New Hampshire Motor Speedway News

Updated: 2010

Friday, March 5, 2010

New Hampshire Motor Speedway wants casino: The New Hampshire Motor Speedway wants to build a casino, a hotel and a racing museum on its Loudon track site. But the plans are contingent on the state legalizing expanded gambling this year, something that’s far from certain. The speedway added its voice to the Legislature’s gambling debate yesterday, during a Senate hearing on a bill that would allow slot machines and table games at six sites across the state. The news surprised many people, including Loudon town officials, other gambling advocates and casino opponents. But the entry of such a well-known - and well-funded - organization to the discussion could significantly shift the terms of the debate. “What we’re basically saying is, we want a seat at the table because we know we could do a good job and be a responsible partner with the state on this,” said Jerry Gappens, general manager and executive vice president of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “We’re the largest sports and entertainment facility in all of New England. We’ve got a great infrastructure here. And (gambling) would just complement what we already do.”(Concord Monitor)

Friday, June 26, 2009

New Hampshire Motorsports Speedway unveils "Milo" the mascot: New Hampshire Motor Speedway now has a fan-friendly mascot to match its 1.058-mile oval superspeedway. The Mile Oval Moose, known affectionately as "Milo," will start his new job at the speedway this weekend and is sure to be a fan favorite. A long-time resident of New Hampshire, "Milo" loves racing and entertaining. Attracted to speed and handy with tools for every job right down to changing a light bulb, "Milo" is a natural fit at the speedway. Equipped with his own special racing helmet, "Milo" is a force of nature behind the wheel as well. Whether in the pits tuning up a car or roaming the grandstands with the fans, Milo can be found anywhere and everywhere at the speedway on race weekend; just look for the antlers. A video of "Milo's" press conference introduction with NASCAR Spring Cup Series driver Jeff Burton can be seen at NHMS.com. To purchase tickets to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway LENOX Industrial Tools 301 and SYLVANIA 300 weekends, please call our Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931 or visit the speedway online at www.nhms.com. (PR)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

NHMS unveils new infield: A reconfiguration of New Hampshire Motor Speedway's infield will greatly increase its usable space and functionality. Infield construction began in May of this year after the necessary permits were obtained. After just two months of other structural adjustments and improvements, New Hampshire Motor Speedway is nearing the completion of its infield transformation. The most impressive of these adjustments is the expansion of the infield, resulting in an increase of over 400% in usable land. Overall, this portion of the infield has grown from one and a half usable acres to nearly seven. Fencing installation was another big project at the speedway. Interior fencing in the infield has been replaced with new, black chain link. The winner of the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 on Sunday, June 28, will visit a redesigned Victory Lane, also part of the renovation. With more ornate plans in mind for the facility, Vice President of Operations and Development John Zudell said the update will serve as an "interim Victory Lane." Though physical construction only took two months, the project is the result of 18 months of rigorous planning and approval. When O. Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., purchased the track in early 2008, he immediately started planning the infield renovation project. Fans will get to experience Mr. Smith's vision during the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 weekend, starting Thursday, June 25, and can view the renovations firsthand with the Pre-Race Pit Pass, available online for $100. To purchase tickets to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway LENOX Industrial Tools 301 and SYLVANIA 300 weekends, please call our Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931 or visit the speedway online at www.nhms.com.(NHMS PR)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NHMS announces record purse for Lenox Tools 301: Featuring one of the most lucrative payouts-per-mile in NASCAR racing, record purses totaling more than seven million dollars are up for grabs for NASCAR drivers competing in next weekend's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Drivers racing in any of the week's four NASCAR series races will be chasing their share of $7,005,549 in prize money, the highest in New Hampshire Motor Speedway history. The NASCAR Sprint Cup purse is $5,423,189, up from last year's track record. The Lenox Industrial Tools 301 features the sixth-highest purse per-mile on the series schedule to date]. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will be racing for the $1,197,559. The NASCAR Camping World Series East at $217,884 and the remaining $166,917 is on the line in the New England 100 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. To purchase tickets to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway Lenox Industrial Tools 301 and Sylvania 300 weekends, stop by the ticket office in Loudon, call the ticket hotline at (603) 783-4931, or visit the speedway online at www.nhms.com. (PR)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

NHMS spending half-million dollars to upgrade catch fence: The last time a car flew into the fencing at Talladega and caused injuries to fans (Bobby Allison), the result was a reworking and strengthening of the fencing through the tri-oval. It worked beautifully! In the wake of the second flying car incident at Talladega (Carl Edwards), we're likely to see more good. Bruton Smith, owner of New Hampshire Speedway, among others, says the fencing at the track will be replaced in time for the June 28 race. Smith said he's spending almost a half-million dollars to make a safer environment. I'm sure a part of that is the fact that he doesn't want to flirt with possible lawsuits if something was to happen, but the bottom line is that something will be done to make the track safer for fans. (Tuscaloosa News)

