NASCAR Track News

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Fewer than 1000 tickets remain for Prelude to the Dream: Less than a thousand tickets remain to see the June 9 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Prelude to the Dream in person at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The remaining tickets are available online atwww.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. Act fast  the race has sold out in each of its five previous years. For those who aren't able to join the expected 20,000 fans at Eldora Speedway for Wednesday night's race, the only place they'll be able to catch it is via the HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast. The live, commercial-free telecast will begin at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT) with an immediate replay. There will be NO free delayed airings of the event on any outlet.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Deadline passes for Kentucky Speedway founders to ask U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider anti-trust case: After nearly five years in court arguing over antitrust issues, NASCAR appears to have prevailed in its lawsuit against Kentucky Speedway’s founders. Now it’s up to Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith and NASCAR Chairman Brian France to decide if Kentucky Speedway gets a Sprint Cup date in 2011. France has repeatedly said NASCAR wouldn’t consider moving a Cup race to the track until the antitrust lawsuit filed in 2005 was resolved. The litigation ended when the founders did not file a request Wednesday for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. A U.S. District Court judge and a U.S. Court of Appeals panel have both ruled in favor of NASCAR and sister company International Speedway Corp. The deadline to mail a request was Wednesday. The Supreme Court docket sheet does not have the case listed and NASCAR officials have been notified by the Kentucky Speedway founders’ attorney that none was mailed. "By not appealing the favorable NASCAR ruling … to the Supreme Court, it appears that this matter is finally resolved," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said in a statement. "The court found that NASCAR, like other sports, has the right and the responsibility to schedule its events where it decides is best for the sport and its fans." (SceneDaily.com)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Speedway Motorsports Inc. shares sink after 4Q earning results: While NASCAR fans might enjoy reduced ticket prices, recession specials are weighing on the top and bottom lines for Speedway Motorsports. On Wednesday the Concord, N.C.-based speedway owner and operator said it lost $15.2 million, or 36 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a loss of $4.9 million, or 11 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Sales for the period ending Dec. 31 dropped 30.7% to $90.5 million, down from $130.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. According to the company, sales were impacted by the scheduling change of the Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which took place in the fourth quarter in 2008 but in the third quarter of 2009. But it wasn't just the scheduling changes that lead to Speedway's wider losses. The company cited reduced admission revenues resulting from special promotions and a decline in consumer and corporate spending as other culprits for its rocky quarter. (Forbes)

Humphrey promoted at ISC; Lynch named Chairman of Talladega Superspeedway: International Speedway Corporation announced it has named Rick Humphrey as Managing Director of Business Operations. Humphrey accepts the role from his most recent position as president of Talladega Superspeedway. W. Grant Lynch Jr., Chairman of Talladega Superspeedway and Vice President of Strategic Projects for ISC, will assume the responsibilities for day to day operation of the facility. Humphrey, 41, is a 16-year veteran in the motorsports industry, serving most recently as president of Talladega Superspeedway since July 2007. As president, he worked closely with the facility's more than 50 employees to secure, maintain and operate the 2.66-mile, 3,000-plus acre complex, and presided over a significant number of upgrades and enhancements to the legendary race track. In his new role, Humphrey will be primarily responsible for driving operational excellence across all ISC racetracks through benchmarking, innovation and best practice sharing. In addition, he will provide leadership for ISC's Green initiatives. (PR)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

