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Eleven people hurt at race track UPDATE: At least three people were critically injured and eight others were taken to hospitals after two buses crashed into a wall in front of the grandstand at the Columbus Motor Speedway on Saturday night. The crash occurred at about 10:35 p.m. during a Crash-A-Rama event. Witnesses said that it did not seem that the buses were traveling fast at the time of the crash. Firefighters said six of the injured were transported to Nationwide Children's Hospital, while three others were sent to Mount Carmel West Hospital. Two others were taken to Grant Medical Center. The occurred a little over a month after a platform collapsed at the speedway, injuring six people. The extent of injuries to those who were critically hurt was not immediately known. See more at wbns10tv.com and Columbus Dispatch.(5-24-2009)
UPDATE: SPEEDtv's Ray Dunlap drove the lead bus, before getting rammed by the other driver and is OK with no injuries.
AND A co-owner of the Columbus Motor Speedway said he is optimistic that the track will reopen for this weekend's races after a crash injured 12 spectators Saturday night. The wreck left a 5-foot-wide hole in a 4-foot-high concrete restraining wall ringing the speedway. Jeff Nuckles said he hoped a repair crew would fix it this week, in time for the track to host its normal Saturday night stock car races. Two school buses were racing as part of a "Crash-A-Rama" at the speedway in Obetz when one hit the other and both crashed into the wall in front of a grandstand. Flying chunks of the wall hit spectators, although most of the people injured were actually leaning on a fence in front of or at the side of the grandstand, Hamilton Township Fire Chief Jerry Lupfer said. There is a gap of several feet between the wall and the fence. A separate fence rises above the wall to protect spectators from debris flying from the track. Ten of the 12 injured spectators were taken to local hospitals with mostly minor injuries. Six were children. Two people were taken to Grant Medical Center as possible serious trauma cases, but their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, Lupfer said. None of the spectators' names or conditions was available yesterday.(Columbus Dispatch.(5-25-2009)

Evernham's Track debuts with Full House/Field: A record crowd packed East Lincoln Speedway Saturday night for the grand opening of the newly revamped 3/8 mile clay oval. RE Driver's MeetingUnder the new ownership of veteran NASCAR crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham along with his business partner Bob Mack, a capacity crowd flooded the facility to see the many upgrades and improvements made to the 20-year-old speedway. East Lincoln Victory LaneEast Lincoln Speedway will be back in action this Saturday night April 11 with a full racing program. East Lincoln Speedway is located at 1873 Mariposa Rd in Stanley, NC.(PR)(4-8-2009)

ServiceMaster Clean Inks Deal with ISC & SMI Race Tracks: ServiceMaster Clean announced that it has signed a unique partnership agreement to be the first-ever official sponsor of the caution period during races at International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) race tracks across the nation. When there is a problem on the track, the ServiceMaster Clean Yellow Flag will wave, and the company’s familiar yellow trucks will be dispatched to clean the track. In racing, a yellow flag means cleaning. Restoration must be done quickly and professionally in order to get back to racing. In homes and businesses across North America, a yellow ServiceMaster Clean van means cleaning and restoration is being done quickly and professionally by America’s number one cleaning team. ServiceMaster Clean will have official and exclusive sponsorship of the Yellow Flag– now to be known as ServiceMaster Clean Caution periods – at all 19 ISC and SMI race tracks around the country. These racetracks feature 31 Sprint Cup, 24 Nationwide and 17 Camping World Truck Series races and hundreds of other racing events. In fact, there will hardly be a race for the next five years where ServiceMaster Clean does not have a large presence. All cleaning and drying vehicles and equipment will feature the ServiceMaster Clean logo and colors, and the clean-up teams will wear bright yellow ServiceMaster Clean jumpsuits. The multi-year agreement is not limited to what happens on the track, but also includes national coverage on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Performance Racing Network (PRN), hospitality events for franchise owners, the right to create and sell promotional merchandise and a host of other marketing opportunities designed to generate consistent visibility.(C4 Explosive Communications PR)(1-16-2009)

Demolition begins at Birmingham International Raceway: The wrecking ball from Brasfield and Gorrie took a few swings -- mostly for the gathered crowd of city officials and others -- but the massive concrete structure that makes up the grandtsands at Birmingham International Raceway wasn't about to yield easily. When demolition of one of the oldest race tracks in America is complete, the new $55 million Fair Park project will include a natatorium with an Olympic-sized pool and an indoor track arena that will allow state high schools to once again hold indoor track competition. Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford took the controls of the crane briefly but didn't make much of a dent in the structure.(Alabama Live)(1-31-2009)

