Possible Thursday Announcement Could Tell of Lowe's Motor Speedway's Future

We've seen and heard the battle that the City of Concord (N.C.) and Lowe's Motor Speedway have had in the past month.

Thursday could be the day of reckoning on whether or not LMS' parent company, Speedway Motorsports Inc., and CEO Bruton Smith will either ruin yet another fantastic piece of the NASCAR history (remember North Wilkesboro?) or if he will remember the fans that earned his his wealth and keep the legendary speedway.

From NASCAR.com's Ron Lemasters:

There is talk of an announcement on Thursday that will go a long way toward determining if Lowe's Motor Speedway will remain in its present location or go on the road to a neighboring community, as Smith has threatened.

I honestly feel a little bit sick to my stomach knowing that such a place could potentially be leveled -- and for what, a billionaire owner on a power trip?

That really sounds like a track owner who is touch with the fans.

The city council has given Smith the go-ahead to build a NHRA drag strip, are willing to help with tax incentives on new building projects at LMS, and most importantly -- they want to rename a street already named "Speedway Boulevard" to "Bruton Smith You Are Our King Street" (or at least something or the sort).

What else could he possibly want? (other than some Carolina-fave Bojangles Famous Chicken 'n' Biscuits, of course)

At this point, it's quite obvious that Smith's strong-handed tactics have pushed the Concord City Council into retreat and that he can all-but claim a sweeping civic victory.

That, though, is apparently not enough.

I have long been a huge fan of Lowe's Motor Speedway, and yes, I'll freely admit that I'm partial to the track. There's a reason I come from the Hoosier state and attend the real race on Memorial Day weekend -- the Coca-Cola 600.

I've also been a fan of how Humpy Wheeler has made the place easy to access and special for every last ticket holder -- much moreso than its Indianapolis counterpart.

Frankly, I couldn't see myself in a seat at a new race track in North Carolina. Regardless of the amenities and its location in NASCAR country, it wouldn't hold any heritage -- no stories of Fireball or the "Pass in the Grass" -- and would be just be "another" track on the NASCAR circuit.

What do you think? Is LMS worth keeping in your eyes? Or do you think Bruton Smith is on to something?

You know my take, and you might find a very distraught blogger come Thursday if we learn of an impending demise of that great track outside of Charlotte.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-31-2007 @ 8:02AM

BUD said...

Well Mr. Miller sometimes the people in power, like those morrons in Concord and the big town need to be put in their place. Having lived they owned a bussiness there believe me that good old boy bulls...t goes a long way. Therefore Bruton you do whatever YOU want to do and to hell with the rest.As for you Mr. Miller you only put up with the mess they have created up in Concord once a year, oh my you wouldnt come to another track ok bye, bye.

10-31-2007 @ 9:12AM

dennis said...

I've been going to the track for so many years,
it's still Charlotte Motorspeedway to me and my
race buddies.But,if Bruton builds his one of a kind [ 1-Mile High-banked Tri-Oval ] the effort to sell tickets will compare to BRISTOL ticket sales.Not only,will we be there,it will be some the best Nascar racing we'll ever see !!!!!!!!! Build it Bruton , they will come . --Dennis

10-31-2007 @ 12:11PM

racing20guy said...

Just exactly what is wrong with what Smith is doing? I would be doing the same thing if it were me. It is always a good thing when someone has the stones to put an over-powered government in their place.Sure, it's bad for the people that attend or drive races there, but, a man has to stand up and fight for what he believes in.

10-31-2007 @ 12:47PM

Uncle Bo said...

What the above folks are not realizing is that Smith and the track do not operate in a vacuum. They are not on some island that is deserted except on race day. The local govt has to consider EVERYONE'S point of view and make regulations that benefit the entire community, not just one billionaire.

Those that have been going to Charlotte for years know the massive amount of development that has taken place recently. In the past few years dozens and dozens of new businesses have been built near the track to support the racing efforts and serve the fans. Hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, car dealerships, and a large outlet type mall have all been built close to the track as it is a destination point in NC. What happens to all those businesses and all the people that work there if Smith decides to close Lowes and build someplace else? And if he does that, why should any other business follow him and build another hotel/restaurant/gas station/shopping center nearby? It's almost impossible to have a business relationship with a person that impetuous.

It's one thing to stand up and fight for what you believe. But you don't have the right to ruin everyone else's livelihood in process just so you can thumb your nose at the local govt. If Smith does follow thru with his plans to close Lowes and rebuild elsewhere, I would hope the local businesses, who have spent millions in Concord, too, get together and sue Smith and ISC, if only to slow down the proceedings and allow some time for people to calm down and think about the ramifications.

10-31-2007 @ 6:08PM

george kemp said...

LMS did not suddenly appear overnite. The people who bought homes near there knew what they were buying. The area has had explosive growth over the years. If you don't like where you live M O V E. Build the drag strip on track property, we can't afford to lose all that money that is generated by LMS.

10-31-2007 @ 2:10PM

CC Rider said...

IF (and I emphasize IF) the decision is to move LMS, what I would expect is something absolutely revolutionary to replace it.

Say whatever you want about Wheeler and Smith. They are visionaries and have thrown out some absolutely amazing ideas. If this happens, the real agenda here is they want to implement those ideas.

That said, Bruton Smith dropped trou, pulled out his equipment and let the Concord politicians know his was the biggest. He won. At this point, my bet is LMS isn't going anywhere.

10-31-2007 @ 3:12PM

WELL UNCLEBO Thats my point; they built all this stuff, around this owners track, not their track Brutons track,now they wanted to tell him what he could do with the rest of his plans,his land bullshit, unclebo the other owners need to think about who they are voting in and JUST HOW that zoning board is being run.First off its not the busness owners it the dumb asses that built houses and bought houses right next to land that is ZONED for RACE TRACKS.What was their thoughts on that just a bunch of good old boys saying well he can control him now oops that didnt work did it. up theirs; get what the deserve period.

10-31-2007 @ 4:17PM

Uncle Bo I forgot I got a good laugh out of the statement of yours these business build to suport the racing efforts ha ha ha ha They built there to get supported BY the racing efforts.Hell Bruton afforded Concord to have what they have, and the speedway was doing just fine without everone else jumping on Brutons band wagon. Icve been around hewre a long time Concord and all those business needed Bruton and his speedway more than he needed them he was there making lots of money way before they jump in to get theirs.

10-31-2007 @ 7:20PM

Bud, the bottom line NOW is that the businesses are there, the investments have been made, people have jobs and lives and the track (along with Concord Mills) are the drivers of the local industry. Yeah, there are homeowners too but its not them who will suffer if Smith moves the track. It's the business owners who will pay the price.

Zoning boards can be changed thru elections or appointments. Zoning laws can be written and rewritten at will. That stuff doesn't matter. What does matter is that people have made investments in the track's vicinity and someone needs to keep them in consideration during this conflict.

Bruton may have been making money before all the homes and businesses were there, but nowadays that infrastructure is critical if a race track is going to succeed. No local support, no racing. Look at Rockingham and N. Wilkesboro for examples of poor local infrastructure. Look at the Southern 500 moving to So Cal to attract a larger local market. If Bruton moves the track, does he think the local market will support him like it does at Lowes? He'd better hope so. It's a multi million dollar gamble, to be sure.