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PAST KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS

Kentucky Speedway looking at buying Loudon track, move Cup race: Kentucky Speedway officials are interested in buying New Hampshire International Speedway and moving one of the track's two Nextel Cup dates to the Bluegrass state. Jerry Carroll, the chairman of Kentucky Speedway, visited with NHIS owner Bob Bahre during Sunday's race. Carroll isn't Bahre's only option. John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox and part-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, has had discussions with the 80-year-old track owner. "The way he's talking he's probably interested in doing something," Carroll said. Carroll believes Kentucky deserves a Nextel Cup event, reminding the sold-out crowd of 70,000 for the track's last Busch Series event was as many as the Labor Day Weekend Cup race at California Speedway. ESPN.com)(9-17-2007)
Kentucky Cup race? Vegas 2nd race? NASCAR executives may be ready to settle one of those thorny legal situations they face, according to sources who say that a settlement with Kentucky Speedway could be coming — by adding the 11/2-mile track south of Cincinnati to the Nextel Cup tour next season. And there is also an unconfirmed report that NASCAR could be looking at adding a second Nextel Cup event at Bruton Smith’s Las Vegas track for next season.(Winston Salem Journal), so what tracks lose a date?(6-23-2007)
Kentucky Speedway Yearns to Host Nextel Cup Race: The expansion plans are at the ready, filed away in some desk drawer waiting for the day Kentucky Speedway finally lands the NASCAR Nextel Cup race its owners have been chasing for nearly a decade. The optimist in Speedway general manager Mark Cassis believes one day the plans to add 35,000 seats to the grandstand and 50 more luxury suites will be unveiled. And listening to him talk about the overwhelming response to the NASCAR Busch Series event at the track - more than 70,000 packed the grandstand for Saturday's Meijer 300 - it's hard not to share his enthusiasm or notice the gleam in his eye when he talks about seeing Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and company roar to the start-finish line. "We're going to get there," Cassis said. "We need to get there." The "majors," however, seem to have no interest in adding a date at the Speedway to its schedule, a decision that led the track to file a lawsuit two years ago against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. The lawsuit alleges the companies violated federal antitrust laws by illegally restricting the awarding of Cup races. The suit continues to be mired in federal court - the next scheduled court appearance is March 2008 - with no end in sight, forcing the Speedway to find different ways to make up the revenue it would normally get from the windfall of hosting a Nextel Cup event. The track is dabbling in a little bit of everything. The Indy Racing League, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA all have races at the track. Five different race driving schools take up 100 days a year. Ford rents the track every Tuesday for race testing. There are large concerts planned sporadically throughout the year as well. The track's location doesn't help. There are four tracks - Indianapolis, Bristol, Michigan and Chicago - within a reasonable drive. NASCAR has built its brand in the last decade by expanding beyond its southern roots. Putting a race in Kentucky would seem to go against that trend, though Cassis said he doesn't feel the market is oversaturated.(Associated Press)(6-21-2007)
Group wants NASCAR to sever ties with Kentucky Speedway: Union organizers crisscrossed the state line Thursday getting signatures on a petition that seeks to keep the status quo with regard to the assignment of NASCAR race dates. The group wants NASCAR to sever its ties with Kentucky Speedway and uniform company Cintas. Volunteers told fans who turned out along Bristol’s State Street for Family Race Night that a lawsuit filed by Kentucky Speedway against NASCAR could force the race-sanctioning body to take race dates away from smaller tracks. The Kentucky track, owned in part by Cintas Chairman Richard Farmer, accuses NASCAR of antitrust violations because of the way the organization assigns race dates to tracks. The speedway in Sparta, Ky., opened in 2000 but has been unable to secure a Nextel Cup race date. If the lawsuit succeeds, tracks would have to compete for race dates, and the highest bidders would get the races, petition organizers said. The volunteers working the crowd didn’t tell those who signed the petition that the textile and hotel workers’ union Unite-Here! backed the petition drive. The union has a long-running dispute with Cintas over efforts to unionize Cintas’s work force. The union accuses Cintas of using intimidation to quash any moves toward unionization. Chris Rook, the organizer of the petition volunteers, said Unite-Here! would be interested in Kentucky Speedway’s lawsuit even if the track weren’t connected to Cintas. The union has collected 25,000 signatures at tracks across the country, and volunteers seemed to have little trouble attracting interest on State Street.(Bristol Herald Courier)(8-25-2006)
Kentucky to in SAFER Walls on interior backstretch wall: Kentucky Speedway will install 56 feet of the SAFER Barrier System across a section of its interior backstretch retaining wall prior to its third 2006 race weekend that will feature the ARCA Series "Kentucky 150" and Truck Series "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" races July 7-8. Two sections of system will close an opening in the interior wall previously used as infield access point for speedway Fire and Safety Team (F.A.S.T.) vehicles. The installation is being made on the recommendation of Dr. Dean Sicking of the University of Nebraska Roadside Safety Facility following a June 17 incident in which the #34 Busch Series car driven by Jeff Fuller suffered heavy damage after sliding into a rounded inside portion of concrete retaining wall on the left side of the opening. Fuller was attempting to avoid a spinning racecar coming off of Turn 2. The 48-year-old transported to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken wrist and finger before being released June 18. Kentucky Speedway invested $1,000,000 to install SAFER Barrier System inside the concrete retaining wall that spans Turns 1 through 2 and Turns 3 through 4 in 2005. The system is designed to minimize injuries under race conditions. Tickets for the Kentucky Speedway's third of four 2006 race weekends are on sale now and can be reserved by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223), online at kentuckyspeedway.com.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-27-2006)
NHIS 1st race July 1st in 2007 UPDATE other sched changes?: many New Hampshire International Speedway ticket holders got their renewals for the first NHIS 2007 race, and the date is July 1st, the race is usually the third weekend in July. With the 4th of July on a Wednesday in 2007, the Pepsi 400 is scheduled to run on July 7, 2007. No word on the NHIS race date in September 2007.(6-16-2006)
UPDATE On the schedule front, there are indications that next year's Cup slate will have a different look to it. New Hampshire's first race will be moved up two weeks to July 1st and rumors in the garage have a second Las vegas race and a possible Kentucky Speedway date showing up on the calendar.(RacingOne)(6-20-2006)
Kentucky Speedway withdraws request for other tracks papers: Kentucky Speedway has withdrawn a motion asking for permission to subpoena other track owners in its anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. The track had hoped to subpoena Speedway Motorsports Inc. and other track operators to ask for documents relating to their sanctioning agreements and other dealings with NASCAR. Kentucky Speedway had to request the court's permission for it to travel more than 100 miles to subpoena companies not involved in the complaint. SMI and Dover Motorsports had filed objections to the request and likely would have filed more motions objecting to the broad nature of the subpoenas. In its withdrawal of its request, Kentucky Speedway asserted that it believes it had valid reasons to issue such subpoenas but was dropping its request "to avoid any undue delay in the discovery process and to resolve the dispute over third-party document subpoenas extra-judicially."(SceneDaily.com)(6-2-2006)
Kentucky Speedway wants all tracks' records: In trying to prove that NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. illegally work together to keep Nextel Cup events at ISC tracks, Kentucky Speedway is asking for lots of sensitive financial and business records. That was to be expected as far as NASCAR and ISC were concerned. But now virtually every track that has a national NASCAR race will be asked to give up its records, too. Kentucky Speedway has asked a U.S. District Court judge in Kentucky to allow it to serve subpoenas to request information from companies that are not parties in the lawsuit. Those parties include Speedway Motorsports Inc., Dover Motorsports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, the Milwaukee Mile and New Hampshire International Speedway. Among the documents Kentucky will ask from SMI, which has 11 Nextel Cup events at its tracks, will be for all documents and depositions from the Ferko v. NASCAR anti-trust case that was settled out of court in 2004. Ferko was an SMI shareholder. The proposed subpoena - filed as an exhibit to the motion to allow Kentucky to subpoena companies that aren't parties to the case - also asks for SMI to produce sanctioning agreements, ticket sales information, advertising revenue, safety records and documents relating to any attempt to purchase another racetrack. The subpoenas have not been served, and it is expected that once they are served, the tracks will challenge how much information they will have to provide. Disagreements and arguments over the production of documents are typical in cases such as this. Kentucky Speedway alleges that ISC and NASCAR work together to keep non-ISC tracks from obtaining Nextel Cup events and is asking for it to be awarded a Cup date as well as having a standard set for the allocation of Cup dates. NASCAR is a private company owned by the France family. ISC, which promotes many NASCAR-sanctioned races including 20 of the 38 Cup events, is a public company in which a majority of stock is owned by the France family. NASCAR and ISC deny Kentucky Speedway's claims. The case won't go to trial until at least summer 2007.(SceneDaily.com)(5-5-2006)
ISC to buy Kentucky? Kentucky Speedway's lawsuit against International Speedway Corp. could lead eventually to a possible sale of the $150-million Cincinnati-area track to the ISC, according to some knowledgeable figures in the NASCAR garage. The track, which seats 66,000, has sold out Busch series races since it opened in 2000. However, the location of the track - in a rural setting 45 minutes from downtown Cincinnati, and just a little over two hours from Indianapolis Motor Speedway - works against it.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-17-2005)
Kentucky still looking for Cup date, wants to run independant event: Attempts by Kentucky Speedway officials to secure a NASCAR Nextel Cup continue. "I think it's time for us to really make a forward push and try to do everything we can," track founder and owner Jerry Carroll said. "There are certain times in business when you have to call for the order. It's time for us to call for the order." To help convince NASCAR that the facility and the market can support a Nextel Cup race, track officials have thought about putting on an event independent of NASCAR with a big enough purse to lure Nextel Cup competitors to the speedway on one of their off weekends. "Do we do an independent race? Take one of those (off) dates and set up a purse?" Carroll said. "What's wrong with that? Put up a nice purse. You've got some guys that say, 'There's too much driving right now.' If you put up a big purse and they don't want to drive in it, don't come." Carroll insisted the idea is not about starting a league or sanctioning body separate of NASCAR. "There are just situations when you think you've got something to prove and you want to be competitive, that you've got to look at all of your alternatives," Carroll said. "We have a great respect for NASCAR. We've kept our nose clean. We've done all the right things. ... We're just complaining that we don't have the (Nextel Cup) race. That's all." A NASCAR spokesman reiterated the sanctioning body's status regarding the track's chances of landing a Nextel Cup event. "Nothing has changed," said Herb Branham, NASCAR manager of communications.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(6-21-2005)