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

NHMS expected to keep two Cup dates: Even though he never hid his desire to acquire a second Sprint Cup date for his track in Las Vegas, Bruton Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc., left no doubt yesterday about his intentions for New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the 1.058-mile oval he purchased last November from Bob and Gary Bahre for $340 million. Smith was asked if he planned to take a Cup date away from Loudon before yesterday's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. He leaned into the microphone and tersely replied, "No." "How's that?" he added. "We'll try to accomplish it in other ways. We're working on a few things." (The Boston Globe)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Limited tickets available for Sunday's race: A limited number of grandstand tickets are available for Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Tickets start at $60. Guests who purchase tickets by Wednesday will be eligible to win a $500 Sunoco gas card, watch the SYLVANIA 300 from a luxury suite, or have their mortgage or rent paid until December, 2008. Once all grandstand seats are sold, standing-room tickets will be made available before the start of Sunday's LENOX Industrial Tools 301. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 week events, go online to www.nhms.com or call the speedway Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931. (NHMS PR)

Thursday, June 19, 2008

SMI and Smith mum on which speedway may lose date: Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith knows where he wants to move a Sprint Cup date from if that’s what it takes for him to get a Cup race at Kentucky Speedway. Smith said Monday that his decision was made, but he wouldn’t reveal it. In the last several years, NASCAR has allowed SMI and track-operating rival International Speedway Corp. to ask for Cup dates to be moved among the tracks in their corporations. SMI currently has two Cup dates at Texas, Charlotte, New Hampshire, Bristol and Atlanta and one at Las Vegas and one at Infineon Raceway. “We have not made any announcement where that [Cup date] would come from because that would create a problem for us if I said we would take it [before we can],” he said. “We’ve pretty well figured it out. We have options. But I don’t think [ISC in] Daytona will give up a race.” (NASCAR Scene Daily)

June 18, 2007

Hinder to perform pre-race concert at NHIS: TNT and New Hampshire International Speedway are joining together to present a special pre-race concert for LENOX Industrial Tools 300 ticket holders on Sunday, July 1 featuring Universal Records artist Hinder. Hinder has recorded a new version of the rock classic “Born to Be Wild” as the signature song for the 2007 NASCAR on TNT Summer Series coverage of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing. This Oklahoma City, Oklahoma based group gained national attention in 2006 with their smash hit “Lips of an Angel” from their multi-platinum debut record, “Extreme Behavior”. The LENOX Industrial Tools 300 is the first event in the 2007 “Race to the Chase” for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, the 10 pivotal races leading up to the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” for the Series Championship. Tickets for the LENOX Industrial Tools 300 are available online at www.nhis.com or by calling Guest Services at (603) 783-4931. (NHIS PR)

July 16, 2006

NHIS not up for sale, few remaining seats available: Bob Bahre, the 79-year-old chairman of NHIS, said his 1.058-mile oval is not up for sale, despite speculation to the contrary. ``Now my son [Gary, 43, NHIS's president], since he's been sick a few years back, he'd never want to run it alone, I'll tell you that now," said Bahre, who remains one of NASCAR's independent owners, along with Dr. Joseph Mattioli, chairman and CEO of Pocono Raceway. ``I'm going to be 80 next year, but if I were to die tomorrow, he'd probably sell it before the funeral." Asked if Gary didn't like racing, the elder Bahre said, ``No, no, he likes it. He loves it. He loves this track. We've been at it together forever, since he was a little kid of 7 years old. He loves racing, it's not a question of that. It would just bother him to be alone doing it." . . . According to Bahre, about 1,700-1,800 tickets remain available for the Sept. 17 race (Boston Globe)

July 13, 2006

NhIS Governor Breakfast sold-out: Sunday’s race is sold out, and so is the popular Governor’s Breakfast on Friday morning at the speedway. This year’s breakfast guests for the 400-seat charity event are Kasey Kahne and Scott Wimmer. Organizers said the event has had “exciting” growth over its five years and they are already planning for a 500-seat tent for next year. Not sold out is action at the speedway today, tomorrow or Saturday. (Union Leader)

June 23, 2006:

