Tandem Cranes Tackle Arlington Race Build
Before race cars could take to the streets of Arlington, Texas, crews spent weeks transforming the city’s entertainment district into a temporary racing venue complete with pedestrian bridges, grandstands and safety barriers.
Bennett On-Site Services, commonly known as BOSS Crane, played a key role in the build, using cranes to install four pedestrian bridges, pit lane suites, the Horseshoe Club seating section and multiple grandstands along the 2.73-mile course that wound through downtown Arlington near AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field.
One of the most demanding operations came at Turn 7, where crews performed a tandem lift to place the Horseshoe Club seating structure. Using a Grove GMK7550 all-terrain crane on one end and a Grove GMK6300L on the other, the team lifted and positioned the 202,000-pound structure onto its pedestals.
The lift required careful coordination between the two cranes and crews, particularly as challenging wind conditions moved through the site. Despite the conditions, the structure was set into place and the cranes were safely demobilized without incident.
“The infrastructure behind a street race of this caliber requires partners who can operate at the highest level. BOSS Crane & Rigging and Bennett Motor Express met every challenge this project threw at them, and the race was better for it. We were glad to have them as part of the team,” said Jonathan Bailey, vice president of operations for Penske Entertainment Corp.
The work extended beyond race weekend. Following the event, crews returned to dismantle the temporary structures and remove the barriers and fencing that had turned downtown Arlington into a street circuit, restoring the area to normal operations.
Kris Rzepkowski, vice president, corporate business development and marketing stated, “This project is a great example of what Bennett companies do best — showing up, solving problems and delivering results in complex, high-pressure environments. Our BOSS and BME crews executed flawlessly and we couldn’t be more proud of the work they put in to make this race a reality.”