Kentucky looking to buy a Cup date; not selling: Frustrated by NASCAR’s refusal to award their 5-year-old, $170 million Kentucky Speedway track a Nextel Cup race, Jerry Carroll says the track’s owners will go on the offensive to land one of the coveted dates. Last week he told the Louisville Courier-Journal that one option is to purchase a track that currently has two Nextel Cup races and moving one of the events to the Sparta, Ky., raceway. Among the possible targets are Martinsville (Va.) Speedway [ISC to sell? I think they's move it to one of their tracks first...like Homestead or save it to move to the Northwest of NYC], Pocono Raceway [owner says he is not selling] and Dover International Speedway. The latter two have local connections. Pocono is owned by Dr. Joseph Mattioli, father of Music City Motorplex President Joe Mattioli. Dover Downs is the parent company of Nashville Superspeedway. Carroll denied reports that Kentucky Speedway is for sale. Similar rumors have swirled about Nashville Superspeedway, which also appears to be shut out of Nextel Cup. “I hate the word try,” Carroll told the Courier-Journal. “You either do it or you don’t do it. And over the next 30, 40, 50 days, the owners of this track are going to get together and just figure out a way to get it done.” Kentucky Speedway’s ownership group includes Outback Steakhouse founder Chris Sullivan, Cintas Corporation chairman Dick Farmer, Churchill Downs majority owner Dick Duchossois and John Lindahl, owner of Nashville-based State Industries.(Nashville City Paper)(6-2-2005)
Kentucky Speedway up for sale? After five years of successful operation, but no Nextel Cup race date, the Kentucky Speedway's owners might sell the $170 million facility, acquire another track or merge to get one of the big-league NASCAR races. "Our ownership group is getting concerned," said Mark Cassis, the speedway's executive vice president and general manager. "When you're dealing with guys like (Cintas Corp. Chairman) Dick Farmer and (Churchill Downs owner) Dick Duchossois, they don't get mad. They fix it." The partners might be able to sell the racetrack for about $150 million, but that's only if the Kentucky Speedway already had a Nextel Cup race, said Dennis McAlpine, managing director of McAlpine Associates in Scarsdale, N.Y., an independent research company that follows the motorsports industry. Without the cup race, McAlpine said he doubts the owners could get even $50 million. And McAlpine predicted a Nextel Cup race will be nearly impossible for the speedway to secure because International Speedway Corp., the public company that dominates the industry, is preserving two smaller races in hopes of moving them to planned racetracks in Seattle and New York City. Cassis said all options are on the table for the speedway, the 70,000-seat racetrack in Sparta, Ky., championed by local developer Jerry Carroll. To reproduce what Carroll and his partners have built there -- including the land, facility, roads and infrastructure -- would cost more than $350 million, Cassis estimated. The Kentucky Speedway remains the largest track in the country [actually Texas World Speedway is larger, used for driving schools] without a Nextel Cup race date, and Cassis said Carroll and his high-powered business partners have decided to step up efforts to change that. The partners -- Carroll, Farmer, Duchossois, Tennessee businessman John Lindahl and Outback Steakhouse, represented by founder Chris Sullivan -- meet more regularly now, Cassis said. Where they once figured success at the speedway would be enough to get a coveted race date, they no longer believe that, he said.(Business Courier)(5-17-2005)
Kentucky to install SAFER: Kentucky Speedway will invest $1,000,000 to install the second generation of the Steel And Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier System inside the concrete retaining wall that spans Turns 1 through 2 and Turns 3 through 4 of the 1.5-mile tri-oval track at the facility. The system is designed to minimize injuries under race conditions. The speedway chose to install the system following a thorough analysis of all on-track incidents throughout the five-year history of the 66,089-seat facility. Installation will begin after the season-opening ARCA RE/MAX Series "Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150" race on May 14 and will be complete before the June 18 NASCAR Busch Series "Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" event. Installation will take place at night and will not interrupt frequent race team testing at the speedway. The second generation of the system differs from the original version by utilizing: - New steel tubes which help the system react to and recover from impact more quickly than before; - Slightly curved barrier sections to provide a smoother impact surface; A five-tube exterior to replace the previous four-tube design; - A universal polystyrene shape that is more compatible with stock and open-wheel cars; - Improved anchors to attach the barrier to the retaining wall. . The Kentucky Speedway project will require an estimated 241.5 tons of steel tubing, 161 welded panels weighing 3,000 pounds each, 805 custom polystyrene blocks and 322 straps. Elrod Corp., of Mooresville, Ind., will manufacture the barrier.(Kentucky Speedway)(4-22-2005)
ISC to buy Kentucky? International Speedway Corp. would like to buy Kentucky Speedway, according to NASCAR sources. Now that the Texas antitrust lawsuit has been settled, ISC is ready to start dealing for new tracks, and the Cincinnati-area track is at the top of the list. The Kentucky track has two major issues: poor highway access and limited asphalt parking. When it rains, parking is atrocious. And ISC would have to double the number of seats in the grandstands to 80,000.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-5-2004)
Kentucky Tix - Print on Demand: Kentucky Speedway has introduced the Tickets.com Tickets@Home print-on-demand feature which allows guests to conveniently print event tickets from their home or business computers. Kentucky Speedway is the first motorsports facility in the country to implement the feature. Tickets@Home is an extension of the Tickets.com Access Control System introduced at the speedway in 2003 through bar-coded event tickets and hand-held admission scanners. Speedway guests can take advantage of the new ticket feature when purchasing tickets through www.kentuckyspeedway.com or www.tickets.com. Guests receive a bar-coded event ticket on paper which can be presented for admission to speedway events. Racing continues at the speedway June 18-19 when the NASCAR Busch Series visits for “The Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo.” Friday night is Insight Communications Pole Night and features NASCAR Busch Series qualifying and a NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southeast Series race. On Saturday, country artist Tracy Byrd will perform before the “The Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo,” the Outback Steakhouse “Bloomin’ Onion” Airship will visit and prerace festivities will include an F-18 Fighter Jet flyover. Event tickets are on sale now and can be purchased in four easy ways:
·By phone at 888-652-RACE
·On the World Wide Web at www.kentuckyspeedway.com and www.tickets.com
·In person at the speedway ticket offices in Ft. Mitchell at 2216 Dixie Hwy. Ste. 200, and the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center off Hwy. 35 in Sparta, Ky.
·Through Tickets.com outlets including all Meijer stores.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-3-2004)
Kentucky Appoints Medical Director: University of Kentucky (UK) Hospital and Kentucky Speedway announce that Dr. Troy Rock has been appointed speedway medical director. Rock replaces former director Dr. Steve Stapczynski, who is leaving UK for Phoenix, Ariz. Dr. Rock will oversee the UK Hospital's Kentucky Speedway staff during all race events and work closely with the Kentucky Speedway Fire and Safety Team, directed by Charles Williams. The UK Hospital has been the "Official Medical Services Provider of Kentucky Speedway" since the $152-million facility opened in 2000. In August of 2003, the partnership was extended through 2005. UK provides air medical services and emergency care to assist race competitors, pit crews and fans should a medical emergency arise during an event. On site coverage includes emergency physicians, nurses and technicians as well as a fully equipped Bell 230 helicopter with an experienced flight nurse and paramedic team. Tickets for all 2004 Kentucky Speedway events are on sale now for more info go to their website at www.kentuckyspeedway.com.(5-16-2004)
More on the future schedule; Nashville and Kentucky maybe? Speculation about NASCAR's 2005 and 2006 Nextel tour schedules continues, and NASCAR executives are now trying to cool prospects of an expansion beyond a 36-race Cup tour. But it appears that Daytona officials are planning to add new tracks to the tour by cutting some current tracks back to a single event. The two tracks being closely watched now are Nashville and Kentucky, which have held Busch races for several years. Among reasons for holding off on any expansion - sponsors might be unwilling to spend any more money on extra races, at least not until TV ratings start going back up. Plus, TV said it's not able to sell enough ads to make money on the current package of 36 Cup races and two special events. While Fox may be comfortable with its half of the tour (Phoenix and Kansas would likely be the only two new stops), the second half of the schedule is more problematic, particularly with NASCAR reportedly wooing ABC-ESPN for part of that schedule, depending on what NBC does.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-25-2004)
Not looking good for a Cup race at Kentucky: A new Coca-Cola promotion will soon pair the Kentucky Speedway's logo with some of NASCAR's top drivers. But racing industry experts question whether the Sparta track will ever land the coveted Nextel cup race it would need to bring all those drivers to town. That's because to become a national sport, NASCAR must make location its most important consideration when deciding where to locate cup races, said Joe Hovorka, senior vice president of equity research at Raymond James & Associates in Atlanta. From a television broadcasting perspective, the holes are in New York and the Pacific Northwest, he said, not the Midwest.(full article at the Cincinnati Business Courier)(4-12-2004)
Congrats - Nuptials, not NASCAR, at Kentucky Speedway: Lori Howell and Jack Petty, both of Burlington, started their engines together as a married couple Saturday at the Kentucky Speedway. The second wedding at the track, the Pettys nuptials took place in the Winner's Circle in the center of the speedway. "I love the smell of the fuels. I love the sound of the racing engines," said the new Mrs. Petty, 36. "We live it everyday." While not directly related to the legendary racing Petty family, the couple enjoy car racing. The idea of the themed wedding came up after Howell visited the track to see her favorite driver, Jimmy Johnson, practice. Lori ran into Pam Mylor, an employee at the speedway, who told her the track hosted another wedding on Valentine's Day 2003. "It's something that people get involved with. It's in their blood," said Mylor, the track tour and banquet coordinator for corporate and social events. The Pettys' wedding came complete with checkered flags and car-shaped chocolates on tables in Bluegrass Hall, behind the Winner's Circle where the couple held their reception. The colors: blue and yellow. They match the Speedway and are Johnson's signature colors, Howell said. The bridesmaids wore Kentucky blue dresses while the groomsmen sported the same shade in their vests. The bride and bridesmaids' and centerpiece flowers followed the same two-color pattern. Lori wore a white chiffon gown and veil. Stephen Hoffman, who presided over the ceremony, has married couples on planes and trains and has presided over Star Trek weddings. He said weddings should be tailored to the bride's and groom's personalities. The non-denominational wedding before about 100 guests lasted about 30 minutes. With Hoffman's "Gentlemen, start your engines," the men revealed bottles of club soda, shook them and sprayed them on the newlyweds - a Winner's Circle tradition.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-5-2004)
Kentucky struggling? Kentucky Motor Speedway, which launched the careers of Darrell and Michael Waltrip, Jeff and David Green and Jeremy Mayfield, is reportedly on hard times. The 3,000-seat track, located in Whitesville, Ky., near Owensboro, is scheduled to begin its 41st season on April 24.(Tennessean)(3-3-2004)
NFL Coach Named Grand Marshal at Kentucky for Busch Race: Kentucky Speedway announced that Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis will serve as grand marshal of “The Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo” NASCAR Busch Series event on June 19. Lewis will preside over pre-race festivities that include a concert with country music entertainer Tracy Byrd, participate in driver introductions and deliver the “start engines” command to the 43-car field. The 300-mile race is expected to attract a fourth consecutive sellout crowd to the $152-million motorsports facility. Kentucky Speedway season and single-event tickets are on sale now. Season tickets can be reserved online at www. kentuckyspeedway.com or by phone at 859-578-2300. Single-event tickets are available online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com or www.tickets.com and by phone at 888-652-RACE. Tickets also are available through Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores and the speedway ticket offices located at 2216 Dixie Hwy., Ste. 200, Ft. Mitchell, Ky., and in Sparta, Ky., in the Turn 3 Fan Center. (Kentucky Speedway PR)(1-25-2004)
Green and Edwards to help Kentucky: David Green and Carl Edwards will help open the first day of Kentucky Speedway single-event ticket sales on Jan. 5, 2004 by greeting fans at Meijer locations in Louisville, Ky., and Greater Cincinnati [OH].
