Jayski's® Silly Season Site - OLD Kansas Speedway News

PAST KANSAS SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS

Kahne to sell tix at Kansas: On Tuesday, May 16 #9-Kasey Kahne will join Kansas Speedway's ticketing staff for the day. He'll meet the staff, take a quick tour of Kansas Speedway's ticket offices, learn some tips on how to sell tickets and then get ready for some on-the-job training with the race fans of NASCAR. Besides answering some ticket sales calls, Kahne will personally autograph all tickets he sells that day. He's featured on this year's season ticket so his autograph will make the ticket a nice collector's piece for some lucky fans. Kahne will take calls from ticket buyers starting at 11 a.m. The best way to reach Kahne is by calling 913.328.RACE (7223) or by Kansas Speedway's toll-free number, 866.460.RACE (7223). Kansas Speedway's Banquet 400 Nextel Cup race will be held on Oct. 1.(Kansas Speedway PR)(5-8-2006)
Race is on for Kansas Lottery $200 Grand tickets: This could be the year a Kansas Lottery player wins $200,000 by correctly predicting the top three finishers, in order, of the ARCA RE/MAX Series Kansas Lottery $200 Grand at Kansas Speedway. July will mark the third time the Kansas Lottery has sponsored the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Kansas Speedway. Visit www.kslottery.com or see the back of the Kansas Lottery $200 Grand scratch ticket for more information. Kansas Speedway's ARCA RE/MAX Series Kansas Lottery $200 Grand is set for July 1. The race is paired with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 and IRL IndyCar Series event that weekend. For race tickets or more information, call Kansas Speedway at 913.328.RACE or toll free at 866.460.RACE. You may also log onto www.kansasspeedway.com. Kansas Lottery $200 Grand instant scratch ticket is on sale now.(Kansas Speedway PR)(3-8-2006)
Bank of America to sponsor four ISC tracks: Bank of America Corp. said Tuesday that it has reached a five-year agreement with International Speedway Corp. to sponsor four race tracks, including California Speedway near Los Angeles. Financial terms of the latest sponsorship deal, which also includes tracks in Kansas City, Mo.; Avondale, Ariz.; and Watkins Glen, N.Y., were not disclosed. In return for its financial support, Bank of America wins the right to place advertisements and ATMs at each of the four tracks as well as entertainment space and other promotional rights. Last summer, Bank of America struck a deal with ISC's chief rival, Speedway Motorsports Inc., to sponsor Lowe's Motor Speedway in nearby Concord, N.C., and tracks at Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and San Francisco. Bank of America also will sponsor the Nextel Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October, the Bank of America 500.(ESPN.com/AP)(2-22-2006)
Yellow Transportation and Sprint to sponsor Kansas Busch race on behalf of United Way: In an unprecedented event, two leading Kansas City area corporations - Yellow Transportation and Sprint - today announced that they would sponsor this year's NASCAR Busch Series race at Kansas Speedway on behalf of the Greater Kansas City United Ways. The race, to be run on Oct. 8 and televised nationally on NBC, will be known as "United Way 300 presented by Yellow Transportation and Sprint." Representatives of the two corporations said the goal of their partnership would be to raise the visibility of and level of contributions to this fall's community-wide fundraising campaign for the Kansas City area's largest charity. Under terms of the agreement, the Greater Kansas City United Ways - including five United Ways in Kansas and Missouri - will receive numerous assets that will help United Way remind the community of the important role it plays in the everyday lives of thousands of people in the community. The sponsorship package includes race tickets, the right to use the mark/logo in promotional materials and other tools that will assist the United Way in this year's campaign. In addition to the sponsorship package, Kansas Speedway and the Midwest Ford Dealers are also donating a Ford F150 truck to United Way for use in an upcoming fundraising promotion and the Speedway is contributing an additional block of tickets for the United Ways to use during qualifying day. Yellow Transportation will further enhance the branding effort by converting its #1 Yellow Transportation car [Johnny Sauter] into a special United Way-themed car for the October race. For ticket information, call Kansas Speedway at 913.328.RACE or toll free at 866.460.RACE, visit www.kansasspeedway.com or come by 400 Speedway Blvd., Kansas City, Kan.(Kansas Speedway)(5-24-2005)
Kansas Speedway featured in 'LIFE' magazine: Kansas Speedway is featured in the most recent issue of LIFE magazine, which arrives in more than 70 leading newspaper nationwide Friday. All the shots for "While Daddy's Driving," a photo essay by renowned photographer Harry Benson, depict special moments between some of NASCAR's drivers and their families. All of the photographs were taken prior to October's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Banquet 400. LIFE is one of the world's most well-known magazines. The weekly magazine was first printed in 1936. It ceased publication in 1972, only to return as a monthly magazine from 1978-2000. Now, LIFE is distributed every week in more than 70 of the nation's leading newspapers. It has a combined circulation of about 12 million readers, but has a readership of 25 million. The LIFE centerpiece at Kansas Speedway will be published locally in the Kansas City Star and the Olathe News. Regionally, look for LIFE in the Wichita Eagle and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. For a complete listing of newspapers in your area which feature LIFE, please log onto www.life.com. To purchase your RPM Ticket to Kansas Speedway, please click, call or come by Kansas Speedway at www.kansasspeedway.com; 866.460.RACE; or 400 Speedway Blvd., Kansas City, Kan.(Kansas Speedway)(4-15-2005)
2nd Cup Race at Kansas? No? Could a hall of fame lead to another NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway? NASCAR announced plans earlier this week to build an official hall of fame. Officials said that building the museum would "likely" lead to a NASCAR race that would take place "in conjunction" with the hall's annual induction ceremony. Kansas City was selected as one of four sites to apply to be the host city. The others were Daytona Beach, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Atlanta. The Kansas Speedway hosted a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race on October 10 of last year.(missourinet.com)
NO? Could the construction of a NASCAR hall of fame in Wyandotte County mean that a second Nextel Cup series race is headed to Kansas Speedway in the future? Speedway officials hope so, but NASCAR officials caution Midwestern auto racing fans not to get their hopes up. NASCAR announced plans to build an official hall of fame earlier this week. Wording in the application requests sent to Kansas officials seems to indicate that a NASCAR race of some kind might come along with permission to build the hall and will be held on the weekends of the new hall's annual induction ceremonies. The requests state that it is “likely” that a NASCAR-sanctioned race will take place “in conjunction” with the ceremony.(Kansas City Star)(1-8-2005)
Construction on 1,500 seats begins at Kansas Speedway: Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger announced that construction has begun to add 1,500 seats to Kansas Speedway for 2005. Three new sections of permanent grandstand seats are being added to the on grade front stretch near Turn 1. Because of Kansas Speedway's bowl-shaped design, the new seats will continue to provide some of the best views of the race track, Pit Road and all the exciting track action from start to finish. With the addition of the seats, total capacity of Kansas Speedway's grandstand will be nearly 82,000. The new seats are bench-style seats with backs in varying shades of green depicting Kansas' waving fields of wheat. Permanent concession stands and restroom facilities are also being added during this construction phase. Ticket sales for next season have also begun. Fans interested in becoming RPM Ticket holders should call Kansas Speedway at 913.328.RACE or toll free at 866.460.RACE for tickets to 2005. The track sold out each of the last four years so Boerger says this is the best time to get seats to Kansas Speedway. The 2005 RPM Ticket includes admission to five races, including the fourth race in NASCAR's Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods on Oct. 9.(Kansas Speedway PR)(12-1-2004)
