In racing, the common repair for many situations is a roll of 3M tape and a can of Bondo auto body filler. And on the day of NASCAR’s biggest race at Daytona International Speedway, 3M says this adage came true – Bondo saved the day.
When the combination of cold weather and heavy rain caused a pothole to develop the track’s surface midway through the Daytona 500, race officials threw the red flag and went to work on the repair, which was complicated by a combination of moisture and cold temperatures. The repair lasted for about 30 laps before giving way.
Race officials went looking for solutions and determined that Bondo auto body filler was the best option for filling the hole with material that would dry fast and stand up to the final laps of the race, 3M says. Within 45 minutes, the Sprint Cup cars returned to the track for a race to the finish.
"Bondo body fillers are very versatile," said Thom Weber, global business manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket business. "We’ve seen many uses in the 60 years this product line has been around, from patching concrete and repairing stucco to fixing wood. All of the 3M fillers, including Bondo, have a unique chemistry designed to adhere to a variety of surfaces. It was the perfect solution in a pinch for the wet, cold concrete at Daytona. While we would not recommend using Bondo body fillers on potholes in all cases, we’re just glad to have been able to help get the track back to a safe condition so the drivers could have a great finish."
More information:
• 3M Car Care