Green will meet Louisville fans at the Preston Hwy Meijer store from 3:00pm to 5:00pm and Edwards will greet Greater Cincinnati fans at the Meijer location on Houston Rd. in Florence, Ky also from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Both locations are Tickets.com outlets and feature Kentucky Speedway event tickets. Kentucky Speedway season tickets are on sale now and can be reserved online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com and www.tickets.com, or by phone at 859-578-2300. Single-event ticket sales begin Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Single-event tickets will be available online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com and www.tickets.com and by phone at 888-652-RACE beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 5. Tickets also will be available through Tickets.com outlets including select Meijer stores and the speedway ticket offices located at 2216 Dixie Hwy., Ste. 200, Ft. Mitchell, Ky., and in Sparta, Ky., in the Turn 3 Fan Center.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(12-29-2003)
Kentucky Speedway Launches new website, get tix online: Kentucky Speedway began the celebration of its fifth anniversary season by launching a new Web site design at www.kentuckyspeedway.com. The new home page loads faster than the previous design and new features enable visitors to purchase season tickets and pole event vouchers online, see grandstand views of the speedway’s 1.5-mile tri-oval, listen to interviews with 2003 race and pole winning drivers and target information quickly through streamlined, repositioned navigation tools. The site also features an improved “Fan Zone” page complete with computer screen savers and wallpaper as well as camping information. The speedway also added complete reviews of its race events on the site’s “Race Recap” pages. The new design was developed in conjunction with Agency Technologies, Inc., (ATi) of Blue Ash, Ohio. It is the third time the speedway has worked with the technology solutions provider to expand its Web presence. Kentucky Speedway season tickets are on sale now and can be reserved online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com or www.tickets.com and by phone at 859-578-2300. Single-event ticket sales begin Monday, Jan. 5, 2004. Fans can purchase single-event tickets online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com or www.tickets.com and by phone at 1-888-652-RACE. Tickets also are available through Tickets.com outlets including Meijer stores and the speedway ticket offices located at 2216 Dixie Hwy., Ste. 200, Ft. Mitchell, Ky., and the Turn 3 Fan Center in Sparta, Ky.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(12-1-2003)
Not Looking Good for Kentucky Cup race: Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll's chances of bringing Winston Cup racing to Sparta, Ky., do not look good today, two days before the Meijer 300 Busch Series. NASCAR officials have scheduled a 1:00pm/et Friday press conference at Michigan International Speedway, where they are expected to reveal changes to the 2004 Winston Cup schedule that will not include the local track. Still, that is not necessarily bad news, said Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Cassis. "What we're seeing from NASCAR is that they are looking at new markets outside of the Southeast," Cassis said. "It shows that there is going to be some movement to bigger markets. What would be worse would be no change and no growth. This is a good sign for us. It shows that NASCAR is looking at ratings and looking at the bigger markets." Although NASCAR is not expected to announce the entire 2004 schedule, NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham said it is unlikely Kentucky Speedway will be included.(Cincinnati Post)(6-12-2003)
Record Purse for Kentucky: Kentucky Speedway announced today that drivers in the 43-car "The Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" Busch Series field will compete for a track record purse of $1,247,798 on Saturday, June 14. The purse and winner's check of $84,750 for the Busch Series event are expected to attract more than 50 potential qualifiers for the second straight year. The race will be televised live on the FX Network and the green flag will drop at 8:00pm. Kentucky Speedway's Busch Series winner's payout ranks first among stand-alone races on the circuit and third overall among the 14 series races completed this season behind Daytona ($96,825) and Las Vegas ($86,575), both of which are companion events with The NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The Kentucky Speedway purse ranks second among stand-alone NASCAR Busch Series races behind Gateway International Speedway ($1,270,992) and sixth overall behind Daytona ($2,000,387), Las Vegas ($1,356,617), California Speedway ($1,356,055), Texas Motor Speedway ($1,284,492) and Gateway. In each of the past two seasons, the NASCAR Busch Series and the 66,089-seat facility have set regional stand-alone sports event attendance records by generating standing-room-only crowds of more than 70,000. Kentucky speedway is on pace to entertain its third consecutive standing-room-only crowd for its NASCAR Busch Series event. Tickets for "The Meijer 300, Presented by Oreo" and all events at Kentucky Speedway are on sale now.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(6-4-2003)
Grand Marshal at Kentucky: United States Air Force Four-Star Gen. Lester L. Lyles, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will be the grand marshal of the Busch Series "Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" event on June 14, 2003 at Kentucky Speedway. The race is expected to be the largest attended sporting event in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for the third straight year. The has drawn crowds that have exceeded the 66,089-seat capacity at Kentucky Speedway in both 2002 and 2001. The green flag is set to drop at 8:00pm and the race will be televised live nationally on the FX Network. There will be a pre-race concert and National Anthem by country entertainer Mark Wills, a pre-race ceremony celebrating the history of flight, and a post-race fireworks extravaganza. Tickets for 2003 Kentucky Speedway race events are on sale now.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-31-2003)
Smith looking to buy Dover? Kentucky? The hot story behind the scenes [at Lowe's on Friday] was Bruton Smith's surprising new war chest of $230 million, after last week's unexpected sale of new issues of Speedway Motorsports Inc. stock. Wall Street analysts say the head of SMI may use that cash to make a 'sizeable acquisition' in the form of another race track to add to his portfolio. Smith's thick new bankroll is interesting in light of the economic problems facing the Dover Downs Motorsports operation. Could Smith be interested in bidding for Dover? Dover International Speedway is home to two Winston Cup and two Busch races at its home track, along with Busch races at its Nashville track, its Gateway track in St. Louis and its Memphis track. Dover also runs CART Indy-car races at a street course in St. Petersburg, Fla., in Long Beach, Calif., and Denver. Or could Smith be interested in making a bid for Jerry Carroll's new Kentucky Speedway? Smith yesterday refused to be pinned down on anything, saying only that he wanted to be ready to strike if an opportunity arises.
Next week, Smith will talk to NASCAR's George Pyne and Brian France about the 2004 Winston Cup tour and other issues. It isn't clear what impact that $230 million might have, if, for example, the purchase of any International Speedway Corp. tracks, like Darlington or Rockingham, might be discussed. Smith said he did not want to speculate on what opportunities, if any, ISC officials might offer.