$107 million in nongaming economic impact expected for Las Vegas NASCAR race: The NASCAR cup race on Feb. 28 likely matched or exceeded the nearly $107 million in nongaming economic impact of last year’s event, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority spokesman Jeremy Handel said. The convention authority’s initial attendance numbers from the LVMS are close to 150,000, he added. “As a one-day event, Sunday’s NASCAR race is up there with New Year’s Eve,” Handel said. The dollars from NASCAR are not limited to the speedway. Powell said he wouldn’t be surprised if some 300,000 people came to town for the NASCAR weekend, and the dirt-track event the Thursday before. (Las Vegas Business Press)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Smith may sue former owners of Kentucky Speedway: Speedway Motorsports, Inc., CEO Bruton Smith [and current owner of the track] told Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Friday that he may file a lawsuit of his own against the former owners of Kentucky Speedway. "I have business interests in 24 states around this country, and I employ probably 250 lawyers in those states," said Smith. "I can tell you that some of those lawyers might be busy right now investigating the possibility of filing a lawsuit or two of our own to try and get this straightened out. We fully intend on a having a Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway in 2011, and we will do what we have to do to make it happen. We will stop at nothing that's legal to fulfill the promises we've made (about bringing a Cup race to Kentucky)."(Sirius Speedway)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Former Kentucky Speedway partner sues former Speedway owner: A former minority owner of Kentucky Speedway is suing the racetrack's one-time majority owner, Jerry Carroll, seeking to have a judge declare he can't drop an antitrust suit in a move that would keep the litigation alive. A group of four trusts operated by Duchossois Group Chairman Richard Duchossois of Illinois filed suit Tuesday against Carroll, saying he doesn't have the legal right to stop an appeal of the suit against NASCAR. The lawsuit against Carroll, filed in federal court in Covington, comes a day after Duchossois asked the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider it's rejection of the antitrust litigation. The appellate court earlier this month threw out the lawsuit. Brian Goldwasser of Cincinnati, the attorney for the trusts, did not return a message seeking comment. Carroll declined comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.(Associated Press)

Monday, December 28, 2009

Appeals court upholds rejection of Kentucky Speedway's anti-trust suit: An appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a $400 million antitrust lawsuit filed against International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which owns or operates 12 of the major motor sports facilities in the country and hosts 19 of the 36 points races in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. ISC was represented by lawyers from Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Kentucky Speedway filed suit in 2005 against NASCAR, which sanctions races, and its affiliate ISC claiming that the two companies were conspiring to keep the Kentucky Speedway from hosting one of the profitable Sprint Cup events. ISC and NASCAR jointly filed for summary judgment and a federal judge in Kentucky ruled in their favor, dismissing the case with prejudice. The court stated that the Kentucky Speedway failed to make its case, because it was unable to establish either a relevant product or geographic market or that it suffered an antitrust injury. Kentucky Speedway appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which earlier this month affirmed the district court’s ruling. (Business Wire)

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Canadian speedway gains traction: Now, the Fort Erie-based Canadian Motor Speedway is officially a “Jeff Gordon Design signature speedway” and that can’t help but give the project the legitimacy it needs going forward. There’s still lots of work to do, and hurdles to clear. And it’s not a done deal. Far from it. But the Canadian Motor Speedway is a lot closer to reality today that it’s ever been before and those of us who love the sport can only hope those directly involved can retain their focus and stay the course. (Toronto Star)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Could Kentucky Speedway land Pocono's Cup date? NASCAR isn't about to make a date out of thin air and hand it to Kentucky Speedway. With 36 races on the schedule now, that time has long passed. No, another track will have to lose one of its races before thunder rolls in the Bluegrass. There are only four Cup dates that aren't controlled by ISC or SMI after the consolidation wave a decade ago erased North Wilkesboro and Rockingham in North Carolina from the calendar and took a date away from Darlington, S.C. There are the two races at Dover, Del., and the two events at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Speculation has long held Bruton Smith would buy Pocono and transfer one of its dates to Sparta. There's just one problem. Pocono is owned by the Mattioli family, a clan that owes its existence to NASCAR's late founder Bill France Sr., and takes its loyalty to the France family seriously. (ThatsRacin)

