Bruton making changes to Kentucky, expects Cup date

[ashley832]

SMI Motorsports owner and CEO Bruton Smith, the new owner of the Kentucky Speedway, and a guest Sunday night on 700 WLW's KOI Auto Parts Racing Report from 7-9pm, told me [Seg] that he was at the track Monday and Tuesday with architects and enginers. Smith said they will move 3-4 million yards of dirt to improve parking at the Sparta track, change some roads, build a bridge and completely re-do the infield. The existing garages will be torn down and a Las Vegas Speedway type infield will take its place.(700 WLW's KOI Auto Parts Racing Report)
AND Smith still wants a Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway, but absolutely will not take one away from New Hampshire Motor Speedway, another track he owns. Where will he pull one from? He’s not saying, but speculation is Kentucky could replace the fall race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.(Tom Jensen Online)
AND II Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith said he doesn’t think the former owners of Kentucky Speedway can win their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. Smith wants the case either settled or dropped so that he can request NASCAR realign a Sprint Cup date to that track. Currently, the case is in a U.S. appeals court in Cincinnati on whether there is enough evidence to have a trial on the antitrust claims. Last year, a U.S. District Court judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence for trial. “I don’t think they’ll be successful on this appeal,” said Smith, who bought the track in December from the former owners, who wanted to continue pursuing the lawsuit. “All the lawyers that I’ve talked to know they won’t. But they still appealed it.”(SceneDaily)(1-20-2009)

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If the speculation is correct then even though I've been wanting a Cup race at Kentucky for a long time I'd hate to see Lowes lose a race. Besides Daytona and Talladega that is my favorite track. But the changes they're making sounds like it'll make the track even better! I'll be anxious to see the new garages and to see how they change the roads and infield. Although parking was never an issuse for us (right behind the grandstands) I'm sure it gets hairy for others!

And why wont the previous owners just drop the lawsuit? It really makes no sense at all. They dont own the track anymore and I thought a big part of why they even started all of that was to get a Cup race. They dont own it so drop it. All they're doing is basically wasting money now.

If Kentucky can get a Cup race I really will cry. Not because its my favorite track (although it is very nice) but because its only 3 hours away and I'd definately be going to that race! :)

Thoughts?

Ashley

[scodellaro16]

i like kentucky but not as a replacement for lowes. IMO new hampshire is a crappy track and should have a date taken away but i guess its all about the $$$. even though i live in ky bristol is actually alot closer to me.

[skippy]

i like kentucky but not as a replacement for lowes. IMO new hampshire is a crappy track and should have a date taken away but i guess its all about the $$$. even though i live in ky bristol is actually alot closer to me.

When Ky gets there date we'll meet you there. We're three hours from there and we'll def. be there.

[nadeau01_johnson48]

I hope they get a date. Kentucky is within driving distance for me!

[StillBig20Fan]

as long as they dont mess with Talladega and Atlanta, I'm good lol and watch me end up moving to the Charlotte area after graduation and them zapping the fall Lowe's race....THAT would be my luck LOL

[ashley832]

I hope they get a date. Kentucky is within driving distance for me!

Well then we could meet you there too! We'd have one big SCF party!

Ashley

[Lea DeFoote]

Well, I'm glad to hear that Bruton is at least claiming he won't take a date away from New Hampshire. It may not be the best race or the best track, but it's all we've got up here. The next closest track for me would be Pocono. At least you can see all of the track from anywhere in the stands at NHMS.

The previous owners of Kentucky probably won't drop the suit. Even though they don't own the track anymore, I'm sure that they think they could have sold it for more money if it had a Cup date. We shall see.

-Tom

[ashley832]

Well, I'm glad to hear that Bruton is at least claiming he won't take a date away from New Hampshire. It may not be the best race or the best track, but it's all we've got up here. The next closest track for me would be Pocono. At least you can see all of the track from anywhere in the stands at NHMS.

The previous owners of Kentucky probably won't drop the suit. Even though they don't own the track anymore, I'm sure that they think they could have sold it for more money if it had a Cup date. We shall see.

-Tom

Thats a good point, Tom.

Ashley