What about making a deal with Carroll? There have been reports for several weeks that Carroll and Smith have talking behind the scenes -- both men are trying to persuade NASCAR's Bill France to give them Winston Cup race dates. There has even been talk Carroll might join the lawsuit against NASCAR in discovery phase in Plano, Tex. 'Jerry is a nice man,' Smith said. But working with him on anything? 'Nothing we can talk about,' Smith said. 'Nothing we could discuss today.'( in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(5-17-2003)
Kentucky Speedway Tix? Kentucky Speedway and Tickets.com will introduce a new, bar code ticketing system during the speedway's opening weekend May 9-10, 2003. Kentucky Speedway will be the first motorsports facility in the country to implement the system. Similar systems are in use at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati and Jacobs Field in Cleveland. The Prologue Provenue Elite system is produced by the Alvarado Mfg. Co., and assigns a unique bar code to each speedway event ticket. Speedway gate attendants validate tickets with hand-held scanners to admit speedway guests. Even fans who purchase tickets on race day will be able to enter the facility easily as ticket bar codes become active within three seconds after the purchase - less time than it takes to walk from the main ticket window to the speedway gates. The new system also will give fans equal access to existing Kentucky Speedway ticket inventory, whether tickets are purchased by phone, online or at Tickets.com outlets. Kentucky Speedway's first race weekend opens Friday, May 9 with "The Louisville Courier-Journal Pole Night." The evening features an autograph session with NASCAR Winston Cup drivers and ARCA RE/MAX Series "Channel 5-205" qualifying, with the ARCA race on Saturday, May 10th. Tickets for both evenings are still available.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-9-2003)
Kentucky Speedway still hoping for Cup race: This summer Kentucky Speedway will make its most aggressive push since it opened in 2000 to land a Winston Cup race by 2004, but politics remain a key obstacle. Track officials feel they've done everything necessary to secure a spot on the 36-race schedule. And for the first time, there is realistic hope that something could happen - NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. announced at the beginning of this season that a schedule shakeup is possible for next season. But getting on that schedule is still a political battle, and right now Carroll is on the outside looking in. His speedway isn't part of International Speedway Corp., owned by the France family, that controls NASCAR. So ISC locations such as California and Kansas City may appear more attractive than the independent Kentucky Speedway.(Cincinnati Enqurier) AND Kentucky Speedway opens its 2003 season this Friday, May 9, with ARCA racing May 9th and 10th. On May 9th features an autograph session with Cup drivers Larry Foyt, Ricky Craven, Sterling Marlin, Jeremy Mayfield, Jamie McMurray and Jimmy Spencer. On May 10th features an exclusive pre-race concert with country start Tammy Cochran. The concert will be followed by an autograph session with the entertainer. ARCA and NASCAR race legend Benny Parsons will serve as the race grand marshal. More info at the Kentucky Speedway site.(5-6-2003)
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)
Kentucky Speedway to Celebrate 'Green Flag Festival': Meijer and Kentucky Speedway invite tri-state race fans to celebrate the upcoming Kentucky Speedway race season on Tuesday, May 6, during the first "Green Flag Festival" from 4:00 to 8:00pm, at the Meijer located at 4990 Houston Rd. in Florence, KY. The event is a new endeavor between the speedway and Meijer, "The Official Supercenter of Kentucky Speedway" and sponsor of the June 14 "Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo" NASCAR Busch Series race. Admission is free. The "Green Flag Festival" will feature four interactive Indy Racing Fan Experience properties, an ARCA RE/MAX and NASCAR Busch series driver autograph session, live country music from The Frazier River Band, a wide variety of racing showcars and other fan-friendly exhibits. Cincinnati's B-105 WUBE-FM will broadcast live along with the WCKY 1360-AM HOMER "KOI In The Pits" radio show. WLWT-TV 5, Cincinnati's NBC affiliate and title sponsor of the May 10 ARCA RE/MAX Series "Channel 5-205," also will broadcast live at the event. The National Pork Board and Coca-Cola will provide $1.00 concessions during the festival and all proceeds will benefit the "Kicks For Kids" Charity founded by former Cincinnati Bengal and Univ. of Kentucky placekicker Doug Pelfrey. "We're happy to be partnering with Meijer to present our first ˜Green Flag Festival," Kentucky Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark F. Cassis said. "Both Meijer and Kentucky Speedway share a commitment to customer satisfaction and community involvement. This event certainly helps us achieve our goals in both areas and gets our 2003 racing season off to a great start." The interactive properties of The Indy Racing Experience include Indy Racing Kids, which. features Indy Racing League IndyCar Series peddle-car races, radio controlled IndyCar Series cars, an inflatable pit stop challenge, coloring area, an Xbox video game and more. The Indy Racing Challenge exhibit allows fans to get the feel of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a race simulator, and the Indy Racing Pit Stop Challenge gives fans a flavor of the pits by testing their skills at changing and re-fueling IndyCar Series cars while racing against the clock. Drivers scheduled to participate in the autograph session include NASCAR Busch Series stars Johnny Sauter and David Stremme, four-time ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion and three-time Kentucky Speedway race winner Frank Kimmel as well as tri-state ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers Jon Morley, Willie Green, Greg Sarff and others. The Frazier River Band will play its brand of country music from the high-tech Indy Racing Live Stage beginning at 5:30pm. Kentucky Speedway opens its season May 9 with The Louisville Courier-Journal Pole Night featuring a two-hour autograph session with NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers Ricky Craven, Larry Foyt, Sterling Marlin, Jeremy Mayfield, Jamie McMurray and Jimmy Spencer. The evening also features ARCA RE/MAX Series qualifying and "Happy Hour" final practice. Opening weekend continues with œThe Channel 5-205 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Saturday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m. The fun-filled day of racing will include a pre-race concert by country music artist Tammy Cochran, beginning at 5:30pm.
Tickets for both evenings are still available and can be purchased in the following ways:
- By phone at 1-888-652-RACE (single-event ) or 859-578-2300 (season)
- Online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com or www.Tickets.com
- At the Kentucky Speedway corporate office at 2216 Dixie Hwy., Suite 200, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky. or the speedway's Fan Center, off of Hwy. 35, in Sparta, Ky.
- Through Tickets.com retail outlets located at the Cincinnati Visitor's Center and in select Meijer stores and supercenters, Play-It-Again Sports and Hader Hardware locations.
Tickets.com facilitates Kentucky Speedway single-event ticket and Reserved RV camping pass sales to local clients and race fans. A complete list of retail locations is available online at www.Tickets.com, or www.kentuckyspeedway.com and by phone at 1-888-652-RACE. Tickets.com service fees will apply to all outlet, phone and Internet orders.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(4-26-2003)
Ford to sponsor Kentucky CTS race: The Ford Motor Company along with the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers will team up to sponsor the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race July 12, 2003 at Kentucky Speedway. The event will be known as "The Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" and telecast live nationally on SPEED Channel beginning at 8:00pm.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(3-26-2003)
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)
Kentucky Cup Race? - Slim and None? If Kentucky Speedway is on the verge of landing a NASCAR Winston Cup race, the indications were well hidden in Daytona last week. While acknowledging that "you never know what is going to happen," NASCAR Vice-President Jim Hunter described Kentucky's chances of landing a Cup date as "slim and none." NASCAR's much-discussed plans to revise the 2004 Cup schedule is not aimed at moving races to new tracks, Hunter said. Instead, it is designed to allow the companies that own tracks that already have Cup dates to move races to other facilities they own if that makes business sense. Anyway, the best chance for Kentucky Speedway to get into the big leagues of NASCAR may not be an actual points race, but an exhibition event such as The Winston, Hunter says. Speculation has been that Kentucky Speedway's best chance to get a Cup date would be either buying or renting one of the two dates controlled by New Hampshire International Speedway. Bob Bahre, owner/chairman of the track, said Kentucky Speedway honcho Jerry Carroll visited with him in recent months inquiring about availability of a race date. And he said Carroll called after NASCAR announced that its '04 Cup schedule would be revised. However, Bahre says he told Carroll that he will not sell or rent one of his Cup dates. Asked if there were any price that could get him to sell or rent a Winston Cup date to Kentucky Speedway, Bahre said, "No, none."(Herald Leader)(2-19-2003)
Kentucky Speedway Extends Tickets.Com Partnership: Kentucky Speedway and Tickets.com announced an exclusive multi-year full-retail ticketing services agreement that will benefit race fans through added conveniences such as extended call center hours and an expanded retail ticket network. Beginning January 6, 2003, Tickets.com will facilitate Kentucky Speedway single-event ticket and Reserved RV camping pass sales to local clients and race fans. Tickets are available at the Cincinnati Visitor's Center, and in select retail outlets in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, in addition to Louisville and Lexington, Ky. A complete list of retail locations is available online at www.tickets.com/retailoutlets, or www.kentuckyspeedway.com and by phone at 1-888-652-RACE. Tickets.com service fees will apply to all outlet, phone and internet orders. Kentucky Speedway tickets will be available seven days a week from Tickets.com at 1-888-652-RACE. Tickets.com also will help authenticate Kentucky Speedway tickets in 2003 through a barcode and ticket scanning system. Speedway fans will be protected against counterfeiting as each ticket will be printed with a unique barcode and scanned at the speedway gates prior to admission. The system also is expected to speed entry into the $152-million facility. Kentucky Speedway campers also will benefit from the extended partnership as single-weekend Reserved RV camping area passes will be available through the Tickets.com call center. Kentucky Speedway will continue to administrate the sale of its season ticket packages, which are on sale now and will be available through Friday, May 9, 2003. The speedway also will continue to sell its season Reserved RV camping passes direct to its customers.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(12-27-2002)
Kentucky Signs Sponsor: Kentucky Speedway signed of Meijer, one of America's largest grocery and general-merchandise retailers, to a five-year marketing and sponsorship agreement. The agreement provides that the BGN race to be held this June 14 at the speedway will be the "Meijer 300." Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Meijer stores will receive VIP corporate suites, venue signage, advertising, grandstand tickets, event-specific merchandise, hospitality and other promotional considerations under the agreement. As a member of the tickets.com ticketing services, Meijer stores will continue to sell Kentucky Speedway tickets in addition to officially licensed speedway merchandise.(Cincinnati Post)(12-4-2002)