Monday, December 14, 2009

US House of Representatives to vote on extending speedway tax break: Extending temporary tax breaks has become nearly routine for Congress, but pressure is building to review the provisions and perhaps send some to the trash heap. A tax break for NASCAR racetrack facilities has been singled out as suspect by some Democrats on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. "I questioned it. I have not seen its usefulness," said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D., N.J.). "I thought this would be a good example to get to the bigger question of do these things work anymore?" The NASCAR break, estimated to cost $45 million to extend for one year, is included in the bill passed by the House on Wednesday. It is important to race complex operators including Speedway Motorsports Inc. and International Speedway Corp. The provision allows a quicker, seven-year depreciation schedule for new construction and improvements to racetracks, grandstands, parking lots and other parts of track facilities. It was first enacted in 2004 tax legislation, after track operators argued they deserved similar depreciation treatment as theme-park rides and equipment, rather than the longer amortization periods used by operators of sports stadiums.(Wall Street Journal)

Friday, December 11, 2009

Federal appeals court rules against Kentucky Speedway in anti-trust suit: A federal appeals court has rejected claims by a Kentucky track that NASCAR violates federal antitrust laws by keeping it off the premier racing circuit. The decision issued Friday by a three-judge panel from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ends, for now, Kentucky Speedway's legal efforts at forcing NASCAR to bring a Sprint Cup race to the northern Kentucky track. The panel said Kentucky Speedway failed to prove NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., worked together to with other tracks to keep the Kentucky track from getting a Sprint Cup race. Kentucky Speedway sued NASCAR in 2005 after being rejected multiple times for a top level race. The race track, about halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati, has drawn huge crowds to some of its other races.(Lexington Herald)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Bruton Smith building a motorsports complex in Qatar? Future NASCAR exhibition race in Middle East? Did you see or hear the news reports over the weekend that Bruton Smith is negotiating to build a three-track racing megaplex in the tiny Middle East country of Qatar? The news kind of seemed to float under the radar a bit, when it should have been accorded much greater significance and importance. The racing complex Smith and Speedway Motorsports are negotiating to build would likely include a small bullring style oval (possibly for dirt – or would that be sand – racing), a road course and, of course, a NASCAR-style oval. NASCAR chairman Brian France said a couple of years ago that he believed international expansion was definitely on the sanctioning body’s radar screen, but he never gave a timetable. But if Smith signs on the dotted line and actually begins construction in the near future, we could potentially see perhaps a NASCAR exhibition race at the very least in Qatar by maybe 2012. (More at AutoRacingDaily.com)

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009

Economy hasn't effected Watkins Glen's attendance: Despite the economy there was more than 150,000 people up at the race track this weekend. Watkins Glen International president Michael Printup says that numbers of both attendance and sponsors have been up this year. For yesterday's race the track had an increase of more than 500 people. The economy has affected several other tracks, especially with merchandise and attendance. (WETM-TV)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The latest on NASCAR vs Kentucky Speedway: The former owners of the Kentucky Speedway are asking a federal appeals court for a green flag to pursue their antitrust claim against NASCAR. "They were squeezed out," attorney Stan Chesley, who helped file the lawsuit in 2005, said after arguments Thursday in front of a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A lower-court judge last year rejected the speedway's claim that the racing body and a sister company that operates tracks and promotes races have conspired to monopolize control over who gets the top stock car events. The Kentucky track, some 40 miles south of Cincinnati, has new ownership that wants the case ended to help its chances of gaining a coveted NASCAR Sprint Cup race. But Chesley said there are important issues for a trial, and that the former owners also want hundreds of millions in damages. "People have the right to have their case heard in court," Chesley said. NASCAR attorney David Boies said the lawsuit against the racing body and its International Speedway Corp. represented impatience by the Kentucky Speedway to get a Sprint Cup race. "They want one. Everyone wants one," Boies told the judges. Rule said the new Kentucky Speedway owners, Speedway Motorsports Inc., were co-conspirators. Boies told the judges there was no evidence of that claim. "Like other sports - the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA - NASCAR has the right to create its schedule and host events where it wants to," said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.(Associated Press)

Monday, July 6, 2009

Charities benefit from Infineon race: Four charitable events combined to raise more than $120,000 at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend at Infineon Raceway. Most of the proceeds will benefit the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, which has distributed more than $3 million to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County since 2002.(Napa Valley Register)

