[Robertdjr]

Speedway Motorsports Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., and its founder and chairman Bruton Smith will announce at 3 p.m. that it is purchasing the speedway in a deal that is expected to close in October. Terms will not be announced but Kentucky Speedway Chairman and developer Jerry Carroll confirmed this morning that Smith plans to invest $50 million in the speedway and bring a coveted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to the Gallatin County track as early as 2009.

NKY.Com - Carroll selling Ky. Speedway

[Quality88]

I'll give the old fart credit.... he recognizes the potential like I have always said, that the Speedway is in a hotbed. I don't want the old fart to own the track though. More than likely Atlanta or New Hampshire will lose a race, and I don't want either of those tracks to lose a race. California should lose both it's races. One to Kentucky and the other back to Darlington as the Southern 500. I'm torn on this.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I'll give the old fart credit.... he recognizes the potential like I have always said, that the Speedway is in a hotbed. I don't want the old fart to own the track though. More than likely Atlanta or New Hampshire will lose a race, and I don't want either of those tracks to lose a race. California should lose both it's races. One to Kentucky and the other back to Darlington as the Southern 500. I'm torn on this.

Like you, I have mixed feelings. Methinks this will prove to be an interesting story line. A date by 2009? I can see all the honcho's at ISC covering their heads and sighing, "Why us, God? Why us?," when they heard Bruton say he might want a date next year.

AMEN! to Calif losing both dates and moving them as you described. Moving the Southern 500 to California is ISC's version of the Edsel.

[Racer Duck]

Boy, wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall at those negotiations. Bruton owns almost all of the "premier" tracks with NASCAR races, and he knows how to play hard ball very well...

Let's see, Atlanta (124,000 seats - sold out) vs California (92,000 seats - half sold) .. wonder which N☻☻☻☻☻$$$CAR would choose?

Wha'cha wanna bet the $50M Bruton is gonna spend will be to add, say, 20-25,000 seats to the 68,000 already there? Methinks he's gonna enjoy this... (wonder if that $50M is Humpy's salary that he won't be spending????)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Boy, wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall at those negotiations. Bruton owns almost all of the "premier" tracks with NASCAR races, and he knows how to play hard ball very well...

Let's see, Atlanta (124,000 seats - sold out) vs California (92,000 seats - half sold) .. wonder which N☻☻☻☻☻$$$CAR would choose?

Wha'cha wanna bet the $50M Bruton is gonna spend will be to add, say, 20-25,000 seats to the 68,000 already there? Methinks he's gonna enjoy this... (wonder if that $50M is Humpy's salary that he won't be spending????)

It was reported in the local fish wrapper this morning that Bruton paid $78 million for the track, which cost $152 million to build. Apparently race tracks depreciate as quickly as do new cars and are an equally bad investment?

Atlanta v. LA? Which one will NA__ choose? My guess is LA because:

• LA traffic is even worse than I-285 around Atlanta

• The air is more polluted around Fontana

• LA has more illegal aliens than Atlanta (but not a lot more)

I didn't think about it until you mentioned it but do you think that Bruton wanted Humpy to take over the KY operation and "Ol Howard Augustus said, "Not no, but Hell No!" Bruton doesn't seem the type who would take rejection lightly, even from a close friend.

Humpy's announced departure and the KY announcement might be coincidental but I have never believed in coincidence.

[clutch]

78 mill but they assume the 50 odd mill debt +, +
I think I'm reading that right

SMI agrees to buy Kentucky Speedway for $78M, intends to add Cup race - Sprint Cup Series - Scenedaily.com

[Robertdjr]

Don't know how much water this holds, but here's talk of the proposed schedule changes for 2009. All the swaps are between Fontana, Atlanta and Talladeaga...

Fall race-date swaps expected to get blessing from NASCAR

And looks like NASCAR has put an end to a date in Kentucky in 2009...

ESPN - NASCAR: Kentucky Speedway won't have race in 2009 - Racing

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Wha'cha wanna bet the $50M Bruton is gonna spend will be to add, say, 20-25,000 seats to the 68,000 already there? Methinks he's gonna enjoy this... (wonder if that $50M is Humpy's salary that he won't be spending????)

Here's the thing RD. I have been followin this for a while. Part of the reason (from sources within KY Speedway) that NA$CAR hadn't given them a race was due to lack of seats (accordin to NA$CAR). Carroll told them they could have another 40,000 seats in an instant if given a cup race. You see how far that has come.

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

And looks like NASCAR has put an end to a date in Kentucky in 2009...