Ford to Test at Kentucky: Ford Racing has scheduled Winston Cup testing at Kentucky Speedway tomorrow. The track doesn't say which teams are expected to be on hand, but Ford has signed a two-year deal that gives its teams a chance to test there every Tuesday. While the session is not open to the public, the track's Web site says fans can watch from the front of the visitor center, located in the corner of turn three.(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(12-2-2002)
No Winston for Kentucky: Darrell Waltrip said Wednesday that he believes Kentucky Speedway's chances of getting the Winston all-star race in 2003 are dead. Waltrip, a Kentucky Speedway consultant and a TV color commentator for Winston Cup races, came to promote the Belterra Indy 300, but instead upstaged the Indy Racing League event with his insider's opinion on the future of Winston Cup racing at the Sparta track. Waltrip's friendship with NASCAR's top two officers, CEO Mike Helton and chairman Bill France Jr., have long made him the speedway's insider at the sanctioning body's Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters. Waltrip said Kentucky Speedway offered to stage an all-star weekend of racing. "We offered to give them an entire weekend, starting with a trucks all-star race on Friday, a Busch all-stars on Saturday and the Winston on Sunday and added more money than they've ever run for in all three, and they said nothing, what's more to be said?" Waltrip said. "I'm sure they looked seriously at it. But, politically, right now it might be hard to move the Winston (which is staged at Lowe's International Speedway in Charlotte). I've given up on next year but not after that for the Winston or a Winston Cup race. It will just take time. We'll get adopted one of these days.'' Said Kentucky Speedway chairman Jerry Carroll: "We've given up on 2003 but we will not give up on the years after that.''(Cincinnati Post)(8-2-2002)
Architect sues Kentucky Speedway: The architect that designed the $152 million Kentucky Speedway has filed a lawsuit against the track to collect more than $1 million he claims he was never paid for his services. The lawsuit, filed June 13 in U.S. District Court in Covington, claims that Bill Moss and his architectural firm, The MP Group, is owed $1.05 million for professional architectural services. Moss, who also designed Talladega Superspeedway and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, has been paid part of what is owed him but is suing for breach of contract to collect the balance, said attorney Gerald Dusing, who represents Moss in the suit. The suit names Kentucky Speedway LLC, which includes Carroll and his partners, and Gallatin County as well as several financial institutions that have an interest in the track. "We're not surprised by the lawsuit," said Mark Guilfoyle, the speedway's attorney. "We plan to file a counterclaim, and we'll work it out in court." Tim Bray, spokesman for Kentucky Speedway, said track officials would not comment on pending litigation.(Lexington Herald-Leader)(6-20-2002)
No Kentucky Speedway Cup date/No real changes in 2003 UPDATE: NASCAR president Mike Helton said Thursday that Kentucky Speedway probably will not get a Winston Cup race in 2003, which was the track's target date to land a race. Helton was asked about Kentucky in a telephone interview with the Enquirer, on the eve of this weekend's NASCAR Busch race at Sparta. “We're working on the 2003 (Winston Cup) schedule,” Helton said. “We don't see any major changes coming down, which means Kentucky more than likely is not going to be on it. But I want to be very careful and not take away anything from the facility . . . The issues are timing and location.” Timing, in that Helton said the Winston Cup schedule is virtually maximized with 36 races annually. Location, in that Kentucky is relatively close to other Winston Cup venues, including Indianapolis, Michigan, Talladega and Bristol, Helton said. Jerry Carroll, Kentucky Speedway chairman, had set 2003 as his target to land Winston Cup. Carroll, when told of Helton's remarks Thursday, said he will not stop his quest for a Cup race. “Until the (2003) schedule comes out, we'll continue to try to do everything we can,” Carroll said. “At one time we weren't even on NASCAR's radar screen, but we are now.” Carroll also hopes Kentucky will be considered for The Winston, the circuit's annual all-star exhibition race. The Winston reportedly might leave its longtime Charlotte home in 2003.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(6-15-2002)
UPDATE: Last week NASCAR vice president of corporate communications Jim Hunter told The Courier-Journal that it's unlikely the 1 1/2 -mile speedway will be on the Winston Cup schedule next year. He said he's not optimistic the track ever will receive a Cup date and added that [Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry] Carroll knew it would be unlikely, simply because there's little schedule flexibility. Carroll acknowledged that he wasn't surprised that the track might be passed up for a date in 2003.(Courier-Journal)(6-16-2002)
More Dover/Kentucky Sale Rumors: Despite denials from Dover Motorsports officials, reports persist that the conglomerate's five tracks may be bought by International Speedway Corp. ISC also is reportedly interested in acquiring Jerry Carroll's new Kentucky Motor Speedway, 35 miles south of Cincinnati. Dover Motorsports owns Nashville Superspeedway and Dover Downs Speedway, a 140,00-seat track that is host for two annual Winston Cup races. Its other tracks are in Memphis, St. Louis and Long Beach, Calif. Dover Motorsports last month split from Dover Downs Entertainment, separating the racing from the Casino holdings. There was speculation that the racing was separated from the gambling in order to pave the way for an ISC takeover. It likely would not make an acquisition that included gambling. ''That's been a hot rumor but as far as I know there's nothing to it,'' Dover PR director John Dunlap said in a visit for last month's NASCAR Busch Series race. NASCAR has made it clear it has no intention of granting a Winston Cup race to Nashville anytime in the foreseeable future, and is said to be likewise cool toward Kentucky Motor Speedway because of its proximity to the huge track at Indianapolis.(Tennessean)(5-2-2002)
ISC to buy Dover or Kentucky? International Speedway Corp. may be on the track- acquisition warpath again. There are reports that ISC is interested in acquiring either the Dover Downs racing [noe call Dover Motorsports] conglomerate or Jerry Carroll's new Kentucky Speedway. Dover runs tracks in Dover, Del., Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, and Nashville. Dover's Dennis McGlyn said there are no negotiations with ISC and dismissed the talk as "just rumors." Carroll could not be reached for comment. Carroll has pushed vigorously for a Winston Cup date for his track, about 20 miles from Cincinnati, but NASCAR officials have said the track is too close to Indianapolis.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-27-2002)
Kentucky Gets BGN Sposnor - Kroger/Oreo's: The Kroger Co., the Nabisco Biscuit Division of Kraft Foods, and Kentucky Speedway announced that the facility's June 15 BGN race will be titled "The Kroger 300 Presented by Oreo." The title and presenting sponsorship agreement for Kentucky Speedway's second NASCAR Busch Series event increases the commitment of current corporate partners Kroger and Nabisco. The 2001 inaugural race attracted a Greater Cincinnati record, standing-room-only crowd of 70,338 to the $152-million, state-of-the-art venue.(Kentucky Speedway)(4-18-2002)
Kentucky Ads: Kentucky Speedway will take its advertising campaign "off the race track" beginning Jan. 6 with billboards and print advertising featuring personalities not commonly associated with race events. The four-month campaign will include outdoor, transit, newspaper and magazine advertising. Ads will primarily target the Cincinnati and Dayton markets in Ohio as well as the Kentucky markets of Louisville and Lexington. Ads also will reach Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo in Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind., and some West Virginia markets.(That's Racin')(12-26-2001)
Kentucky Wants a Cup Race: Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton met with Kentucky Speedway owner, Jerry Carroll, and Darryl Waltrip recently. The three talked about the possibility of bringing a major race to the Gallitan County racetrack. NASCAR will make the ulitimate decision, but Waltrip said that the Speedway has proven itself since opening last year. "NASCAR filled it's slots next year with a couple of other new tracks, but I feel good about 2003," Waltrip said. Patton said that the state is fixing up some of the roads leading to the track so that they can handle more traffic.(TheLouisvilleChannel.com/32 WLKY)(10-18-2001)
Two More Cup races in 2002? UPDATE 4 No? NASCAR president Mike Helton said the sanctioning body is working on the 2002 schedule, but he refuses to comment on the garage rumor that there will be two more races -- 38 total -- next season. Word is Kentucky Speedway will be awarded an inaugural event and that California will get a second race. Other changes might include moving races at Rockingham, Atlanta and Darlington to dates that are more weather friendly(Sporting News)(6-11-2001)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials currently are working on the 2002 schedule. Sources from the sanctioning body said the new docket would have several changes. The new Kentucky Speedway near Cincinnati will join the series, as well as a second racing date at California. If ISC completes the purchase of Pocono, it likely will lose one of its two racing dates. So will the Darlington Raceway and the North Carolina Speedway. Darlington will lose its spring date, while North Carolina(Rockingham) will drop its fall race. Also under consideration is a plan to change the fall contest at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, now the season finale, to an earlier date when the weather is more cooperative. The vacancy created by North Carolina would be a perfect fit(Savannah Morning News)
UPDATE 2: It appears unlikely that NASCAR's Winston Cup schedule will be expanded next season. George Pyne, NASCAR's senior vice president, said Friday it was "very unlikely" any new races would be added to the already-crowded schedule. Races at Kansas City and Chicago were added this season, bringing the number of Winston Cup races to 36 - 38 counting the Budweiser Shootout and The Winston, two non-points events. "The sanctioning process is under way. We're ahead of schedule and NASCAR is very sensitive to adding any more weeks to the schedule at this point," Pyne said. "While the process isn't complete, it is very unlikely you'll see any additional weekends." Pyne said he wouldn't discuss specific items, such as moving race dates already on the schedule, but added that there will be no "dramatic changes." "I want to be clear. It's not completed. Anything's possible. I wouldn't read anything more into it than that, other than we're ahead of where we normally are," he said.(That's Racin')(6-15-2001)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR might add two races to the Winston Cup schedule next season, at California and either Kentucky or Texas (or possibly both), so the logical question is where on the calendar is there any room. One possible answer: by running one-day events on the Wednesday night before Mother's Day, and the Wednesday night before Easter, according to Daytona sources. NASCAR officials aren't saying much about the shape of the 2002 Winston Cup schedule but concede they are "sensitive" to car owners' worries about expanding the tour(Winston Salem Journal)(6-17-2001)
UPDATE 4: Kentucky Speedway will not be added to the 2001 Winston Cup schedule, NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "(We're not going to Kentucky) for Winston Cup, but we were very proud to be there Saturday night (Busch Series)," Helton said. "Everything is considered in the future, but we have to be careful and not give anyone false hope because of the bigness of things today."(Sporting News)(6-18-2001)