Monday, June 29, 2009

NASCAR seeking $1.8 mil. from Milwaukee Mile: The Milwaukee Mile's financial mess has NASCAR's attention. In documents obtained by the Journal Sentinel, NASCAR states that Wisconsin Motorsports, the race promoter at the Mile, owes it $1,878,228 for the two races NASCAR sanctioned earlier this month. Wisconsin Motorsports recently hosted two major NASCAR events: a Camping World Truck Series race and a Nationwide Series race. Exact attendance numbers have not been made public but it was estimated that the truck race drew about 7,000 fans, and Claude Napier, the head of Wisconsin Motorsports, said the Nationwide Series race drew in excess of 35,000 fans. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Kentucky Gov. urges action to help get Cup date at Ky Speedway: Citing "the devastating impact of a global economic crisis," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear also implored lawmakers to revamp the state's economic development programs. "The proverbial toolbox we use to attract and retain businesses needs serious attention," he said. "Our current economic tools are rusty. They're dull. They're missing parts. And some of them are outdated. We're using hand tools in a power-tool world." His plan, which died in the final days of the regular legislative session earlier this year, also includes legislation to help secure an advanced battery manufacturing plant in Hardin County and subsidize an expansion of the Kentucky Speedway in hopes of attracting a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to Kentucky. "These opportunities are worth hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars," Beshear said. "They would bring thousands of critically needed jobs. They would solidify Kentucky's reputation as a vibrant place to work, to live and to play." (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Fallen Oakland officers will be honored at Infineon Raceway:Infineon Raceway will honor four fallen officers from the Oakland Police Department with a very special tribute at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21. Four motorcycle units from the Oakland Police Department will lead the 43-car field around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course prior to the start of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 21. The police department's Davina Kelly will also sing the national anthem on Sunday. Finally, the Oakland Police Department will have a booth in the main paddock over the weekend, with all donations going to the families of the four fallen officers. The four officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in March were: Sgts. Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai and Mark Dunakin and Officer John Hege.(Infineon Raceway PR)

Former Kentucky Speedway owners expect lawsuit to move forward: Jerry Carroll, one of the five founders and former co-owners of Kentucky Speedway, expects the group’s antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR will continue at least through the appeal scheduled to be heard next month. “Absolutely,” he said Saturday as he stood about 25 feet away from current track owner Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. Smith and Carroll consider themselves friends, but Smith cannot convince Carroll and his partners to drop the lawsuit filed in 2005 against NASCAR and sister company International Speedway Corp. If the founders win their appeal, the case would go back to U.S. District Court for trial and, with appeals, could drag on for years.(Louisville Business Journal)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Smith says Kentucky 2010 Cup date 'doubtful': Hours before the NASCAR Nationwide Series Meijer 300 was to go green at Kentucky Speedway, the big question to track owner Bruton Smith was whether there would be a Sprint Cup race at the track next year. Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., sounded as pessimistic that it would happen, and Smith is not known for being pessimistic. "I would like to say, 'Yes,' but I don't know," Smith said. "It's doubtful that we get it done. It would take a tremendous cooperation from NASCAR." NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston would not totally close the door on Kentucky's Cup chances for 2010, but indicated that it is doubtful. "As we've said, there can be no consideration of a Cup date for Kentucky while the litigation is pending," Poston said. "Having said that, the sanctioning process is currently under way." Once he gets a commitment to a Cup race, Smith said he would add about 50,000 seats to the track, which currently seats 69,000, as well as add additional roads to and from the facility. He would also move pit road closer to the grandstands - "You saw what I did in Vegas," Smith said.(Scene Daily)