ESPN - NASCAR: Kentucky Speedway won't have race in 2009 - Racing

You know, this is awful fishy. Bruton announces he has bought the track that NA$CAR has been ☻☻☻☻☻☻in all over, and also announces to have a race the very next season, then NA$CAR magically announces the next day they are gonna release the schedule early. Give me a break. I hope Bruton stomps on them.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

You know, this is awful fishy. Bruton announces he has bought the track that NA$CAR has been ☻☻☻☻☻☻in all over, and also announces to have a race the very next season, then NA$CAR magically announces the next day they are gonna release the schedule early. Give me a break. I hope Bruton stomps on them.

Maybe a split within the NASCAR tracks ?????????

[Jeffrey4396]

Yeah Nascar doing everything they can to keep that race away from Kentucky. We all know that it will be one of Bruton's tracks that will lose a date to go to Kentucky. Why is nascar fighting this? TV contracts? Yeah right what network wouldn't want to carry the inaugural race at Kentucky?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

Yeah Nascar doing everything they can to keep that race away from Kentucky. We all know that it will be one of Bruton's tracks that will lose a date to go to Kentucky. Why is nascar fighting this? TV contracts? Yeah right what network wouldn't want to carry the inaugural race at Kentucky?

NA__AR/ISC has a history of going toe to toe with Bruton. They've done this since 1949 when Bill France Sr. went into competition with Bruton's NSCRA (Nat'l Stock Car racing Assoc.) though I think the record will show that, in the final analysis, Bruton/SMI wins more than does NA__AR/ISC.

[LSC9901]

Be realistic. The networks don't care where the race is. They have preset fees for commercials and the number of commercials and that is what they care about. If NASCAR wanted to run old Shirley Temple flicks it would be fine with the networks. Show whatever you want .... this is what it'll cost. Bottom line !

[wingkey1]

Bruto may be the "saving grace" for those who would cry for a Kentucky date. NASCAR will need to have the power of a swing vote such as his to move a date there.

Personally, we'd like to see it, but it is more from the "gut" than it is from real understanding/research. What is conducted there now is notably less expensive for the fan than a Cup event. Be that as it may, something believes it to be right and potentially successful, but we've enough personal failure to prove that to have risk.

Seperating oneself from the emotion associated with the sport we enjoy ( If ya can), imagine yourself in possesion of the opportunity to expand what has clearly become a mainstay, albeit not inexpensive, in the marketplace. A decision must be made as to where you would expand. The economy of the country at the level of average citizen is at the very best in question today and for the foreseeable future. You consult some available information as suitors cry - come to Kentucky, we have all you could possibly dream of and more.

You do your research, you find this -

Income 2006 - Three-Year-Average Median Household Income by State: 2001-2006

Now remember - forget your passion as a fan. Your next meal depends on your decision. A family members existence hangs in the balance of your decision. Your most heart close family member. You. Many other options on the list are available to you. Barring all other research, Kentucky the obvious first choice?

OBTW, the question is posed for internalization, not public response.

Oh, sorry - Go Bruto. I wanna see it (A Kentucky date) just so long as it is on your money.

[Bassdogs]

Wing - Are you saying that if a state ranks low in average income, then it is somehow a lesser choice for a potential race? How about using criteria such as reasonable chance of a sellout, number of fans within 250 miles, and quality of the venue? As for average income, check out where Alabama, NC, SC, and Ga rank. Should Nascar abandon some venues in these low income states?

Yes I now live in Ky but have only recently moved to this fine state. Would I attend a Ky race? H*ll yes!! Considering the proximity of this track to several medium or large Midwestern cities, the Ky speedway is in far from an impoverished area. I understand why Nascar has in recent years tried to expand into parts of the country that have not been exposed to a Nascar race but represent an opportunity for reaching a large new fan base. My problem is that after several years of a venue not producing, Nascar needs to cut its losses and look at other options. Bye bye Ca and hello Ky.!!

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Wing - Are you saying that if a state ranks low in average income, then it is somehow a lesser choice for a potential race? How about using criteria such as reasonable chance of a sellout, number of fans within 250 miles, and quality of the venue? As for average income, check out where Alabama, NC, SC, and Ga rank. Should Nascar abandon some venues in these low income states?

Yes I now live in Ky but have only recently moved to this fine state. Would I attend a Ky race? H*ll yes!! Considering the proximity of this track to several medium or large Midwestern cities, the Ky speedway is in far from an impoverished area. I understand why Nascar has in recent years tried to expand into parts of the country that have not been exposed to a Nascar race but represent an opportunity for reaching a large new fan base. My problem is that after several years of a venue not producing, Nascar needs to cut its losses and look at other options. Bye bye Ca and hello Ky.!!

Are you saying that if a state ranks low in average income, then it is somehow a lesser choice for a potential race? - No. As can be seen in our post, we favor a KY race and venue and feel (the "gut" thing) for reasons beyond some of the available "numbers" it has good chance of success. One disappointment, even though the track appears to have some differentiating characteristics, would be another 1.5 mile thing and what has seemed to be a trend towards producing some real ho hummers.