Giuffres out of Milwaukee Mile deal: In unusually caustic language, the presumptive promoter of the Milwaukee Mile on Friday accused the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board and its chairwoman, Susan Crane, of sabotaging a proposed operating agreement. "Apparently, Sue Crane and her board just simply don't understand business, business protocol or good faith contract negotiations," Frank and Dominic Giuffre wrote in a letter to the board. "We now have no intention of going anywhere with Sue Crane and her board, because you quite simply can't be trusted," they wrote. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm out of auto racing," Frank Giuffre said Friday afternoon. The Giuffre group would have become the fourth promoter in six seasons, following State Fair Park, Milwaukee Mile Holdings (2006-'08) and Wisconsin Motorsports. NASCAR included the Mile on its 2010 Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series schedules. Officials have said they want to return but won't do so until debts left by the previous promoter are satisfied. Wisconsin Motorsports LLC, led by Claude Napier, left owing NASCAR upward of $1 million for 2009. With the Mile contract a dead issue, at least for now, those races and the future of the track are again in doubt. A NASCAR official could not be reached for comment.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-21-2009)

Milwaukee Mile promoter pulls out: Tony Machi, whose investor group wanted to promote races at the Milwaukee Mile, told Wisconsin State Fair Park officials on Tuesday that his group is pulling out. Machi's decision means the future of the historic racetrack is in jeopardy. The 106-year-old track is the oldest continuously operated speedway in the country. Machi said Tuesday that his group, which includes local businessman Jim Beaudoin, could not reach agreement with NASCAR. NASCAR has scheduled two races next summer at the track, but wanted Machi's group, Historic Mile LLC, to pay sanction fees run from last summer's races as well as the fees for the two races next summer. Machi said he had funding for the 2010 races, but could not come up with funds to pay NASCAR. With Historic Mile out, the focus now shifts to the Giuffre brothers, local businessmen who have promoted races at the track before. The Giuffres had made their intentions known months ago, but State Fair officials elected to negotiate with Historic Mile first.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(11-4-2009)