Monday, June 1, 2009

GM expected to let some speedway contracts expire: Around NASCAR, expectations are that GM will walk away from more expiring contracts at the end of the year, yet remain invested enough to maintain a profile with NASCAR's legion of brand-loyal fans as it regains footing. GM doesn't disclose its annual investment in NASCAR, including track deals and support to race teams, but estimates run as high as $125 million. "It's fair to say that we know that the odds of them renewing [track sponsorships] at today's levels is zero percent and it wouldn't surprise us if they end up dropping a couple of tracks. We know that very likely could happen," said Roger VanDerSnick, executive vice president and chief operating officer of International Speedway Corp., which operates 12 tracks, including Daytona International Speedway. "And then the tracks where they stay, if we are able to make it work, we do also know that those terms will probably be dramatically different." (Fort-Worth Star-Telegram)

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Developer hopes to build Denver Speedway: The Colorado Springs based Schuck Corporation is going to the races. A proposed $200 million dollar race track designed to draw national races would be spearheaded by the Schuck Corporation and placed in Aurora. "There have been other motor sports entities who have expressed an interest in seeing a speedway in the Denver marketplace." explains Schuck President Bill Schuck. "It will seat approximately 65,000 people initially. It can be expanded to 100,000 ultimately." As for the possibility of stimulus dollars being used for the project, the door is open but nothing is set. (KOAA.com)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Stabler named Grand Marshal for NASCAR weekend in Sonoma: Legendary Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler has been named Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend, June 19-21, at Infineon Raceway. Stabler, who guided the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in 1977, will be honored at the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet on Friday, June 19, at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The gala is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. He will also take part in pre-race activities on race day, June 21 (Father’s Day), including participating in the official command of, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.” “I’m very honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at Infineon Raceway. It will be great fun to be back in Northern California with good friends and great fans,” said Stabler, an avid NASCAR fan who resides in Alabama. (PR)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Former Kentucky Speedway owner wont drop lawsuit: One of the former owners of Kentucky Motor Speedway says he won’t be forced into dropping an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR by new track owner Bruton Smith. Richard Duchossios said Thursday he’s not sure why Smith has decided to go public with claims that the former owners have a “moral obligation” to race fans in Kentucky to drop the four-year-old lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. “I’m not going to be bullied,” Duchossios said. Duchossios refuted Smith’s claim that he and Farmer are the lone holdouts. “All five of the partners feel exactly as I (do), to single out two, I don’t know why he did that,” Duchossios said. “For him to say we have a moral obligation to the state of Kentucky … that’s wrong. If anyone had a moral obligation, it was NASCAR that wouldn’t let the people of Kentucky have it under our ownership.” (AP/Yahoo! Sports)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

SMI considering adding 30,000 to 50,000 seats at Kentucky Speedway: Speedway Motorsports Inc. Officials talked about upgrades for Kentucky Speedway as the company wants to put a Cup race there. There's work to make it easier to get in and out of the track and some items for camping. Officials said there's talk of adding upward of 30,000 to 50,000 seats to that track. Kentucky Speedway has a grandstand capacity of 66,089 according to the NASCAR truck series media guide. (The Virginian-Pilot)