Some Residents Still Bitter: Residents who were forced to move to make way for Kansas Speedway are still bitter about being kicked out of their long-time homes. Five years ago, 146 homes and four businesses just north of Interstate 70 in Wyandotte County were forced to move. Track supporters said the speedway would bring in millions of dollars each year to the financially depressed area. The track has done all it was expected to do. But that doesn't erase the memories of the people who feel they were treated unfairly. This weekend's NASCAR races have brought tens of thousands of people -- and their money -- to the track. Officials say that alone justifies the decisions made five years ago.(wibw.com)(10-10-2004)
Kansas Sold Out: Though tickets to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series races at Kansas Speedway are sold out, Friday qualifying tickets are available for as little as $10. To purchase O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying Day tickets, please call Kansas Speedway toll free at 866.460 RACE or log onto www.kansasspeedway.com.(PR)(10-5-2004)
Kansas to add 1600 seats: Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger announced today that 1,600 seats will be added to the facility for 2005. The new permanent grandstand seats will be added on grade along the front stretch near Turn 1. Because of Kansas Speedway's unique, bowl-shaped design, the new seat locations will continue to provide some of the best views of the race track, Pit Road and all the exciting track action from start to finish. Construction on the seats will begin shortly after the Oct. 10 Banquet 400. With the addition of the seats, the total capacity of Kansas Speedway's grandstand will be nearly 82,000. The new seats are bench-style seats with backs in varying shades of green, depicting Kansas' waving fields of wheat. Ticket renewals for 2005 will begin Oct. 18, the week after the race. Fans interested in becoming an RPM Ticket holder should call Kansas Speedway at 913.328.RACE or toll free at 866.460.RACE to be placed on the wait list.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-23-2004)
Kansas puts in formal request for more seats: Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger said Tuesday that he has made a formal request to expand seating at the Speedway. He said he requested adding 3,000 additional seats for the 2005 season. The request was directed to International Speedway Corporation, the company that owns the Kansas track. Boerger expects action will be taken on the request at the company's September board meeting.(Kansas City Star)(8-25-2004)
Kansas to Add Seats? Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger said he is getting ready to make a request to the speedway's parent company that more seats be added at Kansas. His request could be from 1,500 to 3,000 more seats. If granted, that would bring seating capacity at the four-year-old speedway in Wyandotte County [Kansas] to up to about 83,000. Boerger and his staff are currently conducting a study of precisely how many more seats to request. Once that is complete, the plan will be sent to North American Testing, which is a subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation — the company that owns Kansas Speedway — which evaluates capital improvement projects. North American Testing will evaluate the proposal and then make a recommendation to International Speedway Corporation's upper management team. If that group approves, the proposal will go to ISC's board of directors, which gives the final go-ahead. The final word could come down as soon as December. Construction would begin almost immediately after the project is approved. New seats, if added, will be connected to the front-stretch grandstands near turn one. The first phase of grandstand seating at Kansas Speedway called for 78,000 seats to be constructed. Subsequent phases of construction were to raise seating to a maximum of 150,000 seats, with a separate grandstand on the backstretch portion of the track. Kansas Speedway continues to have a season ticket waiting list.(Kansas City Star)(8-12-2004)
NASCAR denies Speedway rumor: Yes, Jeff Boerger said, he's heard the latest rumors and read the latest reports concerning the revamping of the Nextel Cup schedule for next year. Especially the rumors and reports that mention Kansas Speedway as a candidate to land a second Nextel Cup race as part of that revamping. But no, Boerger said, he doesn't put much stock in them. “It's all just pure speculation,” said Boerger, Speedway president. In the intervening months, there have been numerous reports in the media and on Internet sites about what other races would be moved and to which major markets those races would be awarded. Kansas Speedway has been mentioned as the possible recipient of a second Nextel Cup race in several of the reports. It was most recently mentioned this week by the Dallas Morning News. The stories' sources for the information were not identified. But on Friday, NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer Brian France said no decision on a second date for Kansas has been made. “They (Kansas Speedway) certainly would be in the running for another date,” France said. “Kansas City is a good speedway in a great market, but I can't tell you there will be another date there.” Phoenix International Raceway is also being considered for a second Cup date, and several reports have that facility moving ahead of Kansas in the derby to land another event.(Kansas City Star)(4-24-2004)
Martinsville to lose a date? Kansas to get it? International Speedway Corp. is considering adding a second tour date at Kansas City next spring, possibly in May, and that could come at the expense of a Martinsville race.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-22-2004)
Kansas Looking to Expand; Lights?: Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger said he will ask the board of directors for International Speedway Corporation, the track's parent company, for permission to add 3,000-5,000 more seats for the 2005 racing season. That request will be made at the December board meeting. Boerger said, if constructed, the new seats will be low-level seats, built into the berm near turn one. He also said that all recreational-vehicle spots for 2004 have been sold out. No decision has been made on erecting lights at the speedway. Boerger said he would still like to do that, and the subject will again be presented to the ISC board. They would be needed if the trucks race the same weekend as Cup and Busch because that race probably would be held on a Friday night.(Kansas City Star)(3-17-2004)
Kansas to get SAFER: Kansas Speedway officials announced today that SAFER barriers will be installed at the track in the coming months. Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barriers are scheduled to be in place around the 1.5-mile trioval in time for the track's Banquet 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race Oct. 10. "Soft wall technology is vital to the safety of the drivers who race at Kansas Speedway, and we are proud to be one of the growing number of ISC tracks that recognizes this," speedway President Jeff Boerger said. "I applaud NASCAR for encouraging racetracks to install the system." Scientists at the University of Nebraska's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility developed the SAFER barrier, which absorbs some of the energy in a crash and lessens the impact on a driver. The SAFER barrier at Kansas Speedway will be made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam and affixed to the track's retainer wall between Turns 1 and 2, and Turns 3 and 4. The SAFER wall at Kansas Speedway will be 40 inches high, and extend through the inside of the turns about 30 inches from the wall. From start to finish, it will take engineers about three weeks to install the barriers.(Kansas Speedway PR)(3-16-2004)
