After the race: KY Speedway has some 'splainin to do

Kyle Busch wins Quaker State 400/Nascar.com

The 1st ever Quaker State 400 was run Saturday night and there were nearly 109,000 people who came to see Kyle Busch win a relatively clean, fast race.

However, not all the 109,000 with tickets made it to the race. And it wasn't because they didn't try. You see, when Bruton Smith and his folks at Speedway Management Inc. expanded the Kentucky Speedway to accommodate the much larger crowd that attends Sprint Cup races, they neglected two, rather significant things: Parking and Roads.

There were people on the road for nearly 7-hours at one point and still unable to make the race. Hundreds, no thousands, just gave up, turned around and went home. And yet, most of the day Sunday was spent with nary a peep from Smith or the folks at the Speedway.

They finally released a statement Sunday night around 7:30pm:

Speedway G.M Mark Simendinger said "Kentucky Speedway regrets the traffic conditions surrounding the Quaker State 400. We're committed to working with NASCAR, state and local officials and traffic experts to assure that this never happens again. The details of these improvements will be announced over time as they are formulated."

"We also recognize the traffic problems resulted in some fans not being able to attend the (Race). We are gathering information on this and will announce a policy for these affected fans within seven days"


NASCAR's Brian France eventually chimed in as well saying they will work with SMI to fix the problem.


We are scratching our collective heads. There apparently were traffic problems getting in and out of the Speedway a couple of years ago for an Indy Car race, which draws a third of what a Sprint Cup race does.

Without knowing the motives of those involved, we have a sneaking suspicion they closed their collective eyes and prayed really hard that it would all work out. Nobody had, or was willing, it seems, to spend the money required to upgrade the roads. Which led to the problem.

With the Satellite office being a mere 40 minutes or so from the track, we can tell you access consisted of two Interstate exits and two way in or out. That is it. The roads were mostly two--or four lanes at the most. That plus reports that they were turning people away at the parking lots because they were maxed out, was the primary problem.

We suspect, Gallatin County, Kentucky taxpayers and the state of Kentucky will soon be ponying up money they don't necessarily have to fix this problem.

Here's the end of the race, which we chose in part for the god awful "Narration" of the people who posted this--wooohooo!

Let the NASCAR Track Dance OFFICIALLY Begin....

Bruton Smith and Darrell Waltrip in KY/Patrick Reedy/The Enquirer

The announcement confirming most of what OSG Sports reported roughly six days ago, took place today. For those doubting our omniscience...READ THIS.

We told you that Atlanta had lost their NASCAR race as did California, Fontana to be specific. We also said that Kentucky was getting a race and Kansas City was getting the other. (Because sources aren't always perfect, we mentioned New Hampshire too, but nothing changed there)

Today, NASCAR made it official. Today they announced that Kentucky Speedway will be hosting a race on July 9, 2011. Kentucky Speedway announced that starting probably tomorrow, they are adding 50,000 seats for said race.

NASCAR also said that Phoenix will now have the second race of the year, right after the Daytona 500. Kentucky will follow the other Daytona race...the Firecracker. Chicago's race, which was that week, will be moving to September 18th, kicking off the Chase for the Cup.

More on the Kentucky announcement from NKY.com RIGHT HERE

The big part of this announcement is the move to Northern Kentucky. We will be very curious to see how the turnout is for this race. The track is about two hours from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and not really near anything else. The population base with Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington all being less than an hour away is pretty big.

Kudos to the NASCAR folks for realizing they need to change some things up. Interest has been waning  as has attendance. This may not be the ultimate difference maker, but as a piece in the puzzle, it certainly can't hurt.

Here is a pre-announcement story from our friends at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati:

DEVELOPING: Atlanta, Fontana, NH Losing Races in 2011

OSG Sources close to the NASCAR situation are slowly revealing how the 2011 season is going to look, and for three tracks it doesn't look good.

The dominoes started falling into place when Bruton Smith held his Kentucky Speedway announcement last week. OSG Sports followed and reported on it here...

