Kentucky tickets on sale Feb. 8; Fans can now carry in coolers: Kentucky Speedway will place single race tickets for its five NASCAR races including the June 30 Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" on sale Feb. 8 at 9:00 a.m., and allow customers to carry coolers in to all events for the first time in speedway history. Single race ticket prices for five NASCAR events scheduled June 28-30 and Sept. 21-22 will not increase. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" tickets range from $75 to $110 and NASCAR Nationwide Series race tickets range from $45 to $75 based on seat location. All NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race tickets are $30 or $40 for reserved seats. Customers can purchase tickets at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, 888-652-7223 and through speedway offices at 1 Speedway Drive in Sparta, Ky., 41086, just off Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. State Highway 35. Coolers will be limited in size to 14 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches. Customers will be able to carry in snacks, unopened soft drinks and water to enjoy during events. Kentucky law prohibits alcoholic beverages of any kind to be carried through the speedway gates.(Kentucky Speedway)(2-2-2012)

Kentucky Speedway Infrastructure Improvements Outlined: Kentucky Speedway officials presented national reporters an overview of infrastructure projects in progress at the 107,000-capacity Sparta, Ky., facility during the annual NASCAR preseason media tour today. Outlined projects will be complete before Kentucky Speedway opens its five-race 2012 schedule with a NASCAR tripleheader weekend featuring the Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400,” Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300,” and Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” June 28-30. The speedway will play host to a second 300-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Sept. 22 and a 225-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Sept. 21.
This season, Kentucky Speedway will feature:
Expanded Parking: Kentucky Speedway purchased two large land parcels adjacent to the north side of Kentucky Highway 35 which will be converted to expansive new parking fields. Kentucky Speedway also repurposed portions of its original acreage for additional parking.
Easier Facility Access: The state of Kentucky has committed to widening the Interstate 71 exit ramp at Ky. 35, widening Ky. 35 to seven lanes at points where it services the speedway and constructing a pedestrian tunnel which will safely connect new parking fields to the Kentucky Speedway grounds.
A New Traffic Plan: Kentucky Speedway will execute a new pedestrian and automotive traffic plan.
Infrastructure Improvements: Kentucky Speedway will construct and overpass to its infield tunnel road that will separate tram traffic and infield traffic. The speedway also will expand restrooms.
Improved Campsites: Expanded campgrounds will feature enhanced campsites, many with access to electric service.
"We want the chance to prove ourselves. You'll see when you come back, all the improvements," Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith said. Five-race season ticket plans, a three-race June Weekend Ticket Package that includes a 1:24 scale Dale Earnhardt, Jr., die-cast collectible along with season and weekend campsites are available now at 859-578-2300, by going to Kentuckyspeedway.com, the Kentucky Speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, Ky., 41806 off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and state Highway 35.(Kentucky Speedway)(1-26-2012)

Kentucky new parking field, road expansion projects advance: Kentucky Speedway's parking expansion project is beginning to take shape behind diligent construction crew efforts in unusually-mild Midwest winter temperatures. SMI acquired a 143-acre parcel of land adjacent to Kentucky Speedway and state Highway 35 in August 2011. The tract will be converted new parking fields that will be connected to speedway grounds by a new pedestrian tunnel. The tunnel is part of a Commonwealth of Kentucky project that will expand state Highway 35 to improve automotive and the Interstate 71 exit ramp at state Highway 35 to help improve automotive traffic flows during Kentucky Speedway events. Parking and road expansion projects are scheduled to be completed in spring.(Kentucky Speedway)(1-16-2012)

Kentucky Speedway introduces three race ticket package: Kentucky Speedway will introduce its first discounted three-race ticket package for its season-opening NASCAR tripleheader weekend that includes the June 30 Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400," June 29 Nationwide Series "Feed The Children 300," and June 28 Camping World Truck Series "UNOH 225" on Jan. 11. The weekend package is priced from $129 to $209 based on ticket quantity and seat location. As an added incentive, customers who purchase the package and all speedway season ticket holders will receive a 1:24 scale Dale Earnhardt, Jr., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series #88 collectible die cast car valued at $70. Cars will be limited to one per account. The weekend ticket package, campsites and daily infield Fan Zone passes will go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 9:00 a.m. Five-race season ticket plans and season campsites also remain available. Each can be purchased through www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling 859-578-2300 or by visiting the Kentucky Speedway offices at 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, Ky., 41086.(Kentucky Speedway)(1-11-2012)

Contract awarded to upgrade roads near Kentucky Speedway: An Ohio company submitted the low bid of $3.7 million to get a state contract to improve roads near the Kentucky Speedway, the site of a massive traffic tie-up in July. The state Transportation Cabinet said Monday that the bid by Sunesis Construction Co. of West Chester, Ohio, was $220,183 below the cabinet's estimate for the project. Four other companies also submitted bids, the cabinet said in a news release. The project will widen sections of Interstate 71 and Ky. 35 in Gallatin County so traffic can flow more quickly and safely into the Speedway's parking areas, which also are being enlarged by owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. In addition, a pedestrian tunnel will be built. The state agreed to make the investment after Speedway Motorsports took steps to prevent a recurrence of the traffic jam that plagued the track's inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in July. Traffic backed up onto I-71 and other roads for miles, largely because of insufficient parking space and traffic management at the track, the state has said. The new project includes improving the I-71 southbound ramp to allow a third lane of right-turn exit traffic onto Ky. 35, which runs past the Speedway. The ramp currently has two right-turn lanes. In addition, six-tenths of a mile of Ky. 35 will be widened to five lanes with two, full-width shoulders. The pedestrian tunnel, to be installed beneath Ky. 35, will enable race patrons to walk safely from new parking lots to the Speedway complex.(Herald Leader.)(12-6-2011)

Kentucky season ticket holder Richard Petty tireside chat Jan 31st: Customers who purchase or renew season tickets for Kentucky Speedway’s five NASCAR event 2012 campaign on or before Wednesday, January 18, 2012 will be automatically entered to receive one of 250 invitations for two to an exclusive “Tireside Chat” with Hall of Fame NASCAR legend Richard Petty at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Vevay, Ind., on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) team owner known as “The King”, will relay his career experiences and answer Kentucky Speedway season ticket customer questions during the “Tireside Chat.”
Season tickets for the 107,000-capacity facility’s 13th season start at $179 and include significant benefits such as an opportunity to purchase as many as 12 additional tickets to the June 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” before they go on sale to the general public.
Season Tickets and season campsites can be purchased by logging on to kentuckyspeedway.com/tickets, calling 859-578-2300 or visiting the speedway corporate offices.(Kentucky Speedway)(12-4-2011)