Kansas Sold Out: For an unprecedented fourth time in as many years, Kansas Speedway® officials announced tickets for the five races that make up the track’s 2004 RPM Ticket season are sold out. Tickets for 2004 sold out even faster than each of the past previous years because of a high renewal rate among season ticket holders and an extensive waiting list that had been compiled since last year’s sellout. Speedway President Jeff Boerger encouraged race fans interested in 2005 events at Kansas Speedway to call and be placed on a waiting list. A waiting list for tickets is being compiled for 2005. Anyone interested in purchasing RPM tickets for future seasons at Kansas Speedway should call the track’s ticket office at 913.328.RACE to be added to the wait list. Future expansion and addition of seats at Kansas Speedway is based on the waiting list. Though race tickets are sold out, companies interested in hosting a hospitality event at Kansas Speedway during the race weekends should call a speedway Marketing and Sales Department representative for details about corporate entertaining in the speedway’s Hospitality Village. For the first time since the track opened, a limited number of hospitality chalets are available.(Kansas Speedway PR)(1-26-2004)
Woman indicted in Kansas Ticket scam: A grand jury has indicted a southeast Missouri woman with selling fake NASCAR tickets on the Internet. Olivia Doty, 28, of Marshfield, faces eight counts of unlawful merchandising practices. According to the indictment, Doty used the Internet auction site eBay to advertise tickets to the NASCAR Winston Cup Banquet 400 and the Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 races held in October at Kansas Speedway. The indictment said fans bought eight sets of tickets for a total of $7,143.93, but none of the purchasers received the tickets and some of the seats Doty sold tickets for do not exist.(thekansascitychannel.com/AP)(1-1-2004)
Lee Ann Womack to serve as grand marshal for Banquet 400: Lee Ann Womack, Grammy winner and Country Music Awards female vocalist of the year, will serve as grand marshal of Sunday s Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods at Kansas Speedway. Womack will also sing God Bless America during the NASCAR Winston Cup Series pre-race ceremonies. Singer of the critically acclaimed I Hope You Dance, Womack has garnered countless top-10 hits and has sung at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Orange Bowl, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, at the White House and many other venues. A consumer winner, not yet chosen by Banquet Foods, will serve as honorary starter for the race.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-30-2003)
Coors Light Twins to sing national anthem for Banquet 400: Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski, better known as the Coors Light Twins, will sing the national anthem prior to the start of Kansas Speedway s Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods on Oct. 5. The twins will also be featured in a special paint scheme on Sterling Marlin s No. 40 Coors Light Dodge during the race. The 26-year-old twins, originally from the Boston area, are credited with starring in the best-scoring commercial spots in Coors history, the company s marketing chief has said. The duo will also hold a fan forum press event in Fan Walk at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, right before the start of the race. Scary Movie 3 will be released this fall. In addition, Diane and Elaine have appeared this year in NBC s reality show The Restaurant , FX s season finale of Lucky and The Drew Carey Show.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-30-2003)
Kasnas Goes High Speed: The fastest thing at Kansas Speedway may not be the cars. Flash Network has teamed up with Kansas Speedway to bring suite guests, teams, campground users and the media high-speed Internet access while at the track. Using a combination of wired and wireless solutions, high-speed Internet will be available at Hot Spots throughout the 1,200 acres of “The Track That Will Blow You Away!” Most new laptops come equipped with these cards, or they are readily available at computer stores.
Antennas have been strategically placed around the speedway that will allow signals from the Internet cards plugged into laptop computers to be picked up and connected to the Internet without use of a phone line. The infield Media Center and its photo rooms and Press Box are in the middle of a wireless “hot spot.”
“The July 4th race weekend went extremely well and everybody was happy with the speed of their connection” Dave Alexander, vice president at Flash Network, said. “Now we’ve just completed adding more powerful wireless transmission gear in even more areas of the Kansas Speedway property. We intend to provide service wherever it’s needed.”
In fact, Kansas Speedway may be one of the world’s single biggest Hot Spots with coverage in the 22-acre infield, 16-acre RV terrace, 18-acre Coleman RV Campground, plus coverage in all 60 luxury suites, the press box and media center.
"For press, teams and our guests to be able to surf the Web without being tethered to a phone line is incredible," speedway President Jeff Boerger said. "Race fans in the suites, infield and campgrounds will be able to keep up with real-time scoring or watch the progress of their favorite driver online during the race. It’s just one more way to enjoy the race at the country’s premier racetrack.” How fast is the new high speed at Kansas Speedway? Current cable modem technology connects to the Internet at up to 1.5 Mbps. With Flash Network, users at Kansas Speedway will be able to connect at up to 11 Mbps. Flash Network’s use of WiFi technology means anyone with a laptop computer, handheld PDA or other WiFi enabled device can access the worldwide web without being connected to a phone line or wired computer network. And the connection is much faster than dial-up.
Flash Network will have technical experts at the track during Kansas Speedways events to troubleshoot and set up new wireless users. But fans are encouraged to get more information and to sign up in advance at www.flashnetwork.net/ksspeedway. The cost for race guests to use the service for the weekend is $29.95. (Press in the Media Center and Press Box will be able to use the service free of charge. Laptop computers may require a wireless fidelity “WiFi” card. You may purchase one from Flash Network or from any electronics chain. This card will then be good ANYWHERE wireless technology is available.)
For more information, race guests should visit a special Web site set up by Flash Network – www.flashnetwork.net/ksspeedway. Press may call Kansas Speedway Public Relations at (913) 328-3300.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-29-2003)
Kansas Title Sponsor: ConAgra Foods has signed an agreement to make its Banquet brand the title sponsor of its Oct. 5 Cup race at Kansas Speedway. The race will known as the Banquet 400. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. ConAgra Foods plans to market its involvement with grocery store promotions and put the Banquet 400 logo on about 30 million ConAgra Foods products. The Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods is part of Kansas Speedway’s sold-out 2003 RPM Ticket, which includes admission for five events – the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on July 5; the Indy Racing League race and Aventis Racing for Kids 100 Infiniti Pro Series race on July 6; the NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 on Oct. 4; and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods on Oct. 5.(Kansas Speedway PR)(7-2-2003)