Tucson Raceway Park in trouble: The operator of Tucson Raceway Park has pulled out of his agreement with the Southwestern Fair Commission, putting in doubt the future of stock-car racing at the 3/8-mile track southeast of Tucson. The fair commission and the leaseholder, Deery Sports West, are looking for a new operator and said they are optimistic they can find someone before the season starts in March. They said a number of groups have expressed interest in running the track, but they were not ready to name names and no deal is imminent. The track, which is owned by Pima County and leased along with the Pima County Fairgrounds to the Southwestern Fair Commission, is the only paved short track in Arizona. The fair commission leases the track to Deery Sports West, which ran the track for several years before subleasing it yet again to Innovative Racing LLC 2 1/2 years ago. It is Innovative Racing that has pulled out of the agreement, saying it can no longer operate the track. Deery Sports remains the primary leaseholder, but the family that runs it now is based in Illinois, running tracks there. Southwest Fair Commission Executive Director Jon Baker said Deery needs to either run the track or find someone to run it. "We do not intend to shut it down," Baker said.(Arizona Star)(1-4-2009)

Elliott's brother named GM of speedway: Peachstate Speedway in Jefferson, Georgia was renamed Gresham Motorsports Park. Racetrack owners Jim Gresham, Dan Elliott of the famous Elliott family of Dawsonville, Georgia, has been named the General Manager of Gresham Motorsports Park. "We plan to do an Extreme Makeover Race Track Edition" Elliott said in a brief interview. He has been in racing almost all of his life, from short tracks to NASCAR, and he plans to use every resource available to make this the best racetrack in the country. "This track once hosted some of the most famous drivers that ever raced and if anyone can do that again I want to be the man to do it and I want this to be the track where new talent is discovered. I am excited and proud to be a part of the new Gresham Motorsports Park and highly praise the Greshams and Gene Roberts for this awesome opportunity." For further information see www.greshammotorsportspark.com.(Gresham Motorsports Park)(1-1-2009)

New Smyrna track to get busy, not Disney and Texas World Speedway?: last week NASCAR banned testing at its sanctioned tracks, providing a small, silver lining to short tracks that can host NASCAR test sessions. As for Central Florida short tracks, New Smyrna Speedway is in position to gain the most. Orlando Speedworld, at 3/8 of a mile, is much too small to be useful for testing. The mile-long tri-oval at Disney World is the right size, but its surface makes it unlike any NASCAR track. Darrell Fry, sports media director for Walt Disney World, said they have neither received nor expect any requests from NASCAR teams.(Orlando Sentinel)
TEXAS? but what about Texas World Speedway a two mile "D" shaped oval with 22 degree banking turns with 8 degree banking in the front of the grandstands, it is still in operation.(11-22-2008) Comment here

Trenton Speedway to be remembered: Trenton International Speedway which was located on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds in the capital city and closed in 1980 will again be in the spotlight as one of the key attractions of the weekend of the Motorsports 2009 Race Car & Trade Show at the Atlantic City, NJ Convention Center, January 16 & 17th. “In my younger years I spent a lot of time at the speedway. My family operated the souvenir concession,” said Motorsports 2009 produced Len Sammons. “It is a shame that there has been little or nothing done to remember what a great speedway it was. We are going to try to change that with our trip down ‘memory lane’ at our show.” For the Motorsports 2009 weekend, many of the race cars that were seen in action at Trenton International Speedway will be on view. And, plans are in the works to have a number of the drivers and team members who participated there at the show to meet the fans. Originally a dirt oval, Trenton became a one-mile paved track in the mid-fifties. By the 1970s, until its final race, Trenton Speedway was a peanut shaped one and one-half mile track. Overall, it produced some exciting racing events throughout the years. Notable organizations such as NASCAR, USAC, ARDC and URC sanctioned the events. The final race run at Trenton was for the asphalt Modified stock cars, in June, 1980. That scheduled 134-lap event, which was called official after 79 circuits due to rain, was won by Geoff Bodine. The fairgrounds and speedway location has since been turned into an industrial complex and is also the site of the New Jersey Sculpture Gardens and the very classy Ratz Restaurant. The Motorsports 2009 Race Car & Trade Show will fill close to 300,000 square feet of the Atlantic City Convention Center and will offer just about everything imaginable in motorsports. Attendees will have the opportunity to collect autographs from a variety of national and regional racing figures. And as Motorsports 2009 takes place during the day on January 16th and 17th, the Gamblers Classic Indoor Auto Races will be take place at night at Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk Hall. Information on both events can be had at www.aarn.com. Ticket information is also available at the site or by telephoning (609) 888-3618.(AutoRacing1)(11-22-2008) Comment here

