NASCAR: No Cup date request yet for Kentucky but…?
Quote selected text Published May 22nd, 2008 in NASCAR News
NASCAR has not received a realignment request from Speedway Motorsports to have a race realigned to Kentucky Speedway, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday afternoon.
SMI agreed to purchase the track and SMI Chairman Bruton Smith said he expects to have a Sprint Cup race at the 1.5-mile oval next year. Poston said it is late in the year as the sanctioning process is under way for 2009, but he also wouldn’t rule out the track getting a 2009 Cup date.
“If we do get a proposal, it would be considered in the spirit of the realignment plan and we will make the best decision we can for the industry,” Poston said. “However, it is an area that is very well served by NASCAR and that’s something that we will have to take a look at and put into consideration.”
Several sources have told AutoRacingSport.com that Smith will push hard to bring a Cup race to Kentucky in 2009 and that New Hampshire is the likely track to give up one of the dates, although Atlanta is a possibility.
- Bruton Smith intends to bring Cup date to Kentucky by 2010
- Kentucky Speedway appeal deadline extended
- NASCAR says no to Kentucky Cup race, speedway ready to fight
- Brian France says no to adding Cup race at Kentucky for 2009
- Furniture Row testing at Kentucky
Yeah lets put a date there so then all the Cup teams cry because they are down to one 1.5 mile track (Nashville) to test on.
Nope. not New Hampshire, they are locking in their dates Friday morning and they are already selling tickets for next June’s event (2009). As a matter of fact, NASCAR is locking all dates for 2009 right now.
Rest assured that Bruton would not make this purchase unless there waas already a deal in place to move a date here. Dover is being mentioned. There’s also a rumor that Smith is looking to buy Pocono for one of their dates. My preference? One of the Michigan dtess, or either of the road course races that have nothing to do with stock car racing and therefore don’t belong in Cup. I’m sureeveryone has their own ideas, though.
Umm why do Road Courses not belong in Stock Car racing?
1. The very first NASCAR race was on a Road Course
2. Often times the only place you’ll find “Stock Cars” racing is on Road courses (l0l)
3. It takes way more skill to race a road course then it does Tona/Dega
4. I’d rather race on a road course then drive in circles for 4 hours.
As far as the Pocono thing, Living close to the track I am worried, but at the same time the Mattioli family has repeatedly in the past turn down offers from SMI, ISC and even Dover Motosports (or whatever its officially called). All I know for sure is that Dr. Mattioli has a contract with NASCAR for 2 Cup races a year for the next 3 years (well this year plus the next two). I think NASCAR is smart enough to realize that they need Pocono for the simple reason of its Markets, about 2 hours from NYC (#1 Market in US) and Philly (#3 or 4 market in the US), and its within about a 3 hour drive of Millions of people.
Now I know most people are probaly going to say Pocono should go because its “boring”, well my thoughts on that is No race is Boring, well except races where its a crash every 10-15 laps followed by 5 laps of caution. However I think the track does need some improvements both to the track and the facilities to modernize it a bit, but then again Pocono the way it is almost unchanged since 1974 and is a connection to NASCAR history that so many fans love to point out the newer tracks do not have. (see article about Fan hypocrisy)
However I do think the races should be changed from 500 Miles to 310 miles or 500 Kilometers, that way it can keep the Pocono/PA 500 names, but the races would not be as long. Also I think there needs to be either the Truck or Nationwide series there during that weekend too.
End Rant…. l0l
Racedriven wrote:
Interesting. I have not heard this at all. I’ve heard exactly the opposite as of an hour ago. I could very well be wrong but I’m wondering if you could tell me where you got this info and I’ll chase it down.
Why is Bruton Smith trying to get a date for the cup guys to go to Kentucky
anyway? I think it’s stupid………….Plus I agree with Fisha695 whne they
said that Pocono is a good marketing race. He’s right, I go to the August race
& I know for a fact that philly is 3hours away and NYC is only like 2 1/2. If
Bruton wants get rid of a race then get rid of the Mexico City race and have the Kentucky race on that weekend. If you dont liek that then how about just extented the season to
37 races. There will be alot of ppl Po’d if they take a race away from Pocono.
Ron F. wrote:
you will not see Doc. sell Pocono anytime soon.
Racedriven wrote:
i dont think that NHIS is selling tickets for any 2009 event. the schedule does not come from NASCAR until Oct. so I dont think you have the right story.
Racedriven wrote:
well I do know that New Hampshire which is owned by SMI is not looking into the 2009 season at all when i read this i talked to Bruce Stone who has been up there running a dept at the track since 1990 and he said that where ever you receive your info does not know what they are talking about. 2009 has not even been discussed at any meeting yet and no plans for the 2009 season have been dicussed