Smith has called a presser for the day that the 2011 schedule is to be released, and with all the lawsuits behind them, it looks like Kentucky Speedway will get their Cup event. Smith has to add 30,000 seats, but he says that can be done in time for his weekend next year.

Looks like Phoenix is getting the second race of the season behind Daytona and the 500. PIR will still have its fall date in the next to last event of the year before Homestead.

Atlanta, Fontana, and New Hampshire are losing one race each. Those races are, according to our sources, going to Vegas and Kansas City with Kentucky.

Look for one of these tracks to try and fill their calendar with the weekend that Gateway International is probably losing after their dismal attendance figures from the races a few weeks ago.

The spring race in Atlanta always has weather issues whether it's cold or rain- or both. And it would not surprise the HQ if they are first in line for the Gateway weekend which is for later in the year and better suited for the weather of the southern part of the country.

Until we know more, here's the fun from the Atlanta race earlier in the year...
Edwards vs. Keselowski...
((HT: NASCAR on FOX/skinley218))


Thursday UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway guru Ed Clark released a statement:

Atlanta Motor Speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," Atlanta president Ed Clark said in a statement. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever.

"Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."

DEVELOPING: Is NASCAR heading to Kentucky?

Kentucky Motor Speedway//Courtesy: NKY.com

((ht:nky.com))

NASCAR has made no secret about wanting to do some things to "Shake the Tree".

Attendance is down and so are the TV ratings. The guys who run the sport are at least aware of the problem and are trying some things to bring the excitement back.

One thing they are looking at is changing the schedule and/or the rotation of tracks.

Enter Speedway Motorsports and its chairman, Bruton Smith. Smith recently purchased the Kentucky Speedway, located in Sparta which is in the northern part of the state, between Cincinnati and Louisville.

Smith has called a press conference for August 10th, to make what he called a "A big press conference" to discuss a lot of things including some changes at the track.

More on Smith from NKY and Cincinnati.com RIGHT HERE

We can only, at this point, speculate as to what the announcement is. Kentucky Speedway already has been hosting the Nationwide Series, there isn't much left other than NASCAR. However, in order for the Speedway to be prepared for the race, they'll have to add another 30,000 or so seats, something Smith has gone on record as saying can be done in just a couple of months.

What it does mean is that someone or some track is losing a race. We don't at this point know which track that is though there are more than a few suspects. Start with New Hampshire or perhaps Pocono, maybe add Dover and quite possibly Atlanta which has had its share of attendance issues.

All in all, prepare for change in 2011. NASCAR isn't going to stand pat, the question is what they want to do. It sounds like by August 10th, we'll know.

Enjoy this promo for NASCAR's all-star race. Thanks YouTube:

Appeals Court Takes On Kentucky Speedway Suit

((HT: WXIX/Fox 19))

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.

Boies noted that the speedway has hosted other NASCAR series races since opening in 2000 and was in effect saying: "We want it all and we want it now."

Plaintiffs' attorney Charles Rule, who headed the Justice Department's antitrust division during the Reagan administration, said the alleged conspiracy is meant to keep independent tracks from gaining top-tier races. "This is a classic case of anti-competitive illegal conduct," Rule 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.

Kentucky became the eighth NASCAR-sanctioned track in SMI's portfolio, but the only one without a Cup date. NASCAR has said the lawsuit must end before Kentucky Speedway could get a Sprint Cup race. "We're not a party to it, and we'd like to see it resolved," Mark Simendinger, general manager for the Kentucky Speedway, said in a telephone interview.

Appeals judges typically take months to decide and prepare their opinions. They repeatedly questioned Rule on his contentions they should overturn the January 2008 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge William O. Bertelsman.

Judge Ronald Lee Gilman asked whether a premium race was "in the eye of the beholder." Rule replied that NASCAR's top-tier races draw the most television revenue, fan interest and other benefits to tracks, and are the "major league" of racing.

NASCAR officials say there are limits to how many premium races they can run in a year - the Sprint Cup series currently has 36 points competition races and two "All-Star" races. "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