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)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Bruton Smith wants mandate standard for catch fences: The chairman of Speedway Motorsports says NASCAR should mandate a standard catch-fence system for all sanctioned tracks following the recent crash at Talladega Superspeedway. He already has begun construction on a new system at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that will be in place when the Sprint Cup series goes there next month. "Let's fix it because the sport is at risk," Bruton Smith said on Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Cables [that provide strength to the fence] are just like fishing lines. You have a certain test lines. Cables can be like a quarter inch and have a 90,000 PSI [pounds per square inch]. "That's the things we need to do at all these speedways to make sure we have the strongest there is." (ESPN.com)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Colorado House OKs incentives to lure NASCAR track: Colorado took a big step closer to being able to attract a NASCAR racetrack when the House approved a legislative proposal Wednesday that would allow the first-ever state-funded package of incentives geared toward attracting major tourism projects. Senate Bill 173 won final approval on a 46-19 vote one day after extensive floor debate over whether it was an economic-development tool or corporate welfare. Twenty-three Republicans and 23 Democrats backed the measure, while 15 Democrats and four Republicans opposed it. The proposal allows city and county governments to enter into agreements with the Colorado Economic Development Commission to set up special enterprise zones around potential locations for tourism-generating projects.A main goal of bill backers is bringing a NASCAR track to the Aurora area, but the enterprise zones also could be used to build everything from Winter Olympics facilities to museums that might draw visitors across state borders. “I think that NASCAR is probably already aware that we passed this bill,” Rice said after the final vote Wednesday. “As the economy starts to recover ... hopefully they will move quickly.”(Denver Business Journal)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Prelude to the Dream to be held June 3rd: On Wednesday, June 3, the Field of Dreams that is Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio will once again play host to the Prelude to the Dream. The all-star dirt Late Model race featuring 25 world renowned drivers as they battle for dirt supremacy will be presented live to the entire nation on HBO Pay-Per-View, with proceeds from the telecast going to support four military-themed charities. The fifth annual event will feature such racing icons as Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and more. All will pilot 2,300-pound dirt Late Model stock cars capable of putting out over 800 horsepower. (PR)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Kentucky Speedway trial unlikely to affect 2010 schedule: The likelihood that Kentucky Speedway will be awarded a 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup race has become even more remote because an antitrust lawsuit by the track founders against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. now likely won’t be resolved until July at the earliest. The case, which is in U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, is not included in the hearing calendar finalized Monday for a two-week session beginning April 20. Although the court could still add the case to the schedule, that would be rare in a case such as this one. The next two-week hearing session begins June 8 – the Monday prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the track. (SceneDaily.com)

GoDaddy.com to be presenting sponsor of Southern 500: GoDaddy.com, the world's dominant Web hosting domain registrar, has signed on to become the presenting sponsor of the 2009 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, track president Chris Browning announced. The Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com will be run on May 9, 2009. Be a part of history when Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 years of racing in 2009. Tickets to the 2009 Southern 500® presented by GoDaddy.com, as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 are on-sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.(Darlington Raceway PR)

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Bill to lure speedway likely dead in Colorado legislation: A legislative proposal that could help to bring a NASCAR racetrack to Colorado was hit with a caution flag Thursday, as opposing lawmakers have forced a deal to send it back to a committee to take a second look at it. Senate Bill 173 would allow local governments, working in conjunction with the state Economic Development Commission, to create special districts and set a side a portion of the state’s sales-tax revenue to help create regional tourism projects. Any increase in tax revenue within the designated districts would be used to improve infrastructure and even to help construct tourist-generating facilities. The bill flew through the Senate and got out of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee by a 10-1 vote before a number of House Democrats began arguing that measure is a special-interest giveaway. It was supposed to come up for a vote on the House floor Thursday, but sponsoring Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, said he’s agreed to a plan to send it back to the Finance Committee and, if it passes through there, to the Appropriations Committee. (Denver Business Journal)

Kentucky politicians blame each other for failure of NASCAR-related tax incentives: Ky. House Speaker Greg Stumbo is blaming the Senate for the demise of a tax-incentives bill in this year's legislative session designed to help lure a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County. But Senate President David Williams said Stumbo's action is a move by the Democrat-controlled House "to try to blame us for everything that went wrong" in the session. "They had ought to be called on it," Williams said. State lawmakers wrapped up the 2009 General Assembly last Thursday without taking up any additional legislation, including tax incentives for the 72,000-seat track near Sparta. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Darlington Speedway's Mother Day race generates $54 million: A study by the Washington Economics Group, Inc. has found that Darlington Raceway generates an annual economic benefit of $54 million for the Pee Dee region and state of South Carolina, including the creation of 874 jobs in the region. The economic impact study was conducted over a period of several months and utilized the IMPLAN model, which quantifies the direct and indirect benefits of economic activity. In addition to identifying the total economic impact of $54 million, the study also found that:
· NASCAR events and other activities throughout the year at Darlington Raceway result in $19 million of labor income for workers throughout South Carolina annually, benefiting workers in all sectors of the state’s economy.
· These activities are also an important source of fiscal revenues. Each year these activities produce over $7.9 million for federal, state and local governments. Of this total, $3.4 million flow directly to state and local governments.
· Year round track operations contribute $30 million annually toward South Carolina’s gross state product. Referred to by economists as “value added,” this is the portion of business revenues that provides compensation to workers and capital income. Value added is also the principle source of income to households and a key measure of Darlington Raceway’s ongoing contributions to the South Carolina economy. Darlington Raceway hosts two major NASCAR races a year, the Southern 500 and the Diamond Hill Plywood 200. Additionally, the track “Too Tough to Tame” also hosts the Darlington Historic Racing Festival each September celebrating the history of oval track racing. During the 2008 Southern 500, Darlington Raceway hosted fans from all 50 states and more than 7 different countries.(Darlington Raceway PR)