ISC Looking to buy Tracks? International Speedway Corporation appears to be trying to add to its portfolio of race tracks. According to unconfirmed reports, ISC is trying to buy out Tony George's share of the new Joliet-Chicago track, trying to buy Pocono International Raceway, trying to buy Kentucky Speedway, and trying to buy Bob Bahre's New Hampshire Speedway. One report pegs ISC's price point for Pocono at $110 million, to which track owner Dr. Joe Mattioli said "That would be a nice down payment." Mattiolli then denied any sale pending and said he would have two Cup races again next season(Winston Salem Journal)(6-17-2001)
Kentucky to be bought? Kentucky Speedway may be the next battleground between the France family's ISC and Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports, according to NASCAR sources. Smith wants to buy the Kentucky track, according to sources close to the situation. However, Humpy Wheeler said Smith isn't interested in buying the Kentucky track unless it comes with a Winston Cup date. NASCAR is considering adding the Cincinnati area track to its Cup tour for 2002, according to television sources, and is considering adding a second Cup date at both California and Texas, too, and it appears two of those three new race dates would come at the expense of Rockingham and Darlington. Where the third date might come is unclear(Winston Salem Journal)
AND Speedway Motorsports Inc. President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler said his company is not interested in buying more Winston Cup tracks right now. He said he wouldn't be interested in Kentucky Speedway because it doesn't have a Cup date and doesn't plan to expand the operation anytime soon. With a down economy and falling stock, Wheeler is concentrating on keeping the company on track(Richmond Times Dispatch)(5-20-2001)
1000th Cap: Kentucky Speedway Chairman and Developer Jerry Carroll presented the 1000th cap in the history of the Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati (ALGC) "Caps for Kids" program to patient Daniel Jones on May 11 in the Oncology-Hematology Unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati (CHMCC). The ALGC founded "Caps for Kids" in 1998 and originally delivered only hand-painted and decorated caps created by members to patients. The league began delivering sports-related caps last year after a young patient specifically requested a NASCAR race cap. "We are delighted to be part of this program, I can't think of a better way to give back to our community," Carroll said. "As motorsports, especially NASCAR, is so popular among our kids, I'm honored to present our official Kentucky Speedway cap as the 1,000th in the history of 'Caps for Kids. Of all the caps we've presented over the years, hats from NASCAR have been by far the most popular," said "Caps For Kids" Coordinator Audrey Stehle. "The kids identify with the drivers and their sponsors and we are delighted to have Mr. Carroll and our local track present the 1000th cap in our program's history." Kentucky Speedway will be a regular contributor to "Caps For Kids". Visiting drivers, race team and Kentucky Speedway representatives will visit Children's Hospital during each of the four weeks racing events will be held at the speedway this summer(Kentucky Speedway)(5-13-2001)
DW Statue: Kentucky Motor Speedway and Tide will dedicate a life-size bronze statue of Darrell Waltrip and walkway at the track's Fan Center June 16, prior to its inaugural Busch Series event. The statue depicts Waltrip after he won the 1989 Daytona 500. Set on a 4-foot solid granite base, the statue weighs more than 8,000 pounds. Surrounding the statue will be the Darrell Waltrip Memorial Walkway, a park-like setting linking the Fan Center to the monument. Country music entertainer Brad Paisley will also stage a pre-race concert(Winston Cup Scene - need subscription to view online)(4-5-2001)
Kentucky gets a Sponsor: The Kentucky Speedway announced that Outback Steakhouse will sponsor the track's inaugural BGN event scheduled for June 16, 2001. "The Outback Steakhouse 300" will see an 8:00pm/et green flag and be televised live nationally on FX (part of the Fox Network). June 16th is anticipated to be one of the most significant sporting Sparta, KY venue. The day includes: Two Races - NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Goody's Dash Series Events. Kerry Earnhardt - Autograph appearance plus competing in the race. Kerry is the eldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt. Brad Paisley Concert. Darrell Waltrip Dedication - An 8,000 lb. bronze statue of "D.W." will be unveiled at the Turn 3 Fan Center. Huge Pre-Race Show - Including bands, fireworks, F-14 flyovers, and local and national dignitaries. Seats are still available(Kentucky Speedway/Outback Steakhouse PR)(4-5-2001)
Kentucky Tix: Kentucky Speedway announced it is expanding its relations with tickets.com through a multi-year integrated ticketing agreement. The leading business-to-business ticketing solutions provider will sell tickets for all 2001 races at Kentucky Speedway through its Cincinnati area retail outlets network including: Meijer, Hader Hardware and Play It Again Sports stores. Kentucky Speedway has been selling tickets over the internet since January 2001 through tickets.com. Fans can visit www.kentuckyspeedway.com or go to www.tickets.com to secure their seats. Kentucky Speedway hosts four exciting race weekends in 2001 starting in May. The BGN debuts in Kentucky June 16th. The CTS, ARCA and the NASCAR All Pro Series will return for the 2001 season(Kentucky PR)(3-11-2001)
Kentucky Tix Online: On line ticketing has come to Kentucky Speedway. Tickets.com and Kentucky Speedway have reached an agreement to begin single event Internet sales January 8, 2001. The public will be able to buy tickets 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all 10 races in 2001 through the Kentucky Speedway Website at www.kentuckyspeedway.com or through Tickets.com's site at www.tickets.com.(12-24-2000)
New and Improved: the Kentucky Speedway website has been 'improved' and now offers a Gift Shop, see it at www.kentuckyspeedway.com(11-18-2000)
Kentucky News: In response to a tremendous interest in RV camping, Kentucky Speedway is adding 200 Reserved RV spaces behind turns 1 and 2 for the 2001 race season. The Private, Backstretch, RV area remains "Sold Out" for the 2001 season with over 150 people waiting for one of the prized spaces to open up. The new, reserved RV area is on sale now for 2001. For more info, see the Kentucky Speedway Site(10-18-2000)
Kentucky Sched: Kentucky Speedway is already gearing up for the 2001 season with the recent announcement of a BGN date as well as new stops for the USAC, and The NASCAR Goody's Dash Series. The speedway announced today a four weekend, ten event race schedule for 2001, which will also see return visits by the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR All-Pro Series, Indy Racing Northern Lights Series, as well as The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). Beginning Monday, September 25, 2000, fans will be able to purchase the remaining Personal Seat License seats in the "Club" areas in addition to 2001 Season Tickets located throughout the grandstand areas. Current Speedway Season Ticket Holders have until December 31, 2000 to renew their seats at which time single event tickets will be placed on sale for the 2001 campaign.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(9-20-2000)
Kentucky and the BGN? UPDATE 3 OFFICIAL: Kentucky Speedway is expected to announce Tuesday(at 12noon) that it has obtained a BGN event for the 2001 season. Last week, smaller tracks at Myrtle Beach and South Boston announced the Busch series would not return to their facilities in 2001, which opened up potential dates for Kentucky. NASCAR officials will not comment on whether Kentucky will get a Busch race(Cincinnati Enquirer)(8-28-2000)
UPDATE: hearing the BGN racedate will be June 16, 2001, same weekend as the CTS race was this year, looks like a doubleheader
UPDATE 2: the BGN will have its 2001 schedule expanded with a new stop at the Kentucky Speedway, a 67,000 seat, 1.5-mile, tri-oval facility located in Sparta, Ky. The 2001 event will be held on June 16, 2001. The announcement was made at the Kentucky Speedway where BGN competitors David and Mark Green, the brothers that hail from Owensboro, Ky., joined NASCAR and speedway executives along with team owner Clarence Brewer. The addition of the Kentucky Speedway comes after an announcement on May 8 that the NASCAR Busch Series would add events at the under-construction Kansas Speedway and Chicagoland Motor Speedway in 2001(Kentucky Speedway Site). No word on if a CTS race would be on the same weekend(8-29-2000)
UPDATE 3: hearing the CTS date will not be the same as the BGN, unless they have two CTS races there as rumored. Hearing the new CTS date will be July 14th(8-30-2000)
Kentucky News: Following its inaugural weekend, the Kentucky Speedway is working to resolve parking and traffic issues which arose when three primary parking areas were washed out by heavy rains. "No excuses. We will make changes to our parking areas, entry roads, and will have one or even two contingency plans in place. We are a new venue and hopefully people will understand and have confidence in us to come back as we are really going to have great race events as evidenced June 17th," said Mark Cassis, Executive VP and General Manager. A meeting was held on June 20th which included the federal highway administration, Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, American Engineering who designed the traffic study, and A & A Safety the company responsible for the highway crossover and traffic alert systems. The speedway is now gearing up for its next event, "The 700 WLW Day at the Races," scheduled for Sunday, July 2nd. Indy Racing League testing, a Celebrity Legends Race featuring four Winston Cup drivers, a 150-mile ARCA stock car event (now to be televised by Speedvision), and a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day(Kentucky Speedway Site PR)(6-22-2000)
Kentucky Refunds UPDATE: hearing that track owner Jerry Carroll said that they will give a full refund to anyone who has an unused ticket for the Kroger 225 CTS race. And i have heard from some readers who made it to the track with little problem, but that the parking lots got muddy from all the rain and there was not much the track personnel could do(6-19-2000)
UPDATE: Kentucky Motor Speedway's debut event, a NASCAR truck race last Friday night, drew a crowd of more than 60,000, but not everyone who had a ticket could get in because of rain and parking problems. So Jerry Carroll, the track owner, is offering a full refund to anyone who had a ticket and couldn't use it. That's quite at odds with the long-time policy of NASCAR promoters of no refunds(PitNow) AND Auto racing fans who couldn't get into the Kentucky Speedway for Saturday night's Kroger 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck race can get a refund on their tickets. They should mail their untorn tickets to: Kentucky Speedway Ticket Office, P.O. Box 176248, Covington, Ky. 41017-6248. Refunds will take three to four weeks(Lexington Herald-Leader)(6-20-2000)
Kentucky News - fans sent home UPDATE: Overheated race fans idled for hours on clogged interstates as yesterday's opening of the Kentucky Speedway was stalled by rain and overflow crowds. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., parking lots at the $153 million speedway were full, and ticket holders who had inched through hours of traffic were told to turn around and go home(Herald Leader) AND The lucky ones who got into the Kentucky Speedway before the lack of parking turned fans away faced ankle-deep mud from overnight and afternoon storms. With all those fans stuck on the road and in the muck, the speedway's debut got off to a slow start. There weren't many people around until about 7, half an hour before the race was scheduled to start. The eventual attendance was estimated at 63,750; capacity is about 70,000(Herald Leader). NOTE: Hearing from many readers that they stuck in traffic for hours on the way to the race and then got turned away and told there was no parking for anyone else. Best bet is to contact the Kentucky Speedway with any kudos or complaints(6-18-2000)
