Is hockey on the horizon for Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage?

Gossage says no. But the man generally regarded as one of the top promoters in racing has been approached by people involved with the NHL about joining the league and eventually replacing commissioner Gary Bettman, sources confirmed Wednesday. Bettman’s contract expires after the 2007-08 season.

Gossage attended the NHL All-Star Game in Dallas last week, but insists the subject wasn’t addressed.

“I haven’t spoken to any NHL official about this,” Gossage said Wednesday. “It’s all very flattering, but I’m very happy where I am and enjoy what I do.”

Frank Brown, media relations director for the NHL, denied the league is involved in any way. “The NHL has not hired a headhunter to contact anyone,” Brown said in an e-mail Wednesday. “Any reports stating otherwise are fictitious.”

But sources said a group with NHL ties has met with Gossage to discuss his availibility. The NHL is looking to find a marketing guru and a high-profile individual who can bring more attention to a league that is struggling. It’s unlikely Gossage would consider any position other than commissioner. Knowing the rumors would become public soon, Gossage met with his TMS staff on Tuesday to reassure them he wasn’t going anywhere.

“I told them I wasn’t going to pull a Nick Saban,” Gossage said. “I knew they would hear about this and I didn’t want anyone to get distracted and think things were in limbo here.”

Gossage has been portrayed at times as a Ringling Brothers-type showman, an over-the-top promoter willing to do whatever it takes to bring attention to TMS.

His promotions over the years have included a Robbie Knievel motorcycle jump over the starting grid of an IndyCar Series race; a car-eating, fire-breathing 50-foot robot dinosaur called Robosaurus; and a glamorous all-female pit crew for a truck race.

His efforts have helped make the 157,000-seat TMS facility, which opened in 1997, one of the top speedways in motor sports.

Gossage has been in demand from other sports organizations in the past.

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