Kentucky season ticket holders can win "Tireside Chat" with the King: Customers who purchase or renew season tickets for Kentucky Speedway's five NASCAR event 2012 season on or before Wednesday, January 18, 2012 will be automatically entered to receive one of 250 invitations for two to an exclusive "Tireside Chat" with Hall of Fame NASCAR legend Richard Petty at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Vevay, Ind., in early February. The seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) team owner known as "The King" after racing a record 200 victories in his iconic #43 STP machine from 1960 to 1984, will relay his career experiences and answer Kentucky Speedway season ticket customer questions during the "Tireside Chat." Season tickets for the 107,000-capacity facility's 13th season start at $179 and include significant benefits such as an opportunity to purchase as many as 12 additional tickets to the June 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" before they go on sale to the general public.(Kentucky Speedway)(11-26-2011)

Kentucky adds second Nationwide race in 2012: Kentucky Speedway announced its 2012 schedule will feature five NASCAR-sanctioned events highlighted by the return of the Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 in June and the addition of a second 300-mile Nationwide Series race in September. The Quaker State 400 is slotted one week earlier on the Sprint Cup Series schedule on Saturday, June 30. The second series event in track history will serve as the finale to a tripleheader weekend that also includes the NNS Feed The Children 300 on Friday, June 29 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 on Thursday, June 28. The newly-awarded, Saturday, Sept. 22 NNS race will close out the speedway's fall weekend that opens with a 225-mile NCWTS event on Friday, Sept. 21.(Kentucky Speedway)(10-15-2011)

Kentucky Speedway gets 2012 Sprint Cup race date: NASCAR's Sprint Cup racing series will return to the Kentucky Speedway. Track officials revealed Tuesday that on June 30, 2012 the track will host its next major race. Before a State Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday, Mark Simendinger, the track's general manager said NASCAR is satisfied scenes like what happened earlier this summer won't happen again. However, the senators had plenty of tough questions of their own. Among the thousands of people who got tied up in traffic on the way to the Kentucky Speedway's inaugural Sprint Cup race was State Senator Bob Leeper (I-Paducah). "I was one of those people," Leeper said. "I have my tickets here." Simendinger once again took full responsibility for the traffic mess. "We do not want to have this issue again," Simendinger said. "I can't stress that to you guys enough." Simendinger said the track and state transportation officials think they can avoid similar parking and traffic problems in the future with planned improvements - more parking, more lanes and better traffic flow. "I want enough parking, enough lanes, I want them moving fast enough so that, and we didn't build this track and we're not spending all this money to just be ok," said Simendinger. It's not just the Speedway spending money. Improvements also come at an almost $4 million price tag to the state and that brought the most criticism from senators. Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock told senators that the cabinet's main concern is keeping I-71 moving and the state was going to have to spend the money to do that on NASCAR weekends. Simendinger said the state improvements were part of the plan the Speedway pitched to NASCAR before NASCAR agreed Kentucky could have another Sprint Cup race next year.(Wave News)(9-7-2011)

Kentucky Speedway buying land for more parking UPDATE: The rows of tobacco and corn growing on land across from Kentucky Speedway will be replaced next year by rows of cars. This week the speedway bought a large tract near Ky. 35 in Gallatin County from Jo Wischer. The 84-year-old Florence resident wouldn't talk Thursday about how much the speedway paid - which according to a deed filed with the Gallatin County Clerk's office was $1.5 million - for the "couple hundred acres," but said she knows how it intends to use the property. "The speedway will be taking care of parking with it," Wischer said. A fleet of earth-moving equipment was staged next to the weather-beaten tobacco barn on the 219-acre property formerly owned by Wischer. The tract includes 144 acres north of Interstate 71. Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger declined comment Thursday except to say that details would be forthcoming next week.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(8-27-2011)
UPDATE: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) announced the acquisition of a 143-acre parcel of land that will be used to greatly expand Kentucky Speedway parking and the hiring of professional parking and engineering services to best manage automotive and pedestrian traffic flows during venue event days. Because of the actions taken by the Speedway, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) pledged to improve surrounding highways to allow faster access to expanded parking areas. “We learned meaningful lessons during our inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race weekend and we committed that the traffic congestion that occurred on race day would not happen again. It was important for us to act quickly and I am thrilled to report this solution, which was formed in only seven short weeks. I compliment and thank SMI Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and KYTC Sec. Mike Hancock for working collaboratively on this plan,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said. The expansive parcel located east of the 107,000 capacity facility and state Highway 35 is expected to increase available event parking by 35 percent. The speedway will further improve its parking operation by reinforcing all areas with gravel and painting guidelines to help maximize available space. Veteran’s Security and Patrol Co., which has extensive experience managing parking during events at prominent motorsports venues such as Daytona International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Watkins Glen International, will begin servicing the speedway in October. Kentucky Speedway will additionally retain the services of a traffic engineering company that will employ sophisticated modeling techniques to assimilate the new improvements with existing infrastructure to create the best possible traffic management plan. SMI will invest an estimated $7.5 million in its service and parking improvements. The company has already begun engineering the newly-acquired land.
“Kentucky Speedway is a premier destination for the country’s best racing, and it’s clear that tens of thousands of people want to be right here to experience those events. The NASCAR race weekend this July was a huge success, but it did experience traffic problems, caused largely by inadequate parking,” said Gov. Beshear. “To assure visitors have an even better experience next year, we’ve worked hand in hand with SMI to plan improvements that will benefit fans on race day and Gallatin County residents year-round.” The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) complemented the SMI commitments by approving several enhancements to existing infrastructure that will assist in moving traffic more quickly during future race events.
Enhancements will:
· Improve the Interstate 71 Exit 57 southbound ramp shoulder to allow three lanes of traffic to exit to KY 35 and directly access staggered speedway entrances during event days;
· Improve nearly one mile of KY 35 from the I-71 interchange. Approximately 0.6 of a mile of KY 35 will be widened to five lanes with two full width shoulders to better service two primary speedway access roads and improve daily traffic flow to Warsaw;
· Construct a tunnel beneath state KY 35 to safely and efficiently route pedestrian traffic to shuttles which transport fans to speedway gates.
The Cabinet will support the $3.6 million project with its contingency fund, and plans to present the project for bid by the end of 2011 to ensure work will be complete before the summer of 2012.(Kentucky Speedway)(8-30-2011)

NASCAR working on Kentucky traffic issues: UPDATE: NASCAR president Mike Helton says the traffic gridlock at the inaugural Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky is a "very serious issue" that must be corrected. Speaking Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Helton says NASCAR is working with Kentucky Speedway officials to find out why fans were stuck in traffic for hours as they tried to get into Saturday night's race at the track in Sparta, Ky. Helton says NASCAR "won't rest" until it figures out what went wrong and how to correct the problems. Many fans say once they got to the gate, they were turned away by police because the track had run out of parking spaces.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(7-15-2011)
UPDATE: Burton Smith, the head of the company which owns Kentucky Speedway, and NASAR president Mike Helton talked about the traffic problems which boiled over at the track last weekend during separate meetings with the media Friday. Both said the problems will be fixed, but the tones of the two executives were markedly different in tone. Smith was defiant and combatitive with in his press conference. Smith did apologize but said no cash refunds will be made to disgruntled fans by the track would participate in a ticket exchange. "We had a traffic problem," Smith, founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc., said, "we didn't have a seat problem. Other than that, I think everything was fantastic." Smith said the problem rested not solely with Kentucky Speedway. He said Interstate 71, the main highway to the track, was to blame. He also the the company he hired to park cars did "a lousy job".(Racin' Today)(7-15-2011)