Denver track plans on hold: The International Speedway Corp. was looking to build a racetrack in the Denver area, eyeing land in Aurora near Denver International Airport as a likely site for a $400 million track on 1,000 acres. But more than two years after the company's initial public show of affection for the area, ISC officials "don't have anyone on the ground" in Denver anymore, ISC spokesman Wes Harris said. And the slumping economy makes it even more unlikely a track will be built anytime soon, although ISC says it still wants to build a track here at some point. "Our long-term goal is that we want to be there," Harris said of coming to Denver. "We know it will be a home run for the region. But we, of course, are sensitive to the economy, which is definitely not playing in anyone's favor right now." (Denver Post)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Kentucky Speedway bill in jeopardy? Several major pieces of legislation, including incentives to lure a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the Kentucky Speedway and a scheme to pay for new Louisville bridges, might be in jeopardy. House leaders said Monday that new House rules prevent the chamber from voting on any bills when the General Assembly reconvenes Thursday and Friday. Those two days are designated solely to override any potential vetoes by Gov. Steve Beshear. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said he will ask the Democratic caucus to vote Thursday on whether to suspend the rules, which would allow them to consider more legislation. (Kentucky.com)

Monday, March 16, 2009

SMI considering options for Kentucky Cup date: Speedway Motorsports Inc. has requested that a Sprint Cup race be moved to Kentucky Speedway and “will consider all options” to get one there as soon as possible, according to its annual report filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SMI Chairman Bruton Smith said March 6 at Atlanta Motor Speedway that he had not yet requested the realignment but wanted a Cup date there in 2010. “The Company has requested realignment of a Sprint Cup Series race at the earliest possible time and will consider all options if NASCAR denies such realignment request,” the company stated in its filing. It does not elaborate whether “all options” would include legal action. SMI spokesman Scott Cooper said he could not elaborate on the wording in the annual report. (SceneDaily.com)

Celebrities and motorsports personalities to race in charity event at Bristol: Football coaches, football players, TV/radio personalities and more have signed on to run the celebrity heat races as part of the Scotts Saturday Night Special, March 21 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer, who also will serve as grand marshal of the Food City 500, will climb behind the wheel of a race car for the first time as will Terry Bowden. Bowden returns to the college coaching ranks this year after 10 years in the broadcast booth, taking over the Division II powerhouse University of North Alabama. Coaches are not the only ones suiting up. David Akers, Pro-Bowl kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles will participate. Also racing for charity will be local hero Mike Compton, current head football coach at Patrick Henry High School (Glade Spring, Va.) and two-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots of New England. Rounding out the first heat will be: Bill Jordan, owner/founder of Realtree Camouflage and host of two of his own television shows, Bill Jordan’s Realtree Outdoors and ESPN’s “Driven to Hunt,” and TV/radio personality Riki Rachtman of MTV’s “Charm School” and “Daisy of Love.” Taking the wheel in the second heat will be a field of more experienced drivers. Former car owners and two of the top crew chiefs of all time, Andy Petree and Ray Evernham, now ESPN race analysts, as well as Brad Daugherty, a former No. 1pick in the NBA draft and retired all-star player with the Cleveland Cavaliers will be part of the festivities. Taking advantage of a weekend off on the National Hot Rod Association schedule are Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Doug Herbert (Top Fuel Dragster) who will fill out the field. The celebrities will run 15-lap or 10-minute heats to help determine the starting spots of their pro driver teammates, who then will run 35 laps. That field includes Junior Johnson, Harry Gant, Cale Yarborough and Jack Ingram. The winning “team” is guaranteed $25,000 for their charities and a total of $10,000 will go to the charity or charities of the second-place duo. Every other team will get $5,000 for their charities. Team pairings will be announced at a later time. Tickets still are available for the Scotts Turf Builder 300 (Starting at $45) and Food City 500 (starting at $93). Tickets may be purchased at www.bristoltix.com or by calling the BMS ticket office at (423) 989-6900.(BMS PR)

