- For news on the Kentucky Speedway/ISC lawsuit, see my Lawsuit Page.
- Water closes Kentucky Speedway: Soggy conditions below ground, however, left Kentucky Speedway track workers dealing with water seeping onto portions of the 1.5-mile track that led to the cancellation Tuesday of a scheduled ARCA RE/MAX Series test session. Track officials reacted swiftly and announced that the track will be closed to any on-track testing for at least the next two weeks. "We want to make sure it's safe for the race car drivers and the teams," Kentucky Speedway spokesman Tim Bray said. "We're taking a proactive approach to it. We have everybody's interests in mind. The track is fine. There's just been so much water that we just need to make sure that what's under the track is dried out." The snow and rain that have flooded parts of the region since February is being blamed. Track workers spent several hours Tuesday trying to dry the surface and concentrated their efforts on problem spots in Turns 3 and 4. Thirteen ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers were at the track Tuesday. The speedway will open its 2008 season with the ARCA RE/MAX Series May 10. "The test session will not be rescheduled, based on our schedule, what we're looking at ahead here," ARCA RE/MAX Series spokesman Don Radebaugh said. The temporary shutdown comes as nine Sprint Cup teams were scheduled to spend today [Wednesday] testing their cars at the speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which tried to test last week at the track but could not because of the seepage, were among those scheduled. "We're monitoring it and want to make sure we're ready when the bell rings," Bray said. "Today was just unfortunate. It's not a huge deal because we're aware of it, and we are taking every step to make sure it's ready to go when we go racing."(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-16-2008) Comment here
- Kentucky Speedway Single-Event Tix on sale: Kentucky Speedway placed single-race and Fanfest tickets for its six-weekend 2008 season on sale Monday, Jan. 7. The 66,098-seat facility's season begins May 10 and concludes Sept. 20. Event tickets will range from $20 to $80 depending on event and seat location. Single-event tickets can be reserved online through the "Tickets" pages of www.kentuckyspeedway.com, at speedway ticket offices located at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., near Montgomery Inn
and the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center located off of I-71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223) and through Meijer stores. Season ticket plans for the venue's ninth season are on sale now and range from $165 to $255. Plans can be reserved online through the tickets pages of this Web site, by dialing 859-578-2300 and pressing "2," or through both track ticket offices.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(1-9-2008)
- Kentucky: no talks about buying NHIS: Kentucky Speedway co-owner Jerry Carroll visited New Hampshire International Speedway with other track officials and local basketball legend Oscar Robertson on Sunday. Attending the Nextel Cup Series race, Carroll said, was unrelated to his interest in buying the track from its longtime owner, Bob Bahre. "There were no, absolutely no talks about buying the track," said Carroll, who offered to buy the New Hampshire track last year. "I think Bob Bahre knows we have an interest. Our agreement is when the time comes, he can give me a call." Purchasing a track with a Nextel Cup date and moving a race to the Kentucky Speedway is one option Carroll has considered to get NASCAR's top division to the 1.5-mile track in Sparta [KY]. The speedway's federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., filed in 2005, remains headed toward a March trial date. Buying another track would not change Carroll's opinion about the lawsuit. "Absolutely not," he said. "The lawsuit's not so much about getting a race. The lawsuit's about an even playing field." The five-person contingent that visited New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday included Mark Cassis, the Kentucky Speedway's executive vice president and general manager. The group flew to Concord, N.H., in a chartered jet and from there took Bahre's helicopter over to the Loudon, N.H., track.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(9-20-2007)