Kentucky Speedway Apologizes to Fans, Ticket Exchange: Kentucky Speedway, which is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., today issued the following statement regarding the fan experience at Saturday's “Quaker State 400.”
"To those fans that were not able to attend the Quaker State 400, we offer our sincerest apologies," said Mark Simendinger, general manager, Kentucky Speedway. "We'd also like to apologize to all of our fans who endured challenging conditions during our event weekend. As we said earlier, we're committed to working with NASCAR, state and local officials and traffic experts to address Saturday's traffic issues to ensure that we never have this type of experience again."
“I would like to apologize on behalf of Speedway Motorsports to the fans who had tickets, yet due to logistical issues, were not able to attend the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway," said Marcus Smith, president and chief operating officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. "For those fans with tickets who were unable to attend Saturday night's event, we will honor their ticket at any remaining 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at a Speedway Motorsports facility or the 2012 Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway.
"Our company has always been about enhancing the fan experience with first-class amenities and putting fans first. I feel terrible for the fans that had a bad experience at Kentucky Speedway and we are asking that they give us a chance to make it up to them. We are very thankful for the overwhelming fan support we had for this inaugural event. We learned some valuable lessons this past weekend and will do everything in our power to make sure we don't have these issues again."
The ticket exchange is good for the following events at Speedway Motorsports facilities while supplies last at each respective venue:
July 17 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Aug. 27 - Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 4 - Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 25 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Oct. 15 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 6 - Texas Motor Speedway
2012 - Kentucky Speedway
In addition to the ticket exchange, Kentucky Speedway will issue these fans an equal quantity of tickets to either its Oct. 1 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 225-mile race or Oct. 2 IZOD IndyCar Series 300-mile event. For information on ticket exchange and redemption, fans should only contact the Kentucky Speedway ticket office at 859-578-2300 or by email at tickets@kentuckyspeedway.com.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-11-2011)

Statement from NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France: "While NASCAR was thrilled by the incredible response to our inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Kentucky, we also are extremely disappointed by the traffic problems and inconveniences endured by fans who wanted to be part of our races at Kentucky Speedway. NASCAR will be in close communications with Kentucky Speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc. to see that they work to resolve the issues. This situation cannot happen again."(NASCAR) see many articles links posts July 10th & 11th on my Article Links page.(7-11-2011)

Statement from Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger regarding traffic for the Quaker State 400: "We've had an overwhelming response to our inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400." We know we had challenges related to traffic. We're already planning improvements and looking forward to a much better situation for next year's event.(7-10-2011)
UPDATE Statement from Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger regarding Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" traffic: "Kentucky Speedway regrets the traffic conditions surrounding the ‘Quaker State 400.’ We’re committed to working with NASCAR, state and local officials and traffic experts to assure that this never happens again. The details of these improvements will be announced over time as they are formulated. We also recognize the traffic problems resulted in some fans not being able to attend the ‘Quaker State 400.’ We are gathering information on this and will announce a policy for these affected fans within seven days. Our ‘Quaker State 400’ ticket holders are invited to share their experiences with us through fans@kentuckyspeedway.com. We thank all our fans for giving the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series such a great welcome to our venue.”(KYS)(7-11-2011)

Kentucky Gov. to work with speedway to address traffic: Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Sunday he will work with officials at Kentucky Speedway to address the traffic flow and parking problems that plagued Saturday's Quaker State 400. A bottleneck traffic jam at Interstate 71's Exit 57 onto Ky. 35, the road that runs by the track, left thousands stuck in traffic for six hours in many cases and ultimately too late to see the race. Many ticket holders also said they were turned away when they eventually arrived after the race began because there was no more parking left at the track. "There is no question that the entire week at the Kentucky Speedway was a big success, but it's also clear that there are issues, such as traffic flow, which must be addressed before next year's event," Beshear said in a statement. "We will work with track officials to determine what can be done to address these problems, so that next year's NASCAR event will be even bigger and better." Beshear said it was too early to tell whether the state would get involved in a major expansion or renovation of the interstate near the track. That is the hope, though, of Bruton Smith, the chairman of the track's ownership group, who said during the race that the state would need to step up in fixing the interstate.(full article at the Lexington Herald-Leader)(7-11-2011)

Kentucky Notes-n-Nuggets:
• Kyle Busch's victory in the inaugural Cup race at Kentucky Speedway was his 22nd series victory in his 240th start.
• Kyle Busch tied Kevin Harvick with his third victory of the season and assumed the Cup points lead by four points over Carl Edwards.
• Kyle Busch won from the pole, the first driver to do that in a Cup race in 2011.
• Five of Kyle Busch's 22 career victories (23 percent) have come from the pole.
• It was the fourth win of the season for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2011, tying Roush Fenway Racing for the most.
• David Reutimann (second) scored his best finish of 2011 and only his second top-10 in 18 races.
• Jimmie Johnson (third) finished in the top 10 for the 11th time this season.
• Ryan Newman (fourth) earned his best finish of 2011.
• Carl Edwards (fifth) picked up his 13th top-10 finish in 18 races, the most of any driver.
• Matt Kenseth (sixth) has finished 14th or better in each of the past eight races.
• Jamie McMurray (36th) blew his engine and has not finished in the top 10 in the past eight races.
(Racing Recall/nascar.com)
Kentucky Odds and Ends
• Of the 20 lead changes in Saturday night’s race, eight of them (40 percent) happened under caution.
• Kyle Busch is tied with Terry Labonte with 22 career Cup wins, putting Kyle in a tie for 27th on the all-time wins list.
• David Reutimann’s 2nd-place finish was his best of the year (previous best was 9th at Coca-Cola 600).
• Kasey Kahne finished 13th on Saturday. He has one top-10 finish in his last eight races.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 30th _ marking the fourth consecutive race he’s finished worse than 15th.
• Since finishing 2nd at Dover in May, Mark Martin has one top-10 finish in his last seven starts.
• David Ragan’s eighth-place finish came after his win at Daytona last weekend. It marked the second time this season he’s had back-to-back top-10 finishes.(Virginian Pilot)(7-10-2011)

Kyle Busch wins at Kentucky: #18-Kyle Busch won the inaugrual Quaker State 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway for his 3rd win of 2011, 22nd career win and taking the points lead. #00-Reutimann finished second followed by #48-Johnson, #39-Newman, #99-Edwards, #17-Kenseth, #2-Keselowski, #6-Ragan, #22-Busch and #24-Gordon.
The points leader going in to the race, #29-Harvick finished 16th and lost the points lead to #18-Busch, who goes to the points lead by 4 points over Edwards.
There were 20 lead changes among 12 drivers; 6 cautions for 32 yellow flag laps. The attendance is listed as 107,000 for the first race.
Scheduled Race Re-Air: SPEED, Wednesday, July 13 at 12:00pm/et
See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Kentucky Race Results/Awards page.
See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(7-9-2011)