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Daytona Rev. Hal Marchman passed away at 89: "Shalom and amen." With that trademark ending to prayers he offered before every Daytona 500 for 46 years, the Rev. Hal Marchman endeared himself to race car drivers and hundreds of thousands of their fans. It was the Baptist preacher's way of being inclusive, the same way he lived his life, whether he was counseling an alcoholic or persuading community leaders to take on some civic project. Marchman, 89, died unexpectedly at Indigo Palms Memory Care Facility on Sunday. After years of fighting dementia and memory loss, a sudden bout of illness ended his life, said his daughter Anne Marchman-Jones. "We feel like we got our fair share of time with him, but it's hard because we didn't expect (his death) to be so sudden," Marchman-Jones said Sunday. (Daytona News-Journal)

Friday, March 13, 2009

SMI expects revenue to dip in 2009: The economy is so uncertain that Speedway Motorsports was wary of even offering an outlook for 2009, executives said during a conference call with analysts. "We were actually perplexed as to what we should even say about that," said William Brooks, the Concord-based company's vice chairman and chief financial officer. "We've not been faced with how truly variable some of our expenses can be." The gloomy forecast came as Speedway Motorsports reported a fourth-quarter loss of about $4.9 million, up from a $20.2 million loss a year earlier. For the year, the company -- which owns six other tracks -- earned about $80 million, more than double its 2007 profit of $38.4 million. Revenues for 2008 were $611 million, up 9 percent. (Statesville News & Landmark)

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Former ISC employees avoid prison time: Former International Speedway Corp. employees William Kilgannon and Todd Polakoff have avoided prison time for their roles in an extortion conspiracy in association with the failed attempt to put a race track on New York’s Staten Island. Polakoff was sentenced to three years probation, while Kilgannon got two years of supervised release, according to court documents. They were sentenced Dec. 12 in U.S. District Court in New York. Polakoff and Kilgannon were among 62 people indicted in February as part of a wide-ranging, 80-count federal indictment that targeted alleged Mafia members, including three high-ranking members of the Gambino crime family. Kilgannon and Polakoff were former employees of ISC subsidiary North American Testing Co., which handles design and construction for ISC. (More at SceneDaily.com)

Friday, January 2, 2009

SMI completes Kentucky Speedway purchase: Speedway Motorsports, Inc.(SMI) has added Kentucky Speedway to its portfolio of motorsports facilities, expanding its geographic reach into the Midwest. The completed purchase was announced Wednesday by O. Bruton Smith, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. “We are extremely excited about the new opportunities this market is going to bring the company,” said Smith. “Since we announced this acquisition in May, we have been overwhelmed with the response of fans expressing their support and desire for a Sprint Cup event at Kentucky Speedway. We will continue to work with NASCAR to bring a Sprint Cup race to this fine facility as soon as possible. We are going to do everything we can to bring the great people of Kentucky what they want and deserve.” Tickets for Kentucky Speedway’s 2009 season can be reserved by calling (859) 578-2300.(Kentucky Speedway PR )