Roush: No plans to build test track: Back in the day, NASCAR team owner Jack Roush had contemplated building his own test track. On Saturday, the day after NASCAR had announced that it was banning all testing on the tracks it sanctions, Roush was asked if he had revived the idea. “I have neither the money nor the inclination to build a test track,” Roush said. Roush also said he has no intention of circumventing NASCAR’s ban. “If we could organize a situation where all the established teams could hold hands and resolve not to test outside of the NASCAR mandated or approved testing, not go to the skid pads, not go to Canada, not go to Pikes Peak or any of the places they are checking on,” he said, “I’d be happier with that than to skirt around.” Roush said, however, that if other teams started skirting, he would be forced to as well.(Kansas City Star)(11-20-2008) Comment here

Wall Turkey Derby XXXV on for Nov. 28-29: There will be a Turkey Derby XXXV at Wall Township Speedway Nov. 28-29. WTS's General Partners have made a agreement with its Operations Manager, Jim Morton, to reopen the 57-year-old banked paved one-third-mile oval for aa many as six dates in November. The first three dates are for practice sessions leading up to the post-Thanksgiving Day classic with Nov. 30 set aside as a rain date. Turkey Derby XXXV format, racing divisions and other details are to be posted on www.wallspeedway.com Sept. 7. The agreement allows a modified stock car racing tradition that Thomas and Jeannie Nicol started in 1974. Some of the best modified stock car drivers in the country have since competed against the local NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stars on the banked paved one-third mile oval. Turkey Derby XXXV is the first event on 'Big Wall' since Turkey Derby XXXIV was held Nov. 23-24, 2007. Justin Gumley, of Colts Neck, was crowned WAAS Turkey Derby Champion while James Civali, of Meridan, Conn. won the 100-lap Open Modified race. Details on wallspeedway.com.(PR)(10-4-2008)

Bailout bill gives tax break to Racetracks: A tax break for NASCAR racetracks and other motor-sports facilities is among the "sweeteners" tucked inside a 450-page financial-services bailout bill to make the package more palatable to lawmakers. The Senate-passed bill includes an array of so-called "tax extenders." One extends for two years a tax policy that had been allowed to expire in December that lets motor-sports facilities be treated the same as amusement parks and other entertainment complexes for tax purposes. That allowed them to write off their capital investments over a seven-year period. The motor sports industry feared that without a specific legal clarification, motor sports facilities would be required to depreciate their capital over 15 years or longer because of a recent Internal Revenue Service inquiry into the matter. That would make repaved tracks and new concession stands more expensive in the short term. It isn't a new tax break, rather the way tax law historically has been interpreted, said Lauri Wilks, the vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports, which owns the NASCAR tracks in Fort Worth, Texas; Sonoma, Calif.; Concord, N.C.; and elsewhere. "It gives us incentive to go ahead and invest in our facilities," she said. Wilks said she couldn't put a price tag on the measure because track owners would pay the same amount, just over a longer period. "Whether you pay all up front or depreciate them over time, the cash outlay is the same," she said.
A bill to extend the tax treatment had been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and co-sponsored by a number of North Carolina members including Reps. Robin Hayes, a Republican, and Melvin Watt, a Democrat. Thompson and Hayes voted against the original bank bailout bill Monday, which didn't include the tax extenders added by the Senate and passed Wednesday. Neither has said how he'll vote when the House takes up the new bill. In the Senate, the motor sports provision was sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Some watchdog groups oppose loading up the bill with unrelated items. "Unfortunately, it took a legitimately historic piece of legislation that lawmakers on principle could vote for or against it, and they just loaded it up with business as usual, a huge tax package not related at all to the bailout, and crammed it over to the House," said Steve Ellis, the vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group. "And it's going to be interesting to see whether this turns any votes or not."(McClatchy Newspapers)(10-3-2008) Comment here