Sprint Cup Series Haulers to Visit Cincinnati, Lexington and Louisville: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers will visit Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., and Louisville, Ky., on Wednesday, July 6 before they make their way to Kentucky Speedway’s historic tripleheader weekend that features the historic July 9 “Quaker State 400” along with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” on July 7 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300” on July 8. For a complete scheduled, go to kentuckyspeedway.com.(7-6-2011)

Traffic Plans Set for Kentucky Speedway’s “Quaker State 400” Weekend: Kentucky Speedway, Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet have collaborated on a comprehensive traffic and parking plan to accommodate more than 100,000 race fans who will converge at the Speedway July 7-9 for a NASCAR tripleheader weekend that will feature the inaugural “Quaker State 400.” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said a plan was carefully crafted to ensure maximum ease and efficiency for race fans traveling to and from the Speedway, just off Interstate 71 at Sparta, in Gallatin County. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet suspended highway construction activity on I-71, beginning Thursday, June 30, to allow northbound and southbound lanes to operate at full capacity. Construction is scheduled to resume on Monday, July 10. Kentucky Speedway is able to accommodate approximately 33,000 vehicles in its 10 parking lots. Fans can access free KOI Auto Parts shuttle buses and speedway trams at eight locations on a new access road that encircles the Speedway. Complete information regarding traffic and parking and tips for fans can be found in the maps section of the official Kentucky Speedway Fan Guide at www.kentuckyspeedway.com.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-6-2011)

KOI Auto Parts Expands Kentucky Speedway Shuttle Service: KOI Auto Parts has expanded Kentucky Speedway’s free event fan shuttle service through a unique corporate partnership. Fans visiting the speedway’s blockbuster NASCAR tripleheader weekend spotlighting the inaugural Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400” on July 9, Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300” on July 8 and Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” July 7 will be riding around the facility in style in a fleet of 17 busses donning the KOI Auto Parts logo. KOI busses will primarily serve the Bourbon Street, Hawk’s Landing and Ponderosa campgrounds on a continuous route that will service the speedway entrances, souvenir row, display areas and shower house.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, KOI has been serving more than 10,000 customers such as professional repair garages, collision centers, General Motors and Ford automotive dealerships and do-it-yourself specialists with world-class customer service for more than 60 years through 75 regional retail locations from a 750,000 square-foot warehouse that’s home to an expansive inventory of 350,000 unique parts. Learn more by visiting www.koiautoparts.com.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-6-2011)

Slugger factory makes NASCAR bats: NASCAR drivers coming to Kentucky next week will be hit with a Louisville tradition. Friday morning, more than 300 special-edition NASCAR Louisville Slugger bats were rolled out of the Slugger factory. They feature the logo for the inaugural Sprint Cup race at the Kentucky Speedway, which takes place July 9. The bats have the names of the drivers they'll be given to engraved on the side. "The Sprint Cup series is really like the big league of auto racing," said Anne Jewell, executive director of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. "What better gift for the folks associated with this race than the official bat of the major leagues, and it's such an important event coming to Kentucky as well." Along with drivers, official team members and executives will be given the special bats. They will not be sold to the public.(Fox 41)(7-3-2011)

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet halting contruction for race: When more than 100,000 race fans make their way to and from the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta next month for the track's inaugural Sprint Cup race, they won't have to deal with the construction zones that have plagued Northern Kentucky roads this spring. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is halting most of the half-dozen construction projects underway on area interstates from June 30 to July 12. "All I can to say to that is thank God in high heaven," said Mark Simendinger, Speedway general manager. Lane closures on I-71/75 on the cut-in-the-hill weekends and on I-71 from the split to the Speedway on weekdays have created hours-long back ups that have frustrated travelers and locals alike. Crews have also been working on several stretches of Interstate 275 and I-75 in Boone and Grant counties. The roadwork is part of Revive the Drive-NKY, a $91 million series of road projects that will repair and replace decades-old pavement on Interstates 71, 75, 275 and 471.
For the two-week window, which includes the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the ubiquitous orange barrels will be moved out of the way, said Nancy Wood, spokeswoman for the Cabinet's District 6 Office. The only construction will be July 5, 6 and 7 on northbound I-75 from the Grant/Boone County line to near the Turfway exit in Florence. That work will only take place from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Simendinger said the track has been working with the Transportation Cabinet for more than six months in preparation for the first Sprint Cup race on July 9 at the Gallatin County track. Any traffic going to the Speedway from I-75 north will have to take the Richwood Road exit, go under the interstate and get back on I-75 south to go to I-71 south. The ramp will be closed from July 5 to July 15. While the ramp is closed, the state will make pavement repairs on the ramp, Wood said. Though all travel lanes will be open, it will still be a bumpy ride getting to and from the Speedway on the 18 miles of I-71 from the I-71/75 split to Sparta. Workers are repairing more than 300 base failures - pot holes and ruts - which means overfilling the holes to higher level than the roadway.(Kentucky Enquirer)(7-2-2011)

Inaugural Kentucky Speedway Sprint Cup race sold out: Kentucky Speedway announces it has sold out the 107,000 grandstand tickets available for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Quaker State 400.” Fans who wish to witness NASCAR history July 9 can still take advantage of the speedway’s Pit Road Club that offers an infield view of the race action from behind pit road wall or $60 standing room only tickets that will provide access to the Turn 1 and Turn 4 concourses. Both can be purchased at kentuckyspeedway.com or by phone at 888-652-7223 and 859-578-2300. “Selling out the inaugural ‘Quaker State 400’ with more than a week before the event is a great testament to this market and our fans. Our packed stands will combine with overflowing corporate display, hospitality and camping to create an electric atmosphere as we make Kentucky sports history,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said. The speedway’s sold out exterior and infield campgrounds will open on Tuesday, July 5 at noon. Fans still seeking race week campsites can visit kentuckyspeedway.com and click “Camping” in the top navigation bar for a listing of campgrounds offering good options within walking distance of the speedway and in the surrounding area. Race week festivities begin Wednesday, July 6, when NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team haulers visit Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., and Louisville, Ky.
Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) haulers will visit Fourth Street Live! in downtown Louisville from 11:30 a.m., to 1:00 p.m.; Cincinnati fans can meet Mayor Mark Mallory while viewing Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing team haulers at the corner of Fifth St., and Race St., near the Millennium Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; and Lexington, Ky., will play host to 35 to 40 haulers at Hamburg Place at 2350 Grey Lag Way from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., before they depart on a 12-mile parade that will traverse the city by way of Sir Barton Way, Winchester Rd., Midland Ave., E. Main St., and Newtown Pike.
Kentucky Speedway’s first NASCAR tripleheader weekend opens Thursday, July 7 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” and additionally features the NASCAR Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300” on Friday, July 8. Tickets for both events can be reserved through the Kentucky Speedway Web site and ticket office phone numbers.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-1-2011)