Kansas Speedway goes wireless, high-speed: Flash Network has teamed up with Kansas Speedway to bring suite guests, teams, campground users and media high-speed Internet access while at the track. Using a combination of wired and wireless solutions, high-speed Internet will be available at Hot Spots throughout the 1,200 acres of “The Track That Will Blow You Away!” Most new laptops come equipped with these cards, or they are readily available at computer stores and at the track. Antennas have been strategically placed around the speedway that will allow signals from the Internet cards plugged into laptop computers to be picked up and connected to the Internet without use of a phone line. The infield Media Center and its photo rooms and Press Box are in the middle of a wireless “hot spot.” The track’s luxury suites, garages, driver/owner RV lots and track campgrounds will also have service by the upcoming Indy Racing League IndyCar Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, July 4-6. The service will also be in place for the track’s NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series weekend, Oct. 3-5. How fast is the new high speed at Kansas Speedway? Current cable modem technology connects to the Internet at up to 1.5 Mbps. With Flash Network, users at Kansas Speedway will be able to connect at up to 11 Mbps. Imagine e-mailing photos of your trip to Kansas Speedway, checking e-mail or logging on to www.nascar.com and www.indyracing.com for driver stats – [or Jayski.com] all from atop a motor home or from a car at lightning speeds. Flash Network will have technical experts at the track during Kansas Speedways events to troubleshoot and set up new wireless users. But fans are encouraged to get more information and to signup in advance at www.flashnetwork.net/ksspeedway. The cost to use the service for the weekend is $29.95; or $39.95 for a season pass good for all weekends at the speedway. (Press in the Media Center and Press Box will be able to use the service free of charge. Laptop computers may require a wireless fidelity “WiFi” card. You may purchase one from Flash Network or from any electronics chain. Data ports will also be wired so please bring a network power cord in addition to your regular phone cord.) For more information, race guests should visit a special Web site set up by Flash Network – www.flashnetwork.net/ksspeedway.(Kansas Speedway PR)(6-27-2003)
Kansas Gets Sponsor: Kansas Speedway’s Oct. 5 Winston Cup race will be known as the Banquet 400 after the track struck a four-year, "multimillion-dollar" sponsorship deal with ConAgra, this week’s Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal reports. Reporter Terry Lefton says ConAgra, which replaces Protection One security services as the race’s sponsor, will also spend at least $2 million in television advertising for its Banquet frozen-food products to ensure that NBC mentions the name during race broadcasts.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(5-19-2003)
Kansas takes Darlington race in 2005? In 2005, the Cup series is expected to go to Kansas Speedway a second time, replacing the Darlington spring race on the schedule. NASCAR officials are not expected to release next season's schedule until late summer, so more changes could be made. NASCAR typically makes the schedule only one year in advance.(Roanoke Times)(5-18-2003)
Kentucky and California add races in 2004? The 2004 Winston Cup tour schedule continues taking shape behind closed doors, and the most recent word is that NASCAR now may again be moving toward dropping a date from Rockingham and Darlington next season, as France had hinted at in January when he revealed plans for a schedule shakeup, to accommodate Fox and NBC. One of those two race dates is expected to go to Fontana, Calif., for a second tour race, probably Labor Day weekend. The other date, highly placed sources say, could go to Kentucky Speedway, even though the Kentucky track isn't owned by International Speedway Corp. While France has made several references to the Kentucky track this spring, a 2004 Cup date there would be a surprise, because there has been considerable speculation that ISC's Kansas City track would be getting a second tour date in 2004.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-4-2003)
Kansas Pushing for a 2nd Date: Kansas Speedway officials are continuing their efforts to persuade NASCAR into granting the 3-year-old track a second race on the Winston Cup schedule. Speedway President Jeff Boerger said during a luncheon Tuesday that "chances are fairly good" the 1 1/2-mile track would land a second Winston Cup race. Currently, NASCAR's premier series is scheduled to stop in Kansas the weekend of Oct. 5. The effort is dubbed "Project Blitz," Boerger said, and will be presented to NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation officials in late April or early May.(CNNSI/AP)(4-16-2003)
Kansas in June 2004? If Kansas Speedway, as expected, gets a second Winston Cup date, it likely will be the first weekend in June.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-16-2003)
Kansas to get 2nd race? Kentucky to get Cup race if owner sells? Texas 2nd race? ...insiders say that Kansas City is almost assured a second Cup date and that Kentucky Speedway will also be added to the tour if track owner Jerry Carroll is willing to sell majority interest to the International Speedway Corp [ISC]. One of those dates will likely come from Rockingham, the other from Darlington. In fact, speculation here is so hot about Kentucky getting a Cup date that Carroll and France [ISC] might already have come to some tentative agreement, though that's not clear. Other NASCAR sources say it's increasingly likely that the sanctioning body will indeed add a second Winston Cup date at Texas Motor Speedway, in order to keep some of NASCAR's business secrets from being brought out in the Texas courtroom that is hearing a lawsuit over the second date issue.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-22-2003)
Kansas pushing for 2nd date and will add more seats: Kansas Speedway joined by government and civic groups on both sides of the state line, is pushing hard for a second Cup date when NASCAR reshuffles its schedule for 2004. But if a second date doesn't materialize, track president Jeff Boerger said, the 2-year-old speedway will expand again after this season. Kansas Speedway added 1,500 seats in the offseason after its second straight sellout year, bringing its capacity to 78,000, and has already sold out its 2003 season-ticket package. "We could go, if the market would let us, to 150,000. We have the infrastructure in place for that," Boerger said Monday. Last week, he and other officials presented the track's case to its parent company, Daytona, Fla.-based International Speedway Corp. ISC is owned by the family of NASCAR owner Bill France. NASCAR's realignment could include moving races between tracks but likely won't involve additional dates. That means one of the circuit's older tracks - perhaps Darlington Raceway or North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, both of which now have two races a year - could lose their Cup dates. But Kansas City isn't the only ISC track looking for a second date, and SMI's Texas Motor Speedway has long argued that NASCAR has never given a second date as promised when the $250 million track opened in 1997. "Within ISC, I would say our competition is probably going to be between Phoenix, California and Chicago," Boerger said. "And you know, Darlington is not just going to give us a second date. They're going to give us a challenge."(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(2-19-2003)
Kansas City Star: Two races at Kansas Speedway not exactly a sure thing by Jim Pedley (2-1-2003)
Toto...Kansas is Sold Out: For a third time in as many years, Kansas Speedway officials announced today that tickets for the five races that make up the track’s RPM Ticket season are sold out. All 80,187 season tickets for “The Track That Will Blow You Away!” have been purchased by motorsports-hungry race fans from around the country. An RPM Ticket this year includes admission to five races: the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 on July 5; the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series event and Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series Aventis Racing for Kids 100 on July 6; NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 on Oct. 4 and NASCAR Winston Cup Series event on Oct. 5. Tickets sold out quickly because of a high renewal rate and an extensive waiting list that had been compiled after last year’s sellout. Speedway President Jeff Boerger encouraged race fans interested in RPM events at Kansas Speedway should call and be placed on a waiting list for 2004.(Kansas Speedway Site)(1-28-2003)
