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!

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:

Bruton Smith Hot At NASCAR Over Mayfield, Long

((HT: Birmingham News/Demmons))

Bruton Smith, who is chairman of Speedway Motorsports which owns Lowe's Motor Speedway, had some choice words today for the way NASCAR has handled two recent controversies - the drug suspension of driver Jeremy Mayfield and the record-setting penalties against driver Carl Long.

On Mayfield, Smith said NASCAR "should come out and say what the substance is" that he tested positive for. "Why do we need all this secrecy behind it?"
On Long, who was banned for 12 races and fined $200,000 for an unapproved engine, Smith said "the fine is ridiculous. Why would you fine this man $200,000? What is it proving?"

"I don't know Carl Long," he said, "but there's an injustice done there. It's cruel to try to ruin this man. It's just not right."

Smith also discussed his attempts to get a Sprint Cup race for his most recent track acquisition - Kentucky Speedway.

But he needs NASCAR's approval and that's not going to happen as long as the former owners of the track continue to pursue an appeal of their antitrust case against NASCAR.

So Smith on Saturday also blasted the track's former owners for their determination to continue the case, saying he "tried to shame them" into dropping the case by reminding them the state of Kentucky put $96 million into the project.

"There's 96 million reasons they ought to drop that lawsuit," he said.

If he does get a Cup date for Kentucky he'll have to take one away from one of his other tracks. Speculation has centered on Atlanta being the track that would lose a date but Smith has refused to say which track it will come from.

He did, however, say that neither Lowe's Motor Speedway nor Texas Motor Speedway would lose a date.