USA Speedway in Lakeland to close: USA International Speedway in Lakeland, the largest and one of the better known short tracks in Florida, will close after Saturday night’s Florida Triple Crown race and be torn down. The site of the ¾-mile speedway will be converted into an industrial park. It opened in 1995 and hosted races for ARCA, ASA and the Hooters Pro Cup Series. It also was the site of testing by NASCAR teams throughout the years including those of two-time champion Tony Stewart, 2000 champion Bobby Labonte and Daytona Beach’s Mark Martin.(Florida Today)(7-31-2008)

New Jersey Track Closes: Speculation that Wall Township Speedway would not open this season are fact, not fiction, a fax from managing partner Timothy H. Shinn of Manasquan said on Friday. Shinn's signature represented the four partners who own the speedways — Fred Archer, Joseph Sanzari and the Creamer brothers (Fletch, Glenn and Dale). "It is with an extremely heavy heart that I must, at this time, formally announce the closing of our beloved Wall Township Speedway, formerly known to the vast majority of us as Wall Stadium," the release said.(Asbury Park Press), the track held on Cup race back on July 26, 1958, won by Jim Reed.(Racing Reference)(3-15-2008) Comment here

More Misc Tracks News

Carolina Motorsports Park

Carolina Motorsports Park back in biz: Carolina Motorsports Park is back better than ever after a brief period of closing its doors to undergo extensive improvements and track renovations, offering motorsports enthusiasts much to be excited about. The new management team, with their extensive expertise in racing, added alternate turn configurations, built twenty four day garages, added a 200 ft. x 50 ft. wet/dry skid pad, and repaved most of the corners, offering increased speeds, reduced tire wear, and better grip. And this is just the beginning of what is to be a multi-phase track overhaul.
Revisions have been made to turns 12, 13 & 14. Turns 12 and 13 now offer alternate configurations as well as increased speeds. Turn 14 has been permanently changed. The apex curbing has been removed and 16 ft. of pavement has been added to the inside of the corner, making it approximately 5 MPH faster. Most turns have been newly repaved. The previously sand paddock roads are also now paved. The new 200 ft wet/dry skidpad allows drivers to learn crucial car control skills in a safe controlled environment. The day garages guarantee guests the luxury of reserved spacious parking as well as their own paddock area with exclusive electrical access and shelter from the weather.
In addition to the physical renovations and additions being done, on January 1st CMP officially launched The Palmetto Motorsports Club. The club has been created to offer affordable and easy track access to anyone with a passion for speed. Novice drivers/riders will find the advice and instruction they want from a staff of professional drivers, while experienced drivers can test and tune.
Located just an hour from Charlotte in Kershaw, S.C., Carolina Motorsports Park is the only purpose-built road racing facility in the Carolinas. Sanctioned by The Sports Car Club of America and designed by famed track designer, Alan Wilson, the track offers a challenging 2.23 mile, 14-turn road course. It was built in 1999 by a small group of investors, led by driving enthusiasts Joe Hooker and Bob Humphreys. Teams competing in NASCAR, Champ Car, American Le Mans Series, Grand AM, Koni Challenge and World Challenge also utilize the track for testing. For more information and pictures about Carolina Motorsports Parks' expansion and The Palmetto Motorsports Club please go to www.carolinamotorsportspark.com.(3-1-2008)

Greenville Track: Located about seven miles from Kershaw, the Carolina Motorsports Park is home to a 2.3-mile, 14-turn road course. Virtually unknown outside the auto racing industry, CMP is a privately owned motorsports facility that serves as both playground and profit center. NASCAR teams test at the track just as they rent Greenville-Pickens Speedway for short-track tests, they use CMP for preparation of their road-course cars(Greenville News)(6-1-2000)

A South Carolina group will build and operate a motorsports complex in Kershaw, S.C., with a 2.5-mile road racing course at its core. The track will feature courses ranging from 1 mile to 2.5 miles and is designed to accommodate various kinds of cars and motorcycles for competition. Called Carolina Motorsports Park, construction on the complex is scheduled to begin later this month and the track is scheduled to open next spring. Its estimate cost is $1.5 million. Reservations for 1999 dates are now being accepted. Those interested can find out more by writing track manager Mickey Clyburn, Carolina Motorsports Park, P.O. Box 366, Kershaw, S.C., 29067. Or you can call (803) 475-2448.(Thatsracin)(10-4-1998)

Alabama Motorsports Park
A Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Speedway