BGN Sponsor re-ups at Kansas: Kansas Speedway and Mr. Goodcents officials announced that the DeSoto, Kansas-based sub [Mr. Goodcents] and pasta franchise will continue to sponsor the BGN race at the track through the 2006 season. The next Mr. Goodcents 300 is Oct. 4. The Mr. Goodcents 300 is part of the track’s 2003 RPM Ticket, which includes admission for five events at Kansas Speedway – the CTS on July 5; the IRL and its Infiniti Pro Series on July 6; the BGN on Oct. 4; and the CUP on Oct. 5.(Kansas Speedway PR)(11-17-2002)
More Seats at Richmond and Kansas: International Speedway Corp. has begun work on adding 3,100 seats and six luxury suites to Richmond International Raceway. The project, scheduled for completion next spring, will boost total seating capacity at the Richmond track to about 105,000. Kansas Speedway, also owned by Speedway Corp., will get 1,500 more seat as part of the company's annual capital expenditures. Speedway Corp. spokesman David Talley said no expansion projects have been slated this year for Daytona International Speedway, which has a seating capacity of 165,000.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-16-2002)
Joe Montana and Reggie Jackson Grand Marshal's at Kansas: Football legend Joe Montana will be the grand marshal for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Protection One 400 on Sunday. And Mr. October himself, baseball great Reggie Jackson will be the grand marshal for the NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300 on Saturday. Saturday s race is not Jackson s only involvement with motorsports. Earlier this year he formed having formed Herzog Jackson Motorsports and became a co-owner of the #92 Excedrin QuickTabs Chevrolet with co-owners Bill, Stan and Randy Herzog in the BGN.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-24-2002)
National Anthem at Kansas: Jessica Andrews will sing the national anthem for the Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. Andrews was named Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2000 following the release of her No. 1 album “Who I Am.” Andrews, 18, has toured with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Trisha Yearwood, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and “Live! With Regis and Kelly.” The Huntingdon, Tenn., native, is in the studio working on her third album. Her second album, "Who I Am," went gold three weeks after its release. The.title song from that album became her first No. 1 country hit. Patti DiPardo-Livergood will sing the national anthem for Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series Mr. Goodcents 300. The Kansas City native and Kansas City Chiefs musical director has been in the entertainment business since her childhood days, having accompanied her father, Tony "Mr. Music" DiPardo. She plays numerous musical instruments including percussion, horns and keyboards. While not entertaining and wowing the crowds with her music, she can be found creating video pieces one of which was an award-winning piece for the rededication of the Liberty Memorial Monument in Kansas City, Mo., this past May.(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-24-2002)
Lights at Kansas for 2003? For the second straight year, more than 75,000 fans endured 90-degree-plus temperatures and filled Kansas Speedway for both Saturday's CTS and Sunday's IRL races. And in September, about 100,000 fans, including those who watch from motor-home parking on the infield and motor-home terrace, will attend the Sept. 28-29 BGN and Winston Cup races. So speedway president Jeff Boerger plans to petition the board of directors of International Speedway Corp., parent company of the speedway, and seek approval to expand the year-old facility by 5,000 to 8,000 seats and to install lights for night racing. The board will meet in September at ISC headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL. The speedway was built with the eventual plan to double in size by completing grandstands in sections until they surround the 1.5-mile tri-oval. The infrastructure for electricity and water lines were installed when the $260 million facility was built, making expansion easier and more economical. The light poles are already in place with plates in which lights can be affixed. The initial expansion would add seats to the lower grandstands in turn one, the 3,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets would get the first opportunity for the new seats. By adding lights, which would cost in excess of $2 million, Kansas Speedway could not only attract a second Winston Cup or IRL date, it could bid for NASCAR's all-star race, The Winston, which NASCAR is considering rotating much like other sports rotate their all-star games. If Kansas Speedway had lights, Boerger said either or both the July Craftsman Trucks or IRL races could be held at night, depending on the desire of NASCAR and the Indy Racing League.(Kansas City Star)(7-9-2002)
Wait and See for softwalls at Kansas: Don't expect to see "soft walls" in place for racing anytime soon at Kansas Speedway. Jeff Boerger, president of Kansas Speedway, said he will wait and see how the walls perform at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before making any decisions on use at his track.(Kansas City Star)(5-3-2002)
Kansas Expansion/Lights? Jeff Boerger, Kansas Speedway's president, said the track may expand its seating as early as this year. "The reaction we've had has just been unbelievable," he said. Boerger made the announcement earlier this week, when the track held its kickoff luncheon. The event included NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty, ARCA/REMAX driver Jason Jarrett, former Indy 500 champion Johnny Rutherford, World of Outlaws sprint-car racer Danny Lasoski and Fox Sports racing analyst Larry McReynolds. Boerger said the track will review the possibility of expansion in July, and it may add as many as 10,000 seats to the existing 75,000-seat grandstands. Boerger said track officials also are exploring the possibility of adding lights to the facility. "We want to continue being as fan-friendly as possible," Boerger said. "And because of the heat we had last July, we would like to add lights to the facility."(Wichita Eagle)(4-24-2002)
Changes at Kansas: International Speedway Corporation announced Tuesday that Jeff Boerger has been chosen president of Kansas Speedway. He moves up from the position of vice president and general manager of the Wyandotte County auto-racing facility. Boerger replaces Grant Lynch, who oversaw construction of the facility. Lynch will remain a regional vice president for ISC. Boerger will continue to report to Lynch.(Kansas City Star)(3-22-2002)
Kansas City Sold Out: Speedway officials announced Wednesday that for the second straight year, all 78,000 tickets for the five races making up the track's 2002 RPM season plan have been purchased.
A season ticket includes admission to:
• The NASCAR Craftsman Truck O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 on July 6.
• The Indy Racing League Ameristar Casino Indy 200 and Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series Kansas 100 on July 7.
• The NASCAR Busch Mr. Goodcents 300 on Sept. 28.
• The NASCAR Winston Cup Protection One 400 on Sept. 29.
Tickets sold out quickly because of about a 90-percent renewal rate by season-ticket holders from the inaugural 2001 season. The rest of the tickets went to those on a waiting list. A new waiting list will be compiled for the 2003 season when Kansas Speedway may begin a facility expansion of between 5,000 and 10,000 seats. Kansas Speedway will open its season June 1 with two events -- the ARCA RE/MAX BPU 200 and NASCAR Winston West kansasspeedway.com 150 -- that are not part of the RPM season-ticket package. Tickets for the May 31 qualifying will cost $10, and tickets for the June 1 doubleheader will run $20, $25 and $30. They will go on sale in the coming weeks, speedway officials said. Last year, about 40,000 fans attended the ARCA and Winston West races, which officially opened the speedway. Those interested in being added to the waiting list for RPM tickets for future seasons can call Kansas Speedway's ticket office at (913) 328-RACE.(Kansas City Star)(2-14-2002)
Kansas Gets a Sponsor: Protection One will sponsor the Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway for 2001 and 2002. The race, to be run this year on Sept 30th, will be called the Protection One 400.(Kansas Speedway PR)(8-27-2001)
