NASCAR president: Atlanta Motor Speedway damage worst he's seen

<p>Amid toppled scoring towers and blown-out condominiums, NASCAR President Mike Helton said the tornado damage to Atlanta Motor Speedway is the worst disaster to hit a NASCAR track.</p><p>Other tracks have been hit by tornadoes, Helton said, but there was "never this much damage in this concentration around the racetrack."</p><p>An estimated $40 million in damage was caused by the tornado July 7, when remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy caused six twisters in Georgia. The tornado at Atlanta Motor Speedway destroyed fences, knocked over scoring towers and ripped up roofs and condominiums.</p><p>Despite the damage, Helton said the track could be ready for a race weekend Oct. 28-30.</p><p>"The things we need to run a race, they're there," Helton told the Clayton News-Daily.</p><p>Before the tornado, track officials were already working on parking lots and access roads in preparation for the September opening of a rerouted Ga. 20. Forty acres of campgrounds are also being graded on the north side of the track.</p><p>A target date of Oct. 14 has been set to "have everything totally back in place," Helton said.</p><p>At a press conference Wednesday, the track unveiled a new logo which incorporates its "Real Racing, Real Fast" slogan.</p><p>The words below a crane-supported race car read: "Rebuilt, Real Fast."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1d02710)</p>