Kentucky Speedway unveils fan inspired trophy: Kentucky Speedway recently unveiled its inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" trophy design inspired by fan William Stohr of Sparta, Ky., through a fan contest. The 33-inch high, 22-inch wide, 30-pound trophy will blend Kentucky's racing traditions by featuring a chrome-plated Thoroughbred bust with a flowing checkered-flag mane. The bust will be mounted on a tulip poplar wood pedestal to represent the official state tree and mounted to a stainless-steel base complete with a split-rail fence that depicts the Commonwealth's signature rolling hills."Thinking about Kentucky and the speedway, I wanted to combine stock car racing with a Thoroughbred horse," the 33-year-old Stohr said. His design was chosen from 120 entries submitted by the enthusiastic Kentucky Speedway fan base since November 2010 and brought to life by designer, Murray, Ky., native and Univ. of Kentucky alumnus Rusty Wright, 44, through an association with Maryland-based Aquarius Sports Management. The trophy will be manufactured through Fast Forward Marketing of Spring, Texas. Stohr will receive "Quaker State 400" tickets and will be present in Victory Lane July 9 when his creation is awarded to the speedway's first Sprint Cup Series race champion. "It's pretty overwhelming to think that something that I created will be on a driver's shelf," Stohr added.
The "Quaker State 400" will conclude the speedway's historic opening weekend that opens July 7 with a 225-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event and continues July 8 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) "Feed The Children 300." Tickets, campsites along with Fan Zone pit road and infield passes for all 2011 Kentucky Speedway events can be reserved online at kentuckyspeedway.com, by calling 888-652-7223 or by visiting the speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive in Sparta, Ky., just off Interstate 71, Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N.(Kentucky Speedway)(6-24-2011)

Clay Walker to entertain fans at Kentucky Speedway: Tried-and-true country music artist Clay Walker will entertain more than 106,000 NASCAR fans with his rock-solid repertoire of hits before the race for Kentucky Speedway's inaugural Sprint Cup Series "Quaker State 400" title July 9. The 41-year-old Walker demonstrated his sound's staying power when the title single from his 11th career collection "She Won't Be Lonely Long" reached No. 5 on Billboard Magazine's Country Album Chart and its title single rocketed to No. 4 on the publication's Country Music Singles Chart in 2010. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996, he started the Band Against MS (BAMS) non-profit foundation to fund research and education about the condition. Learn more by visiting claywalker.com. The "Quaker State 400" will anchor a tripleheader NASCAR weekend at the speedway which opens with a 225-mile Camping World Truck Series battle July 7 followed by the Nationwide Series "Feed The Children 300" on July 8. Tickets, campsites, Fan Zone Pit Road passes along with Fan Zone Prerace concert and driver introduction passes for Kentucky Speedway's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend can be reserved online at kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-7223 or by visiting the venue's Sparta, Ky., corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive just off Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N.(Kentucky Speedway)(6-19-2001)

Construction work at Kentucky Speedway affects testing: Construction work at Kentucky Speedway has prompted a two-day IndyCar test to be canceled and pushed back a NASCAR tire test to be pushed back. The IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights had an open test planned for May 9-10 at the track. Teams were notified about the cancellation Wednesday and told IndyCar is looking into scheduling a one-day test at a similar oval. Goodyear invited seven NASCAR Sprint Cup teams to a May 17 test at Kentucky Speedway to confirm the tire setup for the inaugural Quaker State 400 on July 9. That tire test now will take place June 1. The date change could affect the driver lineup. As of last week it included #16-Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing, Ford), #29-Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet), #2-Brad Keselowski (Penske Racing, Dodge), #38-Travis Kvapil (Front Row Motorsports, Ford), #20-Joey Logano (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota), #5-Mark Martin (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet) and #00-David Reutimann (Michael Waltrip Racing, Toyota).
The culprit isn't the racing surface but construction going on around it. The rescheduling comes after crews recently removed the inside retaining wall from the exit of pit road, through Turns 1 and 2, and down much of the backstretch. "We're doing some grading there and also putting in a new wall with the SAFER barrier," Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith said. "This is just to make it better and safer. That's what it's all about." Workers framed the pit stalls earlier this week and poured concrete Thursday. While The pit stalls will be concrete, but pit road itself will be asphalt. The changes are part of a massive effort to get the track ready for its Sprint Cup debut, and to handle the more than 100,000 fans expected to attend the July 9 race. "I think we've made some great strides," Smith said. "We've improved parking tremendously and the road system a great deal. Adding 12 more elevators and the extra camping and concessions and souvenirs, all the things we're doing there to accommodate the crowd, that's what we're about."(Cincinnati Enquirer)(4-22-2011)

Kentucky Speedway, Coca-Cola announce five-year partnership: Hot sunshine and the hottest-ever Kentucky Speedway action will have race fans working up a thirst during the 2011 season as they cheer on their favorite NASCAR and open-wheel drivers. Thanks to a new five-year partnership with Coca-Cola North America, the Official Soft Drink of NASCAR, Coca-Cola, has become the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage provider to Kentucky Speedway and will refresh its fans' hard-working thirst each time they visit the 106,000-capacity Speedway Motorsports, Inc.,(SMI) facility in Sparta, Ky. Coca-Cola and Kentucky Speedway will team to create a series of entertainment and promotional programs designed to enhance the fan experience while generating exposure for the venue's six-event, two-weekend 2011 season. Kentucky Speedway and Coca-Cola will introduce their new partnership to fans by delivering a buy-one, get-one-free ticket offer redeemable for either the July NCWTS or NNS races to those who purchase specially-marked 20-can multipacks of Coca-Cola. Multipacks will be on store shelves in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio as well as in Lexington and Louisville, Ky., beginning June 1, 2011.(Kentucky Speedway)(4-14-2011)

Kentucky race to be Feed The Children 300: Kentucky Speedway's inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend will evolve into an awareness platform for Feed The Children when the non-profit relief organization serves as title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series "Feed The Children 300" on Friday, July 8. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., Feed The Children delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities worldwide to children and families who lack such essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disaster. From distribution centers in Elkhart, Ind., Houston, Texas, Nashville, Tenn., North Brunswick, N.J., Oklahoma City, and Ontario, Calif., Feed The Children is able to provide help and hope to all 50 states. Feed The Children food boxes hold approximately 25 pounds of canned and shelf-stable foods. Essential care boxes contain soap, shampoo, deodorant, tissue, shaving cream and similar personal items. Recipients are identified through local community partner agencies. The organization will help better the lives of families in Kentucky Speedway's home Gallatin Co., and the surrounding region by delivering an estimated 200,000 pounds of food and supplies in events connected to the "Feed The Children 300." Feed The Children also will partner with Speedway Children's Charities to deliver food and essentials to those in need in areas surrounding Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. In all, Feed The Children's distributions in partnership with Speedway Children's Charities will reach 10,000 families with enough food and supplies to stretch around the Kentucky Speedway 1.5-mile track four times.(Kentucky Speedway)(4-9-2011)