UPDATE: hearing that track owner Jerry Carroll said that they will give a full refund to anyone who has an unused ticket for the Kroger 225 CTS race. And i have heard from some readers who made it to the track with little problem, but that the parking lots got muddy from all the rain and there was not much the track personnel could do. AND another story at: Speedway turns away fans, Rain turns parking lots into quagmire from The Cincinnati Enquirer AND from the AP: Police: Rain, not poor planning, caused traffic problems(6-19-2000)
DW at Kentucky UPDATE: NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip took a spin around the new Kentucky Speedway at about 115 mph and pronounced the re-paved track ready for today's first Craftsman Truck and Slim Jim All-Pro practices. Waltrip will be grand marshal of Saturday's grand-opening festivities, featuring the truck race(Cincinnati Enquirer) There had been rumors that DW would drive in the race but nothing has been announced, even though a #17 truck is listed on the NOL Entry List with the driver simply listed as TBA(to be announced) fielded by Conley Racing Chevrolet who also field the #7 for David Starr, and Tony Ave, an open wheel driver from Indianapolis, IN is supposed to test at Kentucky on Friday with Team Rensi and Starr -- see that story on the CTS page
UPDATE: DW is ONLY the Grand Marshal for the race and will NOT be driving a truck at the race. He is going to fly from Pocono and be the Grand Marshal, then fly back Saturday night.(6-15-2000)
Kentucky and Winston Cup: ....But barring a turn of events, it's unlikely Kentucky Speedway ever will get a marquee(Winston Cup) stock-car race. NASCAR's current expansion strategy and a dwindling number of available race dates could leave Kentucky racing fans without a Winston Cup race. Kentucky's problem is simply one of geography. Counting races awarded to tracks outside Kansas City and Chicago for the 2001 schedule, nine of the 36 Winston Cup races will be in states that border Kentucky(in part from Lexington Herald-Leader)(6-15-2000)
Kentucky to Repave: The new Kentucky Speedway scheduled to open June 16th and 17th with NASCAR All Pro™ and CTS(truck) events will have its racing surface repaved beginning Thursday, May 18th. The decision was made following a CTS tire test conducted Monday, May 15th. During the winter months, as the track cured, they we began to see movement in the asphalt and the result is a racing surface that the speedway believes is reflective of the integrity of the project. It is very correctable, and the speedway says they will be fine for the opener. The Kentucky Speedway has put into action a plan that will have the entire 1.5-mile, tri-oval surface re-measured and leveled by a state-of-the-art computer system and then repaved over the next three-week period. All track work is targeted to be complete by June 5th. The remaining portions of the project are approaching 95% completion, including all of the suites, upper tower, and infield buildings(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-18-2000)
Kentucky Tire Tests: Goodyear tested tires for the Craftsman Truck Series, Kroger 225, on Monday(5-15) at the new Kentucky Speedway. Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge trucks were represented. CTS point's leader #2-Mike Wallace, #43-Steve Grissom and #60-Andy Houston participated in the test. Wallace was impressed with the track. "It's a massive undertaking to take a facility from a big pile of dirt and turn it into something like this. They built a first class facility. It has a Vegas/Texas feel to it. Its real wide like Vegas is and has the banking like Texas."(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-16-2000)
Kentucky Race?: Published reports tell of Darrell Waltrip encouraging the owners of the new Kentucky Motor Speedway to run their own "outlaw" Winston Cup race if NASCAR doesn't give them a Cup date(TV Times)(5-15-2000)
Kentucky Track Story: Though the Kentucky Speedway is built to handle Winston Cup races, the fledgling track doesn't expect to reach that tier of NASCAR racing without first succeeding with smaller events, said Mark Cassis, the track's executive vice president and general manager. See full story at: Kentucky track is willing to wait by Sam Eifling of the Lexington Herald-Leader(5-9-2000)
DW Grand Marshal: Three time, NASCAR Winston Cup champ, Darrell Waltrip will serve as Grand Marshal at the Kentucky Speedway's inaugural race, "The Kroger 225". The Craftsman Truck Series event, scheduled for June 17th will have a 7:30pm/et green flag and broadcast live, nationally on ESPN(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-3-2000)
Kentucky Beats Nashville: Next month Nashville will officially lose the racetrack race. Jerry Carroll's 70,000-seat, $152 million Kentucky Speedway is scheduled to open June 16. Carroll's track will cross the finish line almost a year ahead of new 50,000-seat, $125 million Nashville Superspeedway. Originally scheduled to be up and running this spring, various delays have pushed the Wilson County track's opening back to next April. See full story at the Tennessean by Larry Woody(5-5-2000)
Kentucky Speedway PR: 700 Wlw Radio To Sponsor July 2nd Races At New Kentucky Speedway, NASCAR Winston Cup Drivers To Participate In Event(4-27-2000)
Kentucky Tix: Season Tickets are now available for the 2000 season at the Kentucky Speedway, see the track site for info. Also starting on Monday, March 6th, single race tickets will go on sale(3-2-2000)
Kentucky UPDATE: There will be a Press Conference regarding Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday, February 29th at 11am, no idea what it is for(2-28-2000) -- UPDATE: At a press conference held at the Westin Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio, is was announced that Firstar Bank has signed a 3 year contract to be the "Official Bank" of the speedway. They will assist in marketing, and have signage and ATM's at the track. They will also sponsor the "Star of the Race" promotion at the end of every race held at the track. At the conclusion of the press conference, Jerry Carroll was presented with a Firstar Bank cap and Jerry Kohlhepp VP of Firstar was presented a Kentucky Speedway cap in return. Mark Simendinger, President of Carroll Properties, developer of the Kentucky Speedway said that they will also be developing a 1/4 drag strip later this year. This will allow the track to be utilized by more facets of the racing world. The Speedway will also be sponsoring Legends events this summer featuring current Winston Cup drivers. The first event at the Kentucky Speedway is scheduled Friday June 16, 2000 for Pole Night for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and "The Kentucky 100" All-Pro Division Race Event. Saturday June 17, 2000 "The Kroger 225" Craftsman Truck Series - under the lights Grand Opening Celebration(Kandi S. Jaeger/Colliers International)(2-29-2000)
Kentucky Buy Indy's Winners Circle: the new Kentucky Speedway will also feature a little bit of auto racing history. Speedway Vice President Mark Cassis said speedway officials learned recently that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was installing a new winner's circle platform as part of a major refurbishing at the track. The old winner's circle was for sale. So they bought it for to use asa the Kentucky Speedway Winners Circle. The winner's circle platform is used to display the winning car immediately after a race(Cincinnati Enquirer)(2-18-2000)
Kentucky News: on Friday Jack Sprague and Andy Houston took a few laps around the d-shaped oval Kentucky Speedway, the CTS will race there on June 17th. Both driver said they are looking forward to racing at the track(WLEX-TV)(2-7-2000)
Kentucky on schedule: Despite the recent winter weather conditions, construction of the new Kentucky Speedway remains on schedule. The 18-month project is now 70% complete(NOL)(1-28-2000)
Kentucky Seats: Kentucky Speedway will have 65,989 seats available for race fans when the 1.5-mile tri-oval opens for the first race weekend in June, and 5,000 of those seats are already sold for the 2000 racing season. Speedway vice president Mark Cassis said Tuesday the official seat count is 61,281 in the lower grandstand area and 4,708 in the tower area(Cincinnati Enquirer)(1-6-2000)
Cup drivers to run at Kentucky: Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip and Jeremy Mayfield are scheduled to drive at the CTS/Truck race at Kentucky Speedway on June 17(Cincinnati Post)(1-9-2000)
Kentucky News: The Kentucky Speedway motor sports complex in Gallatin County remains on target for a June opening, developer Jerry Carroll said(Tennessean/AP)(12-1-1999)
200mph at Kentucky: 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Champion, Greg Ray of Plano, Texas broke the 200 MPH barrier during a private test session on Monday, November 15th at Kentucky Speedway. Officials from the IRL sanctioning body and the speedway were on hand at the 1.5-mile facility for a special test session of the track's asphalt surface(Kentucky Speedway Site)(11-17-1999)
Kentucky and Trucks UPDATE:: Hearing the new Kentucky Speedway, slated to open next year will announce on Wednesday that they will hold a NASCSR CTS(Truck) race at the facility in June 2000(11-1-1999) -- UPDATE: Kentucky Speedway has attracted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for a 225-mile night race that will open the track in June. The Kroger 225 will be run on June 17 and televised live on ESPN, Jerry Carroll, speedway chairman and co-owner, announced Wednesday(Cincinnati Inquirer/AP)(11-4-1999)
Kentucky News: On Thursday, Oct 7th, after the 2nd layer of asphalt was put down on the new KY Speedway, ARCA Champ, Bill Baird, brought his "Short Track" car to the Speedway for testing, and ran speeds of 155.000mph. Bill Moss of Moss & Associates, who is heading up the construction project, communicated with Baird over two-way radios and instructed him to test different lanes of the track. Baird would then report the conditions. The test was conducted to reveal any potential issues with the surface and the results were then recorded(Kentucky Speedway Site)(10-11-1999)
Kentucky has a race: Kentucky Speedway has joined the ranks of major-league motor racing, landing an Indy Racing League 300-mile race. Jerry Carroll, Kentucky Speedway president, announced Tuesday that the Belterra Resort Indy 300 Pep Boys Racing League race will be held Aug. 27, 2000. The 1½-mile tri-oval, about 35 minutes south of Cincinnati, is scheduled for completion June 1, 2000(ESPN)(9-21-1999)
Kentucky News: Kentucky Speedway officials are expected to announce next week that they have obtained a commitment from the Indy Racing League for a race late next summer(Tennessean)(9-17-1999)
Kentucky News: Despite the sweltering heat, an estimated 35,000 auto racing fans jammed Turfway Park on Saturday to listen to country music and get a sneak peek at the Kentucky Speedway. People were waiting to get in the gates at 9am to listen to big-name country music stars; inspect NASCAR, CART and IRL show cars, trucks and simulators; and line up to get autographs from three of racing's top drivers. Danny Sullivan, Bobby Unser and Darrell Waltrip were on hand to sign autographs(Cincinnati Enquirer)(8-2-1999)
Kentucky Announcement UPDATE 2: I hear there will be a "Major Announcement" involving Anheuser-Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on Wednesday, July 29 at the Kentucky Speedway(7-23-1999) -- UPDATE: According to sources, NASCAR and Busch officials are planning to announce the 1.5-mile, $130 million speedway will host a NASCAR Grand National race in 2000, with Budweiser as the title sponsor of the race. The announcement was placed in doubt Friday, however, when the director of sports marketing at Anheuser-Busch, Mike Hargrave, left his position to take a similar job with Texaco. Hargrave had worked on the Kentucky Speedway deal(That's Racin')(7-24-1999) -- UPDATE 2: Budweiser will be the official beer of the new Kentucky Speedway. In a three-year corporate sponsorship agreement, Budweiser will be recognized on advertising signs around the 1.5-mile complex. It also will be a marketing partner with the speedway in promoting races and special events. Owner Jerry Carroll said he expects to have four race events at the speedway next year. Have an ARCA race already, close to a CTS race and hope to have an BGN and IRL event at the track in 2000.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(7-29-1999)