Kansas BGN Sponsor: A title sponsor has been signed for the BGN race at Kansas Speedway, and a sponsor for the Winston Cup race could be signed soon. The sponsor for the Busch race, which will be run Sept. 29, will be Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pasta. The sandwich company, which is based in Lenexa(KS), has agreed to sponsor the 300-mile race for the next three years and has an option to be title sponsor for the next 10 years. The race will be called the Mr. Goodcents 300. Grant Lynch, president of the speedway, said he expects to sign a title sponsor for the Winston Cup race, which will be run the day after the Busch race, in the coming weeks. He said corporate candidates to become sponsor of the 400-mile race have been reduced to one, and they're close to a deal. The company will build an advertising and marketing campaign around the race. Terms of the deal were not announced(Kansas City Star). The Cup Race Title Sponsor is rumored to be Sprint(see my Kansas Speedway Track News page)(8-11-2001)
Kansas 2002 Date: Next year's racing schedule at the Kansas Speedway will look very much like this year's. The track should look the same, too. The speedway announced that it will play host for NASCAR Winston Cup/Busch Grand National races on the last weekend in September in 2002, the same weekend as this year's inaugural race. The Busch race will be on Saturday, Sept. 28, and the Winston Cup race will be on Sunday, Sept. 29. The track will also have a NASCAR Trucks/Indy Racing League weekend July 6 and 7 next year. The first NASCAR Trucks/IRL races were held July 7 and 8. The IRL date was announced earlier this month. This year, the racing season opened at the speedway with an ARCA/Winston West weekend in early June. Kansas Speedway vice president and general manager Jeff Boerger said that negotiations are currently being held with ARCA to bring that series back. Talks have not begun with Winston West to bring that series back to Kansas, but, Boerger said, a return engagement is still a possibility. Boerger said some thought is being given to installing lights at the speedway so that night racing could be held there next season. The topic of lights heated up when the temperatures did so -- rising well over 90 degrees -- on the weekend of this year's IRL/NASCAR Trucks event. Boerger would not rule out additional racing series staging events at the speedway. But he said additions to the 2002 schedule seemed unlikely. The seating situation will remain the same next year. Boerger said there will be no new seats added to the 75,000-seat facility even though season tickets -- which allowed admittance to the two major weekends of racing -- sold out quickly this year. There has been talk lately that because of fan interest and a high demand for tickets, a second Winston Cup date might be handed over to Kansas Speedway. But Boerger discounted the idea of that happening any time soon. The complete schedule for the 2002 Winston Cup season will be announced soon, with only subtle changes from the 2001 schedule.(Kansas City Star)(7-21-2001)
Kansas CTS Sponsor: O'Reilly Auto Parts will sponsor Kansas Speedway's 250-mile NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race July 7. The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 will run as a support event to the IRL that weekend. O'Reilly Auto Parts signed on for three years as sponsor of Kansas Speedway's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 will be broadcast live on ESPN at 1:00pm/et July 7.(Kansas Speedway PR)(6-21-2001)
Traffic Delays Race at Kansas: The start of the first race at Kansas Speedway was delayed 30min because of a traffic jam outside the speedway. Track and NASCAR officials announced at 11:15 a.m. CDT that the noon start of the NASCAR Winston West race would be delayed until 12:30 p.m. Traffic was backed up for miles on Interstates 70 and 435, which intersect near the new speedway. Track officials opened just a handful of entrances to the track's parking lots, presumably because much of the parking area was unsodden or flooded because of heavy rains Friday night.(SpeedVision)(6-3-2001)
Kansas Sold Out: Officials at Kansas Speedway said Monday that all grandstand season tickets for the 2001 racing season have been sold. Because no tickets for individual races will be sold, Monday's announcement means that those wanting to see either the Winston Cup or the Indy Racing League events this year who do not have tickets are probably out of luck(Kansas City Star)(4-10-2001)
Kansas City Sponsor? hearing rumors that Kansas Speedway may be named the Sprint Kansas Speedway or as a race sponsor such as Sprint PCS 400(4-4-2001)
Naming Rights: Kansas Speedway still seeking naming-rights candidates(3-29-2001)
Kansas Tix: Those holding out hope that they will be able to buy a ticket for September's Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway without having to buy a full-season ticket are out of luck. Officials at the speedway say that season tickets for the first year of racing at the track are selling at a rate that ensures they will all be sold by the Indy Racing League weekend in July, the first event included in the season-ticket package. That means no single-event tickets will be sold for the IRL weekend, which includes a NASCAR Truck Series race and an Indy Lights race, or the Winston Cup race and accompanying Busch Grand National race (Kansas City Star)(3-22-2001)
Kansas News: The marquee event of the weekend that will raise the curtain at Kansas Speedway has had a date for months. Today, that race gets a name. When ARCA RE/MAX Series cars take to the speedway on June 2, they will be participating in the ARCA RE/MAX Board of Public Utilities 200. That name will be officially unveiled at a press conference this morning at the Jack Reardon Civic Center in Kansas City, KS(Kansas City Star)(2-1-2001)
Petty and Kansas UPDATE: Kyle Petty will be at Kansas Speedway, Wed, Dec 13th to announce a partnership at the track(Kansas Speedway PR). This announcement has been postponed until Tues, Dec 19th. Richard Petty Driving Experince maybe? or it could be Sprint being a race sponsor?(12-13-2000)
UPDATE: Officials at Kansas Speedway and NASCAR driver Kyle Petty announced Tuesday that the track will be host for the Richard Petty Driving Experience for four sessions next year. For a fee, people will be able to ride along with a professional instructor in a stock car, taking high-speed laps at the 1.5-mile Kansas track. For a bit more money, fans will actually be able to drive the cars, which are very similar to NASCAR Winston Cup cars. The Petty family has been conducting the program at high-profile NASCAR tracks such as Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina and Atlanta Motor Speedway since 1994(Kansas City Star)(12-20-2000)
Kansas Adds Race: Kansas Speedway is adding another event to its 2001 schedule, bringing to three the number of racing weekends in its debut season. The latest addition to the schedule is a weekend featuring an ARCA race and a Winston West Series race(Kansas City Star)(11-13-2000)
Kansas City Star: Kansas Speedway holds promise of big economic rewards by Jim Pedley and Steve Nicely
Kansas Tests UPDATE: The placing of first of three layers of asphalt for the 1.5 mile Kansas Speedway began last Tuesday. Kansas Speedway officials have stated that an IRL driver would be the first to try out the new surface, and on Sunday, September 17, IRL driver Billy Boat(not Scott Sharp) did just that, turning speeds in excess of 130mph during the one day session. Boat was behind the wheel of Scott Goodyear's Pennzoil Panther IRL car and tested several racing grooves, and gave the track two thumbs up. The track, which is banked at fifteen degrees in turns 1-4, five degrees on the backstretch, and 10.5 on the front tri-oval, is also 55 feet in width, which Boat suggested could lend itself to the ability for the IRL drivers, "to go five to six wide down the tri-oval." Boat and crew chief Kevin Blanch concurred that qualifying speeds for the IRL cars could reach as high as 218mph. IRL cars were reportedly chosen for the test sessions due to their on board telemetry which translates real-time data, mapping the track surface with remarkable accuracy. More tests are in the works for Kansas Speedway, as two additional layers will be required for the facility. The first layer, or base course, which is primarily made up of rough asphalt, will have smother layers placed on top, occurring to the director of facility operation for Kansas Speedway, Russ Tysinger. "The second and third layers will become finer and finer until the track's final paved surface is as close to perfect as you can get," Tysinger said. The paving process is expected to be competed by mid-October(Kansas Speedway PR)(9-18-2000)