UNOH to sponsor Kentucky Truck race: The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) will bring its motorsports industry expertise to Kentucky Speedway October 1 when the entrepreneurial, not-for-profit institution serves as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) “UNOH 225.” Located in Lima, Ohio, UNOH grants master's, baccalaureate, and associate degrees through its Colleges of Technologies, Business, and Distance Learning. The College of Technologies prepares students for careers in the motorsports and automotive industry through specialized Automotive, High Performance Motorsports, Diesel, and Alternate Fuels programs. The UNOH College of Technologies has built a storied racing history through its involvement in the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR National Series, and events such as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour UNOH Perfect Storm 150 contested at the Bristol Motor Speedway, in addition to the UNOH Southern Slam 150 held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. UNOH will receive multiple promotional considerations under the undisclosed terms of the entitlement agreement. Tickets and camping for all 2011 events can be reserved online at kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-7223 or by visiting the speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive in Sparta, Ky., 41086.(Kentucky Speedway)(3-21-2010)

Quaker State to Sponsor Inaugural Kentucky Cup race: Quaker State announced it will be the title sponsor of the first ever Sprint Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway. The Quaker State 400 will be held at the first new track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule since 2001. Quaker State will drop the green flag at the newly-expanded, 117,000-capacity Speedway Motorsports, Inc. facility at 7:30 p.m., July 9. The 400-mile event will conclude a tripleheader NASCAR weekend that opens with a 225-mile Camping World Truck Series battle on July 7 and spotlights a 300-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series event on July 8. Twenty-nine-year Sprint Cup Series veteran and 40-time race winner Mark Martin will pilot the Hendrick Motorsports #5 Quaker State Chevy during the historic weekend.(Kentucky Speedway)(3-6-2011)

Kentucky infield fan zone passes on sale: Kentucky Speedway is celebrating the opening of the 2011 race season by placing infield Fan Zone passes on sale for its July 7-9 NASCAR race weekend that will feature the historic Sprint Cup Series debut at the 105,000-capacity facility along with Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series action.
A Fan Zone Pass will provide fans access to an infield area surrounding Victory Lane and will include an enhanced view of Pit Road until one hour prior to the start of each weekend event. Individual Fan Zone passes are required for each race day and pass holders must possess a race ticket to be admitted to the speedway on race days. Fan Zone passes are priced at $50 for the 225-mile July 7 Camping World Truck Series race day, $75 for the 300-mile July 8 Nationwide Series race day and $100 for the July 9 Sprint Cup Series race day.
The speedway is additionally offering a new Prerace Fan Zone Pass priced at $150 only for its July 9 Sprint Cup Series race day. The Prerace Fan Zone pass will deliver all the amenities of a Fan Zone pass with additional access to an area surrounding a prerace stage where fans will enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of Sprint Cup Series driver introductions and a performance by a prerace concert artist that will be announced in the coming weeks. Prerace Fan Zone pass holders must possess a race ticket to be admitted to the speedway on race day. Children enjoying Fan Zone and Prerace Fan Zone access must possess a race ticket and be accompanied by a paying adult. July Fan Zone passes and race tickets for all 2011 Kentucky Speedway events can be reserved online at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-7223.(Kentucky Speedway)(3-6-2011)

Kentucky Speedway to make sponsor announcement: Kentucky Speedway officials will make a sponsorship announcement prior to Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "I think you'll find it to be a pretty significant sponsorship announcement," Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger said. While he did not elaborate, officials with the track and the company that owns it have been working to land a title sponsor for the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race in July. The 400-mile race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on July 9.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(3-4-2011)

Kentucky Speedway Individual tickets on sale: Individual tickets for Kentucky Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400-mile event and the track’s five additional 2011 races have been placed on sale. Reserved Sprint Cup Series tickets are available on six price levels ranging from $70 to $110 depending on seat location. More info about tickets at kentuckyspeedway.com or call at (888) 652-7223.(Kentucky Speedway)(1-12-2011)

Kentucky Speedway gets state incentives for NASCAR race: The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has approved incentives for Kentucky Speedway, which is scheduled to hold a NASCAR Sprint Cup race July 9. The approval means the speedway will be eligible for as much as $20.5 million in performance-based rebates during a 10-year period, based on an investment of $82 million, according to a news release Monday. The incentive allows the applicant to recover as much as 25% of development costs through the recovery of sales tax generated at the racetrack. “This NASCAR event at the Kentucky Speedway is estimated to have an annual $150 million economic impact on Kentucky,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in the release. Kentucky Speedway, located in Sparta, Ky., was among the first projects approved under the amended Kentucky Tourism Development Act that provides tax incentives to new or expanding businesses.(Louisville Business First)(12-21-2010)

Kentucky Speedway still looking for race sponsor: The inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway remains nameless but track officials are in serious negotiations with prospective title sponsors of the 400-mile event. "It is a large property. It takes some detail and some work to get it done," Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger said. "But, yeah, surely there's a lot of interest. Anybody that's involved in sports sponsorship in this region has expressed some level of interest for the most part; all the major sports sponsors anyway." Working in the speedway's favor is the significance attached to the inaugural race and the markets within its reach. Track officials and court records have stated there are 6.9 million people within a 100-mile radius of the track and 51 million within 300 miles. Average pricing for Cup race entitlements is difficult to determine because financial terms typically are not disclosed. In May 2009, the Associated Press reported the value can exceed $100 million.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(12-8-2010)

Upgrades planned for Kentucky Speedway: Yes, it's official. Kentucky Speedway will host its first Cup race on Saturday night, July 9, 2011. But Bruton Smith's just getting started. Before he could get the huge banner outside the front gate unrolled he was lobbying the governor to build an airport large enough to land 747s on these sprawling hills. "All you camera guys, are you looking at me?" Smith said as he began his rundown of planned improvements. "Look at me!" Smith then promised to spend between $90 million and $100 million expanding seating capacity from 66,000 to 116,000, building new restrooms, adding 200 more acres of campground space and putting in more elevators. When you see what he has accomplished already and what he promises, you almost believe one day he'll convince NASCAR to move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(ESPN.com)(8-11-2010)

Kentucky Speedway to host Cup race: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith announced that Kentucky Speedway will play host to its inaugural 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday, July 9, 2011. The Sparta, Ky., venue will become the 23rd motorsports facility on the 36-race Sprint Cup Series schedule and the first facility to be added to the national tour since Chicagoland Speedway made its debut July 15, 2001 and Kansas Speedway staged its first series race on Sept. 29, 2001.(Kentucky PR)(8-10-2010)