Kentucky News: The Kentucky Speedway will hold a Race Day Festival '99 on July 31, 1999, 11am - 6pm. The event was originally scheduled to take place at the Gallatin County construction site, but was moved to Turfway Park in Florence, KY due to the projected high level of attendance. For fans wishing to see the progress being made at the Kentucky Speedway site, free bus tours will be provided from Turfway Park to the Speedway site throughout the day. Also, at the festival will be driver autograph sessions, race cars on display, simulators, and plenty of food and beverages. There will be a $10 admission fee, with children under 6 admitted free, and free parking will be provided by the Turfway Park facility(Kentucky Speedway Site)(6-24-1999)
Kentucky has a race: An Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) race worth about $350,000 will open the new $152-million Kentucky Speedway either the first or second week of June 2000(Kentucky Post)(6-2-1999)
NHIS/Kentucky more: Reports emerged Saturday(5/15) that a Kentucky businessman is willing to dismantle and relocate NHIS with Bob Bahre retaining ownership and continuing to operate it. What is interesting, is that there is a 68,000 seat speedway being built in that state and the mysterious businessman reportedly has no connection to that facility. Bahre says that he has no plans to move the track (well, the grandstands etc.) and wants to stay on Route 106 despite a costly legal battle with Canturbury over a 9,000 seat addition(Left Turn Speedletter/Nashua Telegraph)(5-20-1999)
Kentucky/New Hampshire? Lost in all the hubbub over a Kentucky-based operation trying to woo New Hampshire International Speedway to the Bluegrass State was a merger signed earlier this week between International Speedway Corporation and Penske Motorsports that puts 10 major tracks and 14 Winston Cup races under the ISC banner(Concord Monitor) Didn't see the story about Kentucky/NHIS but what I hear is that Owners of the Kentucky track are rumored to be trying to buy the NHIS and move one or both of it's Cup dates to the Kentucky Speedway, but I have seen no stories to this effect myself(5-18-1999)
Kentucky News and Link: Sometime in November, when Jerry Carroll resumes selling personal seat licenses for his Kentucky Speedway, he hopes to have specific answers for the barrage of questions he has been fielding. Heading the list of questions is, who will race at the track next year when it opens - NASCAR, CART, IRL, ARCA, ASA? Carroll's group owns Louisville Motor Speedway, which has a Craftsman Truck series date that Carroll has asked be switched to Kentucky Speedway in 2000. See full article - Track racing deadline - Speed testing must be done (Cincinnati Post)(4-29-1999)
Kentucky: Owner Jerry Carroll said that construction, which began last August, is on schedule. Workers are on the site six days a week, with two shifts covering a 16-hour day. The cement “race wall” is up between Turns One and Two, and the back straightaway wall is also up. The 14-degree banking is in place for Turn Two, and for now is a dirt surface. The track eventually will be paved. See the rest of the article - Kentucky Speedway taking shape(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-25-1999)
Kentucky: Owner/Developer Jerry Carroll's latest move has been to petition NASCAR officially for Cup, BGN, Truck, Dash and Slim Jim All Pro races within the next two years. NASCAR President Bill France has said Kentucky should not expect a Winston Cup race in the near future. See the story at: Carroll petitions for auto races - Winston Cup unlikely soon (Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-22-1999)
Ford and Kentucky: The Kentucky Speedway signed with the Tri-State Quality Ford Dealers, means Ford will supply pace cars, sedans, sport utility vehicles and trucks to personnel at the facility under construction about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati. Ford will be designated the official vehicle manufacturer for the raceway, expected to open in June 2000. For the full story see Ford hitches up with Ky. Speedway (Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-22-1999)
Kentucky Speedway gets a sponsor: Uniform supplier Cintas Corp. is the first corporate sponsor to sign on with Jerry Carroll's $152 million Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County. Financial terms of the five-year agreement weren't disclosed, but Cintas and Speedway officials said Wednesday that the agreement makes Cintas the official uniform supplier for track personnel and supplier of most of the racing apparel sold at a gift shop that will be part of the race complex. (Cincinnati Enquirer)(3-11-1999)
Kentucky info: Jerry Carroll and his Kentucky Speedway development team are having discussions about gaining controlling interest in Lawrenceburg Speedway (Ind)., the quarter-mile dirt track about 20 minutes west of Cincinnati. See the full story in the Cincinnati Enquirer - Carroll wants to buy, expand Lawrenceburg Speedway(1-8-1999)
Kentucky Speedway Aerial View: Jerry Carroll, co-owner and developer of the new Kentucky Speedway, released aerial photographs taken December 16th of the 1,000-acre site located 35 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio in Gallatin County, Kentucky. See it at www.kentuckyspeedway.com (1-6-1999)
Kentucky Speedway News: The Gallatin County site of the Kentucky Speedway is a gigantic, 1,000-acre development that looks more like a strip-mining operation than the state-of-the-art, multiuse facility envisioned by the development team which includes Jerry Carroll, owner of Turfway Park in Florence. See the rest of the story at the Business Courier: Full Speed Ahead in Sparta(12-23-98)
UPDATE: Jerry Carroll and Kentucky Speedway officials have scheduled a news conference for today(8-24) with a "major announcement," believed to involve NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip. Construction began 8-3 at the track site in Gallatin County, about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati. The track is scheduled to be completed in June 2000. See the rest of the story at: Carroll, Waltrip may team up.(The Cincinnati Enquirer)(8-24-98) - NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip joined the Kentucky Speedway development team Monday as a paid consultant. His biggest job could be convincing NASCAR to bring a Winston Cup race here. See the rest of the story at: D. Waltrip joins Speedway team.(The Cincinnati Enquirer - thanks Lynne)(8-25-98)
Story about the Kentucky Speedway groundbreaking at: Shovels send hearts racing.(7-19-98)
Northern Kentucky developer, Jerry Carroll, broke ground Saturday for the $152 million Kentucky Speedway. Cup drivers and Kentucky natives Darrell Waltrip and Jeremy Mayfield were on hand as well as Kentucky Governor Paul Patton. The 1-1/2-mile oval track is to be built on a thousand acres near the town of Sparta, at the intersection of Interstate 71 and state route 35. Carroll has said he expects to complete the track and 60,000 seats in time for the 2000 racing season. See the story at the WRAL site: Developer Breaks Ground on $152 Million Speedway.(7-18-98)
UPDATE: Jerry Carroll will break ground July 18 on his 1 1/2 mile superspeedway in Northern Kentucky with a splashy "Speedfest" celebration that will include 10 current and former NASCAR former drivers and Kentucky Governor Paul Patton. Carroll owner of Turfway Park in Florence will stage the ceremony at Turfway. The actual motor racing complex will be in Gallatin County Kentucky about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati. See the complete story at the Cincinnati Enquirer: Carroll serves up cars, glitz - Superspeedway groundbreaking to be splashy, also it was announced July 3 and July 4 over the public address system at the Louisville Motor Speedway that the official ground breaking for the new 1.55 mile "Kentucky Speedway" is set for July 18 at " Turfway Park" in Florance KY. The track is going to be located outside Carrolton KY. NASCAR drivers to be on hand include David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip also Ken Schrader, Geoff Bodine, David Greene, Jeremy Mayfield and Kenny Wallace, which will also be running in a "Race of Champions" that night at the Louisville Motor Speedway.(thanks to all who sent info on this), another link is at: Short Takes: Mayfield, Waltrip to help break ground for track from the Lexington Herald-Leader.(7-5-98) - For those of you planning to attend RaceFest at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky this Saturday (7/18), from 1-5, StockCarFans will have a booth of some sort there as far as I know right now. I will be there to meet you, and to try to generate some interest in the newsletter and website. Look for a 2 ft. x 1.5 ft. white sign with blue letters that says "Welcome, Stock Car Fans!", along with the website's address, that'll be me(Mike Irwin - the keeper of the StockCarFans Newsletter). Stop in and say "hi".(7-15-98)
The odds of Jerry Carroll landing an Indy Racing League date for his proposed Northern Kentucky superspeedway are not good, IRL President and CEO Tony George said because it is only 100 miles west of Indy. Carroll, whose proposed 1 1/2-mile oval would fit into the IRL's oval circuit, remains undaunted. A NASCAR Winston Cup event, the most popular racing series in America, remains his ultimate goal. He would also like a NASCAR Busch race and an IRL or CART race, and already has a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race in the bag. Carroll plans a groundbreaking in late July or early August on the track, which would be located in Gallatin County, Ky., about 35 miles southwest of Cincinnati. See the rest of the story at Indy chief: No. Kentucky unlikely to get IRL race.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-17-98)
See the story about the propsoed Northern Kentucky race track at Carroll's group meets president by Tom Groeschen of the The Cincinnati Enquirer(1-23-98)
UPDATE: News conferences are scheduled in Louisville and Florence, KY., today apparently to announce that controlling interest in Louisville Motor Speedway is being purchased by a group looking to build a superspeedway in Northern Kentucky. A group headed by Jerry Carroll, chairman and co-owner of Turfway Park, a thoroughbred racing track in Florence, has an option to buy 800 acres in Gallatin County and is investigating building a speedway there. A progress report on the project is also expected at the new conferences. Rumors have been circulating for months that the track, under new ownership, would be closed and rebuilt as a superspeedway itself. But Stilger and Vertrees spent about $300,000 last fall to have the track's bumps and dips removed and the racing surface widened. The season will be highlighted by the Craftsman Truck Series race on Aug.29. Weekly racing will again have the sportsman and three figure-8 divisions on Friday nights and the late-models, street stocks and thunder trucks on Saturday nights.(By Jim Terhune The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky - Thanks Lynne)(1-8-98)
Update from the press conference in Louisville via 84 WHAS radio news: Louisville Motor Speedway has been sold to Jerry Carroll for $5 million. More improvements are planned for the future including more seats being added. See the story at Cincinnati Enquirer - Carroll to build speedway.(thanks to Rich and Alan for the link) and another link at: Gallatin chosen for 60,000-seat raceway.(1-9-98)
And more news on the proposed Kentucky race track at NASCAR track in Gallatin closer(Cincinnati Enquirer-thanks Rich)(10-17-97)
More news on the Cinncinati/Kentucky track: Turfway Park owner and developer Jerry Carroll said Wednesday that he would "absolutely" build an auto racing track in or near Northern Kentucky if a feasibility study indicates that the track could be a success. See the story at The Enquier, thanks to Rich for letting me know about this(6-7-97)
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that a pair of Kentucky businessmen are exploring the possibility of building a Auto Race Track in Kentucky(Click on the paper name to read the story, thanks Alan) and there is a second story 2nd story(5-13-97)

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