Dover Speedway starts installing catch fence

Jeff Gordon takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Dover International Speedway. (Nick Wass/AP)

DOVER, Del. — Dover International Speedway started work Monday on a new catch fence that will be installed in time for the 2015 NASCAR season.

The fence will stand at 21 feet, up from its current 15 feet. The new fence will be installed by Smith Fence, a Florida-based contractor that has performed similar installations at other facilities on the NASCAR circuit.

Other improvements at Dover in recent years include the installation of SAFER barriers, the widening and lengthening of pit road, new fan care medical facilities and many fan experience improvements.

Jeff Gordon won Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Dover. Dover is the site of two NASCAR weekends each season.

Dover Motorsports COO Michael Tatoian says a NASCAR vehicle has never become airborne and hit the catch fence.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.