UPDATE: and see story at the Kansas City Star: Kansas Speedway track passes first test(9-20-2000)
Kansas Speedway News: The paving process at the speedway began last Tuesday. At midday Monday, special asphalt-laying equipment was making the sixth of seven passes required to put the first of three layers of pavement down by HNTB, the architectural and engineering firm that is building Kansas Speedway. When that first 2.5-inch layer is down and cured this week, the Indy Racing League will send a car and team out to take some laps. The IRL car, which will be that of driver Scott Goodyear, will be equipped with data-gathering apparatus.(KS Star)(9-13-2000)
Kansas Speedway Articles: from the Topeka Capital-Journal/CJ Online site - The need for more speedways - Speedway seen as powerful economic engine for KCK by Dana Fields of the AP; and Tracks: Fans will win with two venues by Michael Hooper of the Capital-Journal; and Many short track owners happy about Kansas Speedway by John Milburn of the AP(9-5-2000)
Kansas Tix Going Fast: Tickets for the 2001 racing season at Kansas Speedway, just eight days after going on sale, about 60,000 of 75,000 season tickets for next year's auto races at Kansas Speedway have been sold. Tickets can be bought online at www.kansasspeedway.com and by phone at (913) 328-7223. The season tickets allow fans to see four races over two weekends next year(KC Star)(8-29-2000)
Kansas Tix...soon: Kansas Speedway race tickets will be ready to obtain for the inaugural 2001 racing season, dubbed the RPM Ticket Package will first be offered to residents of Wyandotte County, August 17-18. For the rest of the world, the RPM package will go on sale Monday, August 21. No coolers will be allowed in the grandstands. Single race day tickets may go on sale in the future, but only if needed. For more info, see the Kansas Speedway Site(8-16-2000)
Kansas News: Kansas Speedway has expanded its 2001 racing schedule. Speedway officials will announce today that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series will visit the track as a companion event for the IRL race next July 7th. Tickets for the races will go on sale later this month(KC Star and Kansas Speedway)(8-2-2000)
No New Walls: The recent concerns over concrete walls won't sway International Speedway Corporation from using the racing industry standard concrete wall at its new speedways. ISC senior vice president Lee Combs, giving an update to the media on construction of the speedways in the Kansas City and Chicago areas, said there are no plans to use or test experimental shock-absorbing walls at the new tracks scheduled to open next year(Speed Magazine)(7-18-2000)
Kansas Speedway has hired Russ Tysinger as their Director of Facility Operation. It takes effect on August 1st(PR)(6-6-2000)
Kansas Announcement UPDATE 3: If a couple of remaining details can be worked out, fans will know in a week the exact date of next year's Winston Cup race at the speedway being built in Wyandotte County, KS. Kansas Speedway Corp., the group building the track, is trying to put together a news conference for Monday, when the date of the race will be announced(Kansas City Star)(5-3-2000)
UPDATE: Press conference is scheduled at 3:15pm/et at the infield garage area of the new Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.(That's Racin')(5-7-2000)
UPDATE 2: The Kansas City Star has a story up which lists the Cup date for Kansas Speedway at Sept 30th, 2001 with a BGN race on Saturday, Sept 29th. The official announcement will be made this afternoon(Kansas City Star) This date is where Martinsville will be run this season, so it looks like the Martinsville date will be moved. Even made up a TENTATIVE 2001 Schedule with the two new dates on it, see it at my 2001 Winston Cup TENTATIVE Schedule page
UPDATE 3: the official announcement at NASCAR Online: Kansas City, here we come, the date is Sept 30th for the Cup race. Ticket info at the track site: www.kansassuperspeedway.com(5-8-2000)
Track/Race Columns concerning the two additional races(5-8/9-2000):
SpeedVision: NASCAR Invades Chicagoland, Heartland by Ben Blake
ESPN/AP: Joliet, Kansas City to host new races
That's Racin': Winston Cup officials announce dates for the two new races by David Poole
Roanoke Times: Martinsville race falls back - 2 new Winston Cup races likely push 2nd Martinsville race into mid-October by Dustin Long
Dallas Morning News: New tracks get NASCAR races by Tony Fabrizio
Kingsport Times News: Speedway makeover ‘has that Humpy feel,’ says Estes by Kenny Bruce
Greenville News: NASCAR adds races in Chicago, Kansas City areas by Mike Hembree
Philadelphia Daily News: New speedways to host added races/Notes by Bill Fleischman
Tennessean: Two tracks added to crowded slate by Larry Woody
St Petersburg Times: Schedule squeezes two more tracks in/Notes by Damian Cristodero
The State: NASCAR adds two tracks, races by Jim McLaurin
Races to be Added: In separate announcements planned for Monday, NASCAR will officially unveil its plans to add two races to its Winston Cup schedule next season. Sources say the Chicago area race will likely fall the week following the Pepsi 400, which annually takes place during the July 4th weekend at Daytona. The Kansas race is expected to take place in September or October. Neither race addition, which would bring to 36 the number of Winston Cup races next season, is expected to bring wholesale changes to the Winston Cup schedule, though the additions will require a few changes(That's Racin') AND Insiders believe the Joliet track will get a July race and the Kansas raceway will get a date in September. That could lead to a change in date for a race currently in September(New Hampshire? Richmond?)(SpeedVision)(5-7-2000)
Race Expansion: A new track in Kansas City and one near Chicago will be added to next season's Winston Cup schedule, though an official announcement may be a few weeks away, producing a 36-race season in 2001. None of the current tracks in the series will lose a race for 2001. See full story at That's Racin': Winston Cup schedule expanding to 36 races in 2001 and NASCAR goes for addition without subtraction by David Poole(4-24-2000)
Kansas Pace Car: The Official Replica Pace Car of the Kansas Speedway was unveiled by Grant Lynch, president of Kansas Speedway Corporation (KSC), and Mark Smith, president of the Midwest Ford Dealers Association. The 2000 Ford Taurus, which bears the Kansas Speedway logo and is adorned with racing stripes, also displays the number 58 on each of the rear fenders in memory of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, Derrick Thomas(KSC Site)(2-10-2000)
Kansas: A Press Conference has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Feb 9th, at the construction site of the new Kansas Speedway. Track officials will unveil a replica of their official Pace Car, as well, the media will be given a tour of the site(Racin' Network)(2-8-2000)
ISC Track News: Bill France says that tracks at Kansas City, KS, and Joliet, IL, both are on target for 2001 openings. ISC is building the Kansas City track and is a partner in the Joliet track. France also said ISC and developer Donald Trump are looking at "two or three different places," in the New York area and ISC still is eyeing Denver as a potential site(Roanoke Times)(11-14-1999)
Kansas City Business Journal Column: Speedway sponsors grab pole positions by Brian Cookson(11-8-1999)
Kansas City Track Column: Work proceeding on auto speedway in Wyandotte County by Jim Pedley and Steve Nicely(11-6-1999)
