LFL: Kentucky Purchase Means Major Moves

Geoffrey Miller is in Concord, N.C. for Sunday's Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He'll aim to eat as many elephant ears as possible while blogging away "Live from Lowe's" throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Generally, when Bruton Smith says he'll do something, he's gonna do it.

So when Smith promised both the ownership group of Kentucky Speedway and the world at a news conference on Thursday confirming his purchase of the facility that Kentucky would have a Sprint Cup race date in 2009, you've got to believe it will happen.

But at what cost to other race dates?

The only obvious answer I've got is that next season, at least one race at a current track will be eliminated in favor of the event in the Bluegrass State.

There are now three race tracks left on the Sprint Cup schedule not owned by either International Speedway Corp. or Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. Those tracks are Indianapolis (one race), Dover (two races), and Pocono (two races).

The final two in that list are both on Smith's radar for purchase with the primary goal of moving one of those race dates to Kentucky. If such a deal can't happen, Smith may move a race date from one of his current race tracks, though the track presidents from Atlanta and New Hampshire Motor Speedways have released statements that they are signing agreements with NASCAR for 2009 race dates on Friday.

Being from the Indianapolis-area, a race at Kentucky would be the second-closest race to me, however, a history of parking issues at the facility might keep me away -- especially if Smith puts up the 50,000 seats he claims he can add in a matter of months.

I'm hoping, though, that SMI can make some differences there, as Kentucky is already a tremendous facility to watch a race.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-23-2008 @ 2:27PM

Don Emerson said...

If I was betting, I'd put my money on Atlanta losing one of it's races. The crowds there have been falling off steadily in the past few years. It's sad that just as the racing is falling into the hands of a few multi-car teams, so are the tracks being controlled by two owners. With only two corporations running the show it would be pretty easy for them to put their heads together and fix prices,etc. Nascar will soon be at the mercy of corporations both on the track and off. It should prove quite interesting in the years to come. Works for me.....

5-23-2008 @ 7:26PM

art said...

maybe he will start a series with no japcars

5-24-2008 @ 1:25AM

Since everyone claims to know all about me on here, I thought I'd my post philosophy on life. Feel free to use it.MY PHILOSPHY.....
1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20 . Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Works for me......

5-25-2008 @ 2:21PM

i agree with #18 don

5-25-2008 @ 11:44PM

drgrcr601 said...

And I like #12 and #16

5-26-2008 @ 1:42AM

Peaches said...

DON # 11 works for me all day long...Very wise advise

WORKS FOR ME...PEACHES

5-30-2008 @ 9:58AM

carol said...

I am happy Ky speedway getting Sprint Cup race. But am pissed at the way they did it. I have been going to KY speedway since opened. And we were promised race if everything went well. Busch race sold out every year, truck racing sells good too. Then no race, wasn't nothing open to change, but since they bought track, now all of a sudden, they can make changes, what a crock. Can you say MONOPOLY. It all goes to show who is actually in charge of nascar, it ain't France. He's just their puppet. How pathetic.....