Alabama Motorsports Park

Dover Motorsports sells Memphis Motorsports Park: Dover Motorsports announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Memphis Motorsports Park to Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C. Under the terms of the agreement, Dover Motorsports will sell all of the stock of its subsidiary Memphis International Motorsports Corporation, the owner of Memphis Motorsports Park, to Gulf Coast Entertainment for $10 million in cash. Gulf Coast Entertainment is the owner of a newly proposed multi-use entertainment complex in Mobile, AL which is projected to be operational in 2011. As additional consideration for the purchase, Dover Motorsports will receive a two percent non-dilutable interest in Gulf Coast Entertainment and will have an agreement to provide motorsports management services to Alabama Motorsports Park [A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway] when the facilities become operational. Closing is expected to take place on or about April 30, 2009 and is subject to financing and customary closing conditions. Memphis Motorsports Park does not contemplate any schedule changes in 2009 and will continue to host events in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. It will continue operations under the ownership of Gulf Coast Entertainment, but will operate under a management agreement with Dover Motorsports. In connection with securing NASCAR's approval of the transaction, Dover Motorsports is expected to guarantee the obligations of Memphis Motorsports Park under its sanction agreements with NASCAR for the 2009 season.(Dover Motorsports PR)(1-30-2009)

Earnhardt Picks Location for Alabama Track: Gulf Coast Entertainment, L.L.C. announced Mobile County as the future home of Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Speedway. The investor group controls approximately 3,000 acres in Mobile County, much of it located in the city of Prichard near Saraland and Chickasaw. The entertainment complex is planned to house four racing venues, retail shopping, hotels, restaurants, an RV resort, and other venues such as music theaters. The investors plan to open the complex for racing in the fall of 2009 and to be fully operational in 2010. (Alabama Motorsports Park PR)(12-15-2006)

Alabama Track Complex Bears Name of Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Gulf Coast Entertainment announced plans to construct a major motorsports and entertainment park in southern Alabama. The investor group has narrowed its site choices to a location in Mobile County in the area across from the University of Mobile and two potential sites in adjacent Baldwin County--one on the Foley Beach Express and the other in central Baldwin County. The project - which is to include an asphalt speedway, a road course, a drag strip and a dirt track - will be named "Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway." Joining the motorsports star and a diverse group of investors from various southern states in participation in the project are Kelley Earnhardt Elledge and Kerry Earnhardt, marking the siblings' first professional collaboration. "Our family business is racing and it's been our business for three generations," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Kelley, Kerry and I want to continue the family business with hopes that the next generation of Earnhardts will want to be involved in the sport. This new venture with the Alabama Motorsports Park provides yet another avenue in which the Earnhardt family can participate. The site plan developed by HOK Sport of Kansas City includes parking, a significant RV resort, multiple music theaters and an arena and reserves land for commercial, residential and light industrial activities. The schedule calls for the project to be completed in the fall of 2009. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has provided input on the lighted, 75,000-seat, 7/10-mile oval. Features will include pedestrian/vehicle tunnels and banking and multiple grooves to promote close racing with extensive passing opportunities. Kerry Earnhardt has provided input on both the track and on a freshwater lake that investors believe will attract national fishing events. The 3.5-mile road course will feature two distinct but connected segments to enhance testing on the track. The 1/4-mile drag strip and 3/8-mile dirt track will be designed to attract national events. The park's website, alabamamotorsportspark.com, will provide future project and construction updates.(PSE-3 PR)(9-12-2006)

Dale Jr. to buy track with Schrader? UPDATE Official: A Kenny Schrader/Dale Earnhardt Junior owned Paducah Raceway would certainly focus a lot of attention on the area racing scene. Not only for PIR, but for Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway as well. Both run dirt track races and would be in direct competition. Eddie Jarvis, Tony Stewart's manager, says Kenny Schrader approached Stewart to purchase the Raceway. Stewart declined and Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed interest. "Dale Jr went out this morning before he left town. Hopefully he'll own something around here and that he'll have a chance to come back to Paducah quite a bit," Jarvis said.(News Channel 6)(10-7-2005)
UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Ken Schrader along with well known Midwestern promoter Bob Sargent are now the proud owners of Paducah International Raceway. The trio recently finalized their purchase of the popular McCracken County, KY, venue that boasts a 3/8-mile high-banked clay oval, 1/5-mile race track and a Motocross/TT run with grandstands that accommodate 5,000 spectators. In addition to PIR, Schrader is the co-owner of another dirt track - I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO. Located off of I-24 in Paducah, the track hosts the most popular touring sanctions from the AMA motorcycles to various 700+ horsepower super late model series. Paducah International Raceway will also host prominent special events including the Tri-Track Challenge, U.M.P. Summernationals and the track's annual banner event - "The Wayne Coakley/Bob Memmer Memorial 'World 50'". Racing action will take place at PIR every Friday night during a seven-month season from March through September and will feature U.M.P. Super Late Models, U.M.P. Modifieds, Crate Late Models and Pure Street Stocks. Additional divisions including quads, 4-cylinder hornets and mini-sprints will also compete on a limited schedule.(Paducah International Raceway site)(11-28-2005)

