibreglass mats on both sides of the panel, not only resists moisture but also has scored a 10, the highest level of performance for mould resistance under the ASTM D 3273 test method. The product is backed with a limited warranty against delamination and deterioration for up to 12 months of exposure to normal weather conditions.* "We hadn't really planned to start the drywall work until after the roof was in place, or at least the steel decking," said Ray Mathison, superintendent for general contractor Rentenbach Constructors, Inc. "But because of the properties of DensArmor Plus we could go ahead before the building was dried in. Two big reasons to use DensArmor Plus are you don't get wicking like you do with other products and, at the same time, you reduce the chance of mould growth." Mathison continued: "We were in a rush trying to hit our target and didn't want to be caught short because of damage to the wallboard from rain or moisture. It was an outstanding way to go." The Speedway project used more than 200,000 square feet (18,581 sq. m.) of DensArmor Plus® in the rebuild of 119,000 square feet (11,055 sq. m.) of floor space. In addition, F.L. Crane installed about 60,000 square feet (5,574 sq. m.) of DensGlass® Sheathing in areas where the outside of the building had been ripped away. "They used paper-faced gyp sheathing 10 years ago when the building was constructed," Abney said. "This project is great testimony to the damage caused when paper-faced sheathing gets wet. We had large pieces of exterior cladding fall after the tornado and subsequent rains. If a piece was remotely in question, we replaced it. We're leaving it in much better shape than when it was originally built. DensGlass is our sheathing of choice. I can't tell you the last time I bought a piece of (paper-faced) gyp sheathing." When paper-faced sheathing gets wet, the paper facers can delaminate from the core, which can cause failure of exterior cladding attached to it. Unlike other exterior sheathing products, the unique characteristics of DensGlass Sheathing make it exceptionally resistant to wicking, moisture penetration and delamination caused by surface water exposure. The glass mats on both sides and moisture-resistant core also reduce the opportunity for mould growth. Atlanta Motor Speedway, situated on 870 acres (352 hectares) 25 miles (40 km) south of Atlanta, is one of the country's top sports, corporate, family and entertainment facilities. The venue hosts a diverse list of events yearly from NASCAR Nextel Cup, NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the International Race of Champions Series events to dog shows, concerts and business conventions. The area surrounding the 1.54-mile (2.5 km) quad-oval track features more than 140 luxury suites, 46 high-end condominiums and a clubhouse featuring a swimming pool and tennis courts, media facilities, garages, and countless fan support buildings. Georgia-Pacific Canada |