Looks like Kentucky will get a Cup race: Kentucky Speedway will get a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2011, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. A news conference is scheduled at the track Aug. 10. Kentucky already hosts NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series events, as well as an IndyCar race. Plans are already in place to expand seating from 65,000 to around 100,000. SMI will likely have to move a race from one of its other tracks to Kentucky. Smith has consistently played coy about his intentions, but during a Cup visit to New Hampshire in June, he didn't exactly endorse the prospect of continuing to have two Cup races a year in New England. While the second race traditionally kicks off the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, the June race could easily be bumped off the schedule. NASCAR is expected to announce its 2011 schedule by Labor Day.(Associated Press)(8-2-2010)

Kentucky Speedway to make announcement: Kentucky Speedway’s owner hinted Friday that a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race would be held next year at the Gallatin County track. A “big press conference” is planned Aug. 10 at Kentucky Speedway, said Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. He would not go so far as to say the event would include news of a 2011 Cup race, but that it “deals with all of that.”
“Don’t try to get me to hold that press conference now, OK?” Smith said. “But we’ll have a lot of things to announce when we’re there (about) a lot of the changes that we’re making.” Smith expects 500 people at the news conference, including Gov. Steve Beshear and three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip. A spokeswoman for Beshear said the governor’s schedule for that week was not yet available. Jerry Carroll, the track’s former chairman, and a consultant for SMI, will be there. “If Bruton Smith is coming all the way up here, and the governor is coming all the way up here, they’re not going to tell people bad news. So figure it from there,” Carroll said.
Earlier this month, NASCAR CEO Brian France said SMI and ISC had submitted requests to NASCAR to move races in 2011. ISC wants a second Cup date for its Kansas Speedway. On Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, France said the 2011 Cup schedule would include changes and that it was within a week or two of being completed. Kentucky Speedway would be the first new venue on the Cup schedule since Chicagoland Speedway and Kansas Speedway were introduced in 2001.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(7-31-2010)

Scheduled changes, 3 tracks loses? 3 gain dates?: SPEED's Bob Dillner reported on the July 11th SPEED Report that rumors have Auto Club Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway with second race dates going to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway and Kentucky Speedway getting a Sprint Cup race. No word how this will shake up the Sprint Cup schedule, can be figured out a few different ways. Look for Atlanta Motor Speedway to keep it's Labor Day weekend date and doubtful Las Vegas would get a summer date with the heat there.(7-13-2010)

Some 2011 schedule speculation: It appears more likely than ever the 2011 Sprint Cup slate will have a much different look than it has in recent seasons. NASCAR acknowledged both SMI and ISC have requested realignment date changes for next year, and there are reports Kentucky and a second date for Las Vegas will be part of the SMI plan, at the expense of races in New Hampshire and Atlanta, and Kansas will gain a second NASCAR weekend when Auto Club Speedway gets stripped of its February date.(CBS Sports) to see what tracks have already confirmed their dates for next year, check out my 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 'tentative' Schedule page.(7-5-2010)

Latest on Bruton moving race dates: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith said Friday he plans to meet with NASCAR officials soon to discuss the Sprint Cup schedule for SMI tracks in 2011. Smith did not say whether he plans to move one New Hampshire Motor Speedway date to Kentucky Motor Speedway. "Whatever we do, we'll announce sometime in the future," Smith said. "We'll be talking to NASCAR about all these things and we need to study it carefully. We want to do whatever is best for the sport. We're in this thing together. If opportunity knocks, we want to be there to open the door." Kentucky is the only SMI track that doesn't have a Cup race, something Smith wants to change. That could mean the June race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which SMI also owns, could move. NHMS also hosts the first Chase race in September. Smith will announce Sunday that the IndyCar Series will race at NHMS next season, which could replace the June Cup date at the 1-mile oval. There also was speculation that Smith might move one Atlanta Motor Speedway date to Kentucky. "No, I've never heard that," Smith said Friday. Smith said he will meet with NASCAR president Mike Helton this weekend and plans to meet with Lesa France Kennedy soon. Kennedy is the CEO of International Speedway Corp. and the sister of NASCAR chairman Brian France. Kennedy hopes to add a second Cup date next year at Kansas Speedway, an ISC facility. "I get along very well with Lesa," Smith said. "She and I have a good rapport. I will be talking to her next week, hopefully. We don't want to put off until next year what we can do this year."(ESPN)(6-25-2010)

2011: Kansas 2nd date? Kentucky may not go Cup? No word yet on NASCAR's 2011 tour schedule. But that new second Cup weekend proposed for Kansas City, with the opening of that new casino just outside the first turn, has some stock car racing promoters wondering – perhaps sweating out -- just where that Cup date will come from. With the NASCAR Cup tour already working 38 weeks a season, no one expects CEO Brian France to add a 39th week for Kansas. Rather that that new race will have to come at the expense of one of the France family's current International Speedway Corp. (ISC) tracks. ISC runs 19 Sprint Cup events at its 12 tracks: Daytona, California, Martinsville, Phoenix, Talladega, Richmond, Darlington, Michigan, Chicagoland, Watkins Glen, Kansas and Homestead-Miami. The ISC track losing a week for that second Kansas race? Michigan president Roger Curtis insists that it won't be his, that this track will continue to host two Cup events. Curtis, who took the reins here in 2006, has just cut the ribbon on a huge new array of pit road suites and infield-to-grandstand pedestrian tunnel, part of some $55 million in capital improvement projects, including a new scoreboard, new sound system, better infield drainage, and 23,000 more grandstand seats. (Here's Curtis talking about his 'infield project: http://bit.ly/c17XTV ) And Curtis says NASCAR officials want him next to start rebuilding the garage area itself, which really hasn't been greatly improved in years.
But Bruton Smith, who runs rival Speedway Motorsports (SMI), may be backing away from pushing for a Cup weekend in 2011 at his Kentucky Speedway, which hosted Saturday night's Nationwide 300 (to a less than 72,000-capacity crowd). Smith, to move a Cup date to Kentucky, would also likely have to cut a Cup weekend from one of his seven tracks [Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas] current tracks that host 12 races.(MikeMulhern.net)(6-14-2010)

No Cup race at Kentucky in 2011? Even though it appears that the Kentucky Speedway founders' antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is coming to a close, track owner Speedway Motorsports Inc. reported that a 2011 Sprint Cup date at the track "may not be feasible" because of a variety of factors, including capital improvements necessary for the facility. SMI Chairman Bruton Smith has been adamant about moving a date to Kentucky as soon as possible. But a filing Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted that 2011 might be too soon, although those filings must cover all possible scenarios and can, at times, be cautious in nature. Bill Brooks, SMI's chief financial officer, said Wednesday during a conference call with financial analysts that among the factors that would dictate when realignment would occur are "particularly costs of any capital expenditure to upgrade or expand our facility at Kentucky [and] the lead time to do it." Brooks did not say what capital improvements will be necessary, but Smith has talked about expanding the grandstand capacity. Kentucky has only 69,000 seats - 30,000 fewer than New Hampshire and 32,000 fewer than Atlanta - and likely would need to increase seating for a Sprint Cup event. According to the SEC filing, other factors being considered over whether to move a race to Kentucky are the popularity and profitability of various races, alternative uses of tracks and revenues for such tracks in the event a race is moved, any existing or potential government tax incentives, changing economic conditions at the individual tracks and in the economy as a whole.(Scene Daily)(5-6-2010)