KC Seats UPDATE: The Kansas Speedway Corp. will announce Wednesday morning(or already did announce) that it will immediately begin selling seat-purchasing rights to the NASCAR-style track under construction in Wyandotte County. The rights to 13,750 "premium" seats will be offered. The cost will be from $400 to $1,250 per seat, depending on location. See full story at: Kansas Speedway to sell rights to premium seats(KC Star)(7-28-1999) -- UPDATE: from the Kansas Speedway site: Kansas Speedway Corporation (KSC) launched its ticket sales efforts today by inviting Kansas City Royals baseball legend and recent "Hall of Fame" inductee, George Brett, to become the Inaugural Founding Fan of the new speedway currently under construction in Kansas City, Kansas. see the full story at: Kansas Speedway Corporation Launches Ticket Sales Effort(7-29-1999)
KC/IRL? The Kansas City speedway may be open for business next fall, according to sources close to the operation. But its first event apparently will be an Indy Racing League event, not a Winston Cup race, probably in October, according to those sources(PitNow)(7-26-1999)
Kansas City Expansion: due to the overwhelming demand for hospitality suites, the company is considering expansion of its suite offering at the speedway it is building in Kansas. Already, the company has secured long-term lease agreements on all of the suites currently planned at the Midwest's premier motorsports facility, which is under construction at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 435 in Kansas City, Kan. See complete story at Kansas Speedway Corporation Considering Expansion Due to Overwhelming Demand For Hospitality Suites(Yahoo Biz)(7-13-1999)
Kansas City Delay: Lawsuits and lousy weather have made it increasingly unlikely that the new auto racing track in Wyandotte County will be ready in time for next year's Winston Cup season. See full story at: Kansas track facing construction delays(CNN/SI/AP)(7-6-1999)
Kansas Track Story: Racin' sure has changed by Joe Posnanski(KC Star via That's Racin')(5-27-1999)
Kansas City Groundbreaking: Kansas Speedway Corporation (KSC) officials held the official construction celebration Tuesday, May 25, 1999, for its new motorsports facility located in Kansas City, Kansas. The ceremony took place at the site of the future speedway in Wyandotte County. Guests in attendance included Kansas State Governor Bill Graves, NASCAR Winston Cup Drivers Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Ken Schrader as well as many speedway officials(DaytonaUSA KCS Site)(5-26-1999)
Kansas City Tickets: Kansas City Speedway ticket packages will be available online very soon, possibly before the end of July. Ground breaking in KC on Tuesday, May 25th(5-24-1999)
Kansas City: Turner Construction Company, with an office in Kansas City, Mo., has been awarded the general construction contract for the $130m Kansas Speedway project of International Speedway Corp. Turner Construction is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Turner Corp., the nation's leading general builder. Turner has been involved in the project for two years, providing pre-construction and design development services(Racer Mag)(5-19-1999)
Kansas City Story: at PitNow - K.C. track will look like Vegas, but steeper(4-28-1999)
KC News: Bill France, the chairman of the board of the International Speedway Corporation, got his first look at the construction that will become Kansas International Speedway in another 20 months or so. He targeted the year 2001 as the most likely date for the first race at Kansas International Speedway -- though he wouldn't completely rule out next year. And he virtually promised a Winston Cup event. See the story at France makes trip to Kansas track (KC Star)(3-28-1999)
Kansas City: The first green flag could drop as early as next year on the track, which is now under construction at the northwest intersection of Interstates 70 and 435 in Kansas City, KS. See article at Countdown is on for NASCAR racing at Kansas City speedway (Kansas City Business Journal)(3-1-1999)
Kansas City Track Article: It's a week old but I just got wind of it - The only engines roaring at Kansas International Speedway in the near future will be those of earth movers. But at least now it is dead certain that auto-racing engines will have their time at the track in Wyandotte County. The final legal obstacles confronting the developers of the track were cleared late last week, and revenue bonds are being issued to complete construction of the facility. Fans can at least begin fantasizing about big-time racing in the Kansas City area. See complete story at: Kansas International Speedway nearing reality(2-3-1999)
ISC's proposed Kansas International Speedway may not be completed in time for the 2000 season. ISC announced that the sale of bonds by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS has been delayed. Proceeds from the bonds will help finance construction of the new 1.5 mile track.(Speedworld)(10-3-98)
A group of property owners has filed suit to stop development of the proposed Kansas International Speedway on the grounds that moving and relocation payments are insufficient and violate federal and Kansas laws. The story is at the KC Star www.kcstar.com - "Property owners file another suit to stop development of Kansas speedway", They move their stories around so much, so I removed the link, and the story is too long to include here.(KC Star)(8-11-98)
See the story about the KC Track at: Kansas Senate approves proposed Wyandotte County NASCAR track, The Kansas Senate on Tuesday cleared the way for a proposed $252 million speedway in Wyandotte County. If land purchases proceed as planned, construction of the racetrack could start as early as May 1, with events similar to the Daytona 500 beginning in the year 2000.(2-19-98)
and....JOE POSNANSKI: NASCAR will be a hit in KC and a story all about the drive to bring the track to KC at High Speed, High Stakes, has a proposed layout.(2-19-98)
"Ground Breaking is planned for July on a 1.5-mile superspeedway near Cincinnati. William Moss, the Birmingham engineer who helped design the Talladega and Las Vegas tracks, is adviser for the project, which backers hope can attract a Winston Cup date."(JournalNow)(2-14-98)
Kansas House gives tentative nod to 30-year tax breaks for NASCAR track.(2-11-98)
"A 75,000-seat racing facility has been approved for the Kansas City area and should be completed by 2000. International Speedway Corp. will develop the 1.5-mile oval in Kansas City, Kans., which was approved by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. Ground should be broken in 1998, followed by negotiations for motorsports events. Phase I will cost $198.3 million and Phase II $54.1 million. The facility will eventually expand to a possible 150,000 seats"(SpeedNet)(12-25-97)
International Speedway Corporation (ISC) has announced that its board of directors and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kan., have unanimously approved the development agreement for a 1.5-mile oval motor speedway in Western Kansas City, Kan.(NASCAR FAns/NASCAR Online see the whole story there plus the AP story at Tampa Tribune)(12-18-97)
ISC announced ground breaking plans and seating estimates today for the 1.5 mile oval track in Kansas City. The full story is at: International Speedway Enters Next Stage Of Development In Kansas City.(12-11-97)
ISC - International Speedway Corp(Bill France) has signed on to negotiate exclusively with Kansas City, KS with the sole purpose to see about building a racetrack there. See article NASCAR Track To Negotiate Exclusively With KCK about the KC track. Supports the report on a Charlotte radio station this morning re: a major ISC announcement today, thanks Cindy(8-6-97)
Story at the Kansas City Star, "KC leaders told to get serious about proposed superspeedway", see the story by going to KC Star and do a search on NASCAR(7-10-97)
NASCAR'S Jim Hunter, who manages Darlington Raceway, has been escorting Kansas City officials around Daytona. NASCAR's Bill France has been pushing to have a new superspeedway built in the Kansas City area for a Winston Cup event eventually
Wow, that's a lot of stuff and there is more there(JournalNow)(7-5-97)
Bill France and other NASCAR officials have been in Kansas City this week trying to get stalled negotiations for a new superspeedway there going again. The Kansas side-track option apparently died a few weeks ago, and France is now trying to woo Missouri officials to put the track on that side of the state line . . . if he can get the right tax breaks(5-18-97)

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