CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Crews are working to fill a huge sinkhole that has formed in the infield of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The speedway will host about 100,000 fans next weekend for the Bank of America 500.
Track officials say the large hole on the backstretch side of the track is the result of an underground collapse.
The track was built atop a landfill, and drainage pipe soil beneath the surface had deteriorated and gave way during heavy rain late last week.
"The pipe is more than 30 years old," said Scott Cooper, vice president of communications at the speedway.
The hole is about 35 feet deep but does not affect any of the 1.5-mile racing surface.
Crews are working to remove deteriorated pipe under the surface, then will fill the hole and repave the road in the infield area. NASCAR fans use that portion of the infield to camp during race weeks.
Track officials say they expect to have repairs completed before fans and teams begin arriving next week.
"The work will take several days," Cooper said.
The track will host the Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race on Oct. 15, then the Bank of America Sprint Cup Series race on Oct. 16.
(Steve Lyttle with the Charlotte Observer contributed.)