Rockets to Race Car: From better brakes and safer tires to heat-resistant paint and cleaner emissions, NASA's contributions to the racing world will be featured in the traveling exhibit: "From Rockets to Race Cars" the NASCAR weekend of April 30-May 1 at the Richmond International Raceway. Over the years, NASA has provided technology that not only helps the racing world, but also improves conditions for all drivers while helping to protect the environment. On display will be a quarter-scale NASA Benefits Race Car as well as a Wheel Exhibit, that includes a NASCAR tire, Shuttle tire, Lunar Rover tire, Lunar Tweel (a non-pneumatic tire/wheel combination) and a Spring Tire allowing fans the opportunity to see, touch and compare the wheels of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Fans will get a shot at NASA Spin the Wheel where they can win prizes if they answer NASA-related questions correctly. A "Rockets to Race Car" photo opportunity will allow visitors to have a photo taken with their own camera in which they look like they are sitting in a NASA Race Car. To find out what else NASA and NASCAR have in common, check out the exhibit at select NASCAR races through June. NASA's "From Rockets to Race Cars" will be at the following races:
* Richmond International Raceway, April 30-May 1
* Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 29-30
* Kentucky Speedway, June 11-12.(NASA)(4-29-2010)

Bruton thinks Kentucky will get race in 2011: Bruton Smith says he's confident that all the legal issues around Kentucky Speedway will be finished in time so NASCAR can award a Cup date to that track for next year. Does he know where the date will come from? He says, yes. So where? He won't say. He does offer a suggestion on how to give Las Vegas a second date but it would require taking one race away from International Speedway Corp (the track company run by the France family) and would seem doubtful because it likely would impact ISC stockholders negatively. Bruton's idea is this: "You move Home-and-stead (Homestead), that last race, to Las Vegas. That would be good for the sport. Then you take one of the events from California to Home-and-stead. Now you've got a winner. It's great for the sport. It will work. Naturally, the big winner will be Speedway Motorsports (Bruton's company), but we do things that build NASCAR. As Billy France said to me in New York (years ago), "Help me build NASCAR,' and I laughed like hell. I said, "Bill, what do you think I've been doing for the past 25 years.' That's what we've got to be doing is build NASCAR. Sometimes, it looks like we lost our way, and I don't think we have.''(Virginia Pilot)(3-6-2010)

Panel denies Kentucky Speedway suit rehearing: The appeal involving Kentucky Speedway’s founding owners suffered another defeat Thursday when a three-judge panel for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition for a rehearing. The same panel in December upheld a lower court’s summary judgment ruling for NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. in the antitrust lawsuit. “The panel has further reviewed the petition for rehearing and concludes that the issues raised in the petition were fully considered upon the original submission and decision of the case,” Thursday’s order reads. The only remaining option for the former owners is to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision.(Cincinnati Enquirer)(2-18-2010)

Bruton Smtih may sue former Kentucky Speedway owners: Speedway Motorsports, Inc., CEO Bruton Smith [and current owner of the track] told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Friday that he may file a lawsuit of his own against the former owners of Kentucky Speedway. ”I have business interests in 24 states around this country, and I employ probably 250 lawyers in those states,” said Smith. “I can tell you that some of those lawyers might be busy right now investigating the possibility of filing a lawsuit or two of our own to try and get this straightened out. We fully intend on a having a Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway in 2011, and we will do what we have to do to make it happen. We will stop at nothing that’s legal to fulfill the promises we’ve made (about bringing a Cup race to Kentucky).”(Sirius Speedway)(1-8-2010)

Kentucky Speedway season tix on sale Oct 5th: Race fans can lock in their place in Kentucky Speedway’s big future with Speedway Motorsports, Inc., when four affordable 2010 season ticket plans are placed on sale Monday, Oct. 5. Plans start at $139 and feature fan-friendly benefits such as the right to renew the most sought after seat locations nearest the flagstand and finish line for future seasons, VIP parking, cold pit access vouchers, a discount on the purchase of additional race tickets and more. The speedway has made it easier than ever to become a season ticket member with the introduction of an optional payment plan which will allow members to extend payments to February 2010. Kentucky Speedway will bundle competitive NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights action into a two-weekend schedule filled with speedway firsts. Kentucky Speedway season ticket plans can be reserved or renewed by calling 859-578-2300 or visiting the season tickets page of www.kentuckyspeedway.com.(10-2-2009)

Kentucky not on 2010 schedule: The 2010 Sprint Cup Series schedule has not been officially released, but Speedway Motorsports Incorporated boss Bruton Smith knew the chances of getting the newly acquired Kentucky speedway a date next season were slim and none. Speaking Tuesday at the Zmax Dragway, where it was announced the state of the art drag strip would be getting a second NHRA race weekend in 2010, Smith said a Kentucky date next year was now out of the question because the former owner won't drop a lawsuit they brought against NASCAR and a court ruling will come too late. Smith said, "I think it's a dead issue. The lawsuit did not get resolved at the appellate division and we ran out of time. NASCAR now has the schedule, and if it happened tomorrow I don't see NASCAR changing the schedule to accommodate Kentucky." How disappointed is Smith? "I'd say I expected it, but, yes disappointed because it's a great speedway…it's a beautiful speedway and we're anxious to get it on." Smith assured Kentucky Speedway will be a part of the Sprint Cup schedule in the future. "Absolutely, yes, absolutely we'll be there in 2011."(PRN's Garage Pass)(8-26-2009)

Kentucky to get Cup race in 2011?: Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith was hoping to get Kentucky on the schedule, likely taking a date away from Atlanta, but the former owners of the speedway refuse to drop their lawsuit against NASCAR. Until that happens, NASCAR won't consider Kentucky for a date. But otherwise, expect next year's schedule will be like this year's schedule -- except for two exceptions. If you were paying attention to Sunday's press conference in which Michigan International Speedway officials announced a reduction in ticket prices, you may have noticed a change in date for the track's first 2010 race. The date was June 13, a week earlier than normal. And there's another shift: The Dover race will move from the weekend after Memorial Day weekend to early May. These changes come because there is an extra weekend in between the Mother's Day race date at Darlington and the Memorial Day race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and one less weekend between then and the Fourth of July weekend. (ESPN Insider)(8-22-2009)

For the past news on the old Kentucky Speedway/ISC lawsuit, see my Kentucky Speedway vs. ISC Lawsuit Page