MASSACHUSETTS

More Mass. Track News: More than 2,000 people crowded the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School gymnasium Thursday for a sometimes heated meeting with the principal partners of the proposed Motorsports USA race track complex to be built on 230 acres of land near the Southwick-Westfield border.(National Speed Sports News)(7-25-2000)

Massachusetts Racetrack: A new NASCAR quality raceway, replacing the one that closed at Agawam's Riverside Park last year, may be coming to Western Massachusetts. An informational hearing has been scheduled for July 20 at the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School. Promoters of a Motorplex Entertainment Center will outline plans then. In addition to Southwick, Hebert said promoters are looking at a site in Connecticut, between Hartford and Springfield along the Interstate-91 corridor. The motorplex will consist of a high-banked Ð-mile track and a 2-mile road course(Union News)(6-29-2000)

MINNESOTA

see my Minnesota Proposed Tracks page

MISSISSIPPI

Memphis not threatened: The proposed $100 million Tunica Speedway [in Mississippi] has stirred excitement about a possible NASCAR race in the Mid-South, but with key races under contract for the next few years, officials at Memphis Motorsports Park don't feel threatened. Zoning for the proposed racetrack in Tunica was approved Dec. 8, but that doesn't give Tunica any pull with NASCAR to look at the site for a future Nextel Cup event. "They may build a track in Tunica, but that doesn't make it a NASCAR track; it's a motorsports facility," says Rob Stallins, director of media relations for Memphis Motorsports Park. The Memphis park hosts two NASCAR events a year, a NASCAR truck series race and the Busch Series Sam's Town 250, which are two of its biggest draws. The park also hosts the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals event for the NHRA, which draws 70,000-80,000 people over the course of four days. All of these events have been staples of the park and are under contract until at least 2005. NASCAR spokesman Andrew Giangola says NASCAR has not been involved in discussions with any developers about adding races in Tunica.(Memphis Business Journal)(1-6-2004)

No Mississippi Track? A confidential Tunica County [Mississippi] planner's memo made public Thursday says developers of a proposed NASCAR race track need a more suitable site. Tunica County officials turned over the document two weeks after it was first requested by The Commercial Appeal, but after the county's planning commission voted unanimously Dec. 8 to recommend rezoning the land to accommodate the project. Gary M. Copeland, director of the county's office of planning and development, said Thursday that the critical memorandum, drafted by former planner Greg Hurley, was never given to planning commission members. Tunica Motorsports Inc., a Tennessee corporation created in May by Memphis attorney James O. Lockard, plans a one-mile paved oval race track, a two-mile road course, a drag strip, grandstands eventually accommodating 120,000 spectators, lakes, an RV park and commercial, high-rise residential and hospitality areas 1.6 miles north of the town of Tunica and several miles south of the casinos. Tunica Motorsports Inc. has an option to purchase the property, which is owned by the M.O. Carter Trust, according to the company's rezoning application. Lockard said he hadn't seen the memo, but disagreed that the proposed site for the racetrack was inappropriate. The Tunica County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a Dec. 31 public hearing to discuss the project. In the undated memo, Hurley points out that the 536-acre tract is not in the "resort" district set aside for outdoor recreation and other tourist-oriented land uses within the county's comprehensive land use plan. The six-page memo also points out that the application doesn't address the potential cost to the county for adequate fire protection, police services, water and sewer needs. Residents of the nearby Hambrick subdivision have raised noise and health issues at recent planning commission meetings. Perhaps the most significant finding in the memo is a potential safety concern about a natural gas pipeline that crosses the property.(Memphis Commercial Appeal)(12-20-2003)

More on the proposed Miss. track: A proposed $100 million motorsports complex in Tunica County [Mississippi] could be built even without the promise of landