Did anyone attend the Nationwide race in Sparta last night? If so, did you enjoy the event? Only two weekends of racing at the facility this year. What gives with that? Do they deserve a SPRINT Cup race, and will they get one?

Will they get a sprint cup race? No time soon, Mile and a half tracks are all over the US...

While reading about Jr, Came across this...

 

Wait until 2012?

 

Kentucky Speedway's long wait to get a coveted Cup race is likely going to extend until at least 2012.

 

Track owner Bruton Smith said before Saturday's Nationwide race at the 1.5-mile tri-oval that he hasn't asked NASCAR to move a Cup date to the track in 2011.

 

While Smith, whose Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the track in late 2008 from the original ownership group, won't rule out the possibility of finally bringing a Cup race to the Bluegrass State, he's not planning on it.

 

"There are so many things that would have to be done to get to that point," Smith said.

 

It's highly unlikely NASCAR would choose to assign the track a Cup date following a lengthy legal battle with the original owners, who filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., in 2005 claiming they conspired to keep the track from getting a Cup race.

 

Both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected the claims. Last month the original owners opted not to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case.

 

Smith has maintained the lawsuit has long been an obstacle to getting a Cup race. He could move one of the races at his other SMI tracks to Kentucky, but has remained coy about which track would lose a Cup date.

 

There are already plans to expand the track by 50,000 seats to accommodate a Cup race. About 61,000 turned out on Saturday night to see Joey Logano edge Carl Edwards for his third consecutive Nationwide race at the speedway.

I really have no idea on the cost to run one of these facilities, but is it financially viable to own a veune of this type, and only have three events, none of which will sell out the facility? Do they make money off of the testing that takes place? I know that quite of bit that goes on there.

I have no idea about what kind of money these places make, but I'm fairly certain Bruton Smith wouldn't have bought it if he couldn't make money at it. The Speedway seats just under 70,000 right now(plus RV and standing room). Smith will up that to 120,000 for a Sprint race. Looked like about 55-60,000 at the race. I would think there would be well over 100,000 for a Cup race. We'll see.

Hear in a interview Bruton Smith said that if he and the City of Loudon police could get the cost down; He may move one those date to Kentucky. Said he could have the seating expanded in 90 days if need.

http://jayski.com/pages/tracks/nhms.htm

Hear in a interview Bruton Smith said that if he and the City of Loudon police could get the cost down; He may move one those date to Kentucky. Said he could have the seating expanded in 90 days if need.

http://jayski.com/pages/tracks/nhms.htm

 

Bruton us usually gets what Bruton wants ! I don't know that bodes well for Kentucky Speedway for 2011. I hope I'm wrong...I'm a season ticket holder.

http://jayski.com/pages/tracks/sched2011.htm

 

From everything I have read it looks like Kentucky will be getting a cup race next year and I will bet that it will be the last weekend in June. I'm really pumped anyone else care about racing?

http://jayski.com/pages/tracks/sched2011.htm

 

From everything I have read it looks like Kentucky will be getting a cup race next year and I will bet that it will be the last weekend in June. I'm really pumped anyone else care about racing?

 

Have had season tickets since they built the place. June will be great !

Only thing...I think I read on here, Or somewhere else that police around the track was arresting people with alcohol with them....They might wanna allow that if they want this to happen, I go to bristol every year and walk right by the cops, They never treat people differently..

Only thing...I think I read on here, Or somewhere else that police around the track was arresting people with alcohol with them....They might wanna allow that if they want this to happen, I go to bristol every year and walk right by the cops, They never treat people differently..

 

Yea, the cops come on a little strong. I was trying to sell a couple of extra tickets. Face value was $120 and I asked $100 and they took them from me and threaten to take my season tickets. I wrote the speedway and they apologized for the misunderstanding. Before I tried to sell them I went to the ticket office and offered it to them for $100. :idunno:

Looks like it will finally happen in July of next year...hopefully it will be a night race.

Looks like it will finally happen in July of next year...hopefully it will be a night race.

This will be huge for the entire region. They say it's like hosting a Super Bowl every year.

I'm sure first few years it will be a major hit, 90,000+ people is a lot! I can't wait, have not been to race in a few years due to various reasons, but I really like them and will attend when it is this close.

Heard this on the radio, Made me a very happy man...Happened Much sooner than most thought, I LOVE IT...