LENOX Tools to sponsor July NHIS race: LENOX Industrial Tools®, a leading manufacturer of premium power tool accessories, hand tools, torches, and band saw blades has secured the title sponsorship of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday, July 16th. This summer classic at “The Magic Mile” is now the “LENOX Industrial Tools 300.” “This is a tremendous opportunity for the LENOX brand,” said Bill Burke, LENOX president. “This high-profile event provides LENOX with a great opportunity to reach out to a very loyal audience in our own backyard. We are very confident that the strength, durability and speed that LENOX products are known for will be very well represented by Jamie McMurray, the driver of the No. 26 LENOX Ford at the LENOX Industrial Tools 300.” NHIS President, Gary Bahre said, “We welcome LENOX Industrial Tools as the Title Sponsor for our July 16 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event. We are very pleased to have a New England based, world class company such as LENOX join us in bringing the excitement of NASCAR racing to millions of fans worldwide.”  (NHIS PR)

Oct. 10, 2005:

NHIS garages flooded: The weekend flooding affected the garage area at New Hampshire International Speedway, which was covered with several feet of water due to a backup in Gues Brook south of the track. "I doubt that there was any serious damage," NHIS spokesman Ron Meade said yesterday. He said track officials will assess the situation today after the water has receded.He said the brook is channeled beneath the garage area in large culverts that were installed when the garage area was expanded to more than double its original size in 1994. (Union Tribune)

July 19, 2005

NHIS arrest unruly fans: Police Chief Bob Fiske said a concerted effort by local and state police to crack down on partying in New Hampshire International Speedway's parking lots over the weekend resulted in 78 people being arrested by noon yesterday. Fiske said the arrests were up sharply from last summer's race, when about 20 people were arrested, and were the result of a "zero tolerance policy for out-of-control behavior." "We can't let the partying get out of hand. You give them an inch and they take a mile. That's what happened during the motorcycle races here years ago and it took a long time to clean it up," said Fiske. He said most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct, although there were some arrests for drug possession. He said the bulk of the arrests took place on Speedway property, where as many as 30,000 race fans were staying in campers over the Nextel Cup race weekend. Police increased their presence inside the Speedway property after partying got out of control in July 2003, when portable toilets were tossed into a bonfire and several of the track's private security personnel were injured in scuffles with race fans inside the track's parking areas. (Union Leader)

July 15, 2005

Storms hit NHIS, Damages occur: An afternoon thunderstorm that swept across New Hamsphire Thursday left at least a dozen communities without power and caused some damage at New Hampshire International Speedway, where fans were waiting for qualifying races.  The races, the preliminary for this weekend's big NASCAR race, were canceled as fans and track employees ran for cover from pounding rain, hail and strong winds. Several vendor pavilions were damaged and one blew over. No one was hurt. Public Service Company reported power outages caused by falling tree limbs in Manchester, Alton, Alexandria, Canterbury, Strafford and other communities. (WCSH6)

July 14, 2005

Extra Security at NHIS: The recent terrorist attacks in London will mean an even greater level of vigilance for police working this weekend's Nextel Cup series of races at the N.H. International Speedway. "All law enforcement is feeling the pressure from the London bombings," said Capt. Allen Welch, the N.H. State Police field commander, on Wednesday. "So we've reached out for other New England state police agencies and local police and you're going to see them at the track and around the track" in Loudon. The July 7 London bombings killed more than 50 people. Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maine and Connecticut state police, and from various area departments will be on hand at the speedway — "some in uniform and some not in uniform," said Welch — for the races which culminate Sunday with the running of the "New England 300." (Citizen Online)

July 6, 2005

N.H. not for sell: Despite numerous inquiries to track officials, New Hampshire International Speedway is not for sale. ``There is absolutely nothing going on with anybody, and there is no truth whatsoever to any of these rumors,'' track chairman Bob Bahre said yesterday. With Bahre and his son, track president Gary Bahre, battling health problems, speculation has been rampant about NASCAR parent company International Speedway Corp. acquiring the Loudon track. ``It's all 100 percent rumor. I get calls every once in a while with offers. I'm not going to deny that,'' the elder Bahre said. ``That's part of the business.'' (Boston Herald)

June 27, 2005

France, Bahre Families and Bruton Smith? It's a story that refuses to die, despite denials: that the France family's International Speedway Corp. is buying the Bahre family's New Hampshire International Speedway, in Loudon, N.H., 90 minutes north of Boston. That story has been going strong, off and on, since 2001, and it's always denied. The newest twist, though, could involve Bruton Smith, the France family's biggest rival promoter. Smith and Bahre, long at odds, going back to the sale of North Wilkesboro Speedway 10 years ago, are now talking to each other on a regular basis. The so-far unasked question: if the Bahres were interested in selling, might there be a bidding war between the Frances and Smith? (Salem-Journal)