Post by QueenCityMotorsports.com on Jul 9, 2009 11:36:24 GMT -5
Speedway schedule might change
By Kevin Kelly • kkelly@nky.com • July 9, 2009
SPARTA - The process of setting Kentucky Speedway’s racing schedule for 2010 is under way and there could be some major changes.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith wants to consolidate the track’s schedule by pairing major events on the same weekend.
“Like on the weekend of the IndyCar race we would like to have, say, a truck race on the same weekend. Maybe something else,” he said. “We would want to do something there.”
Kentucky Speedway has two more race weekends scheduled this season – a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series/ARCA RE/MAX Series doubleheader on July 18 and an IndyCar Series/Firestone Indy Lights doubleheader on Aug. 1. An ARCA RE/MAX Series race was held in May followed by the Nationwide Series race in June. Neither race had a support event.
The annual Nationwide Series race traditionally is the track’s best draw.
“We want to put that with something,” Smith said. “Constantly with something. So we’ve got two events on the weekend. It works out better financially and expense-wise and everything else when you’re doing that.”
The 2010 IndyCar schedule could be unveiled when the series visits Kentucky Speedway next month, according to The Indianapolis Star. NASCAR is expected to announce its 2010 schedules in the coming weeks. In NASCAR, discussions about date changes proposed by tracks or track owners are part of the sanctioning process.
“If there are ideas that come up with regard to scheduling, that’s part of the sanctioning process and we’re right in the middle of that,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. “We’re always willing to listen to good ideas that would serve the fans and the industry best.”
Smith also said that further expansion work at Kentucky Speedway could begin before SMI learns whether NASCAR would allow it to move a Sprint Cup Series race to the track. Increasing seating capacity to more than 100,000 and overhauling the garage areas are among the changes mentioned in recent months.
“It’s our money, so we’ll spend it the way we want to,” he said.
By Kevin Kelly • kkelly@nky.com • July 9, 2009
SPARTA - The process of setting Kentucky Speedway’s racing schedule for 2010 is under way and there could be some major changes.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith wants to consolidate the track’s schedule by pairing major events on the same weekend.
“Like on the weekend of the IndyCar race we would like to have, say, a truck race on the same weekend. Maybe something else,” he said. “We would want to do something there.”
Kentucky Speedway has two more race weekends scheduled this season – a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series/ARCA RE/MAX Series doubleheader on July 18 and an IndyCar Series/Firestone Indy Lights doubleheader on Aug. 1. An ARCA RE/MAX Series race was held in May followed by the Nationwide Series race in June. Neither race had a support event.
The annual Nationwide Series race traditionally is the track’s best draw.
“We want to put that with something,” Smith said. “Constantly with something. So we’ve got two events on the weekend. It works out better financially and expense-wise and everything else when you’re doing that.”
The 2010 IndyCar schedule could be unveiled when the series visits Kentucky Speedway next month, according to The Indianapolis Star. NASCAR is expected to announce its 2010 schedules in the coming weeks. In NASCAR, discussions about date changes proposed by tracks or track owners are part of the sanctioning process.
“If there are ideas that come up with regard to scheduling, that’s part of the sanctioning process and we’re right in the middle of that,” NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. “We’re always willing to listen to good ideas that would serve the fans and the industry best.”
Smith also said that further expansion work at Kentucky Speedway could begin before SMI learns whether NASCAR would allow it to move a Sprint Cup Series race to the track. Increasing seating capacity to more than 100,000 and overhauling the garage areas are among the changes mentioned in recent months.
“It’s our money, so we’ll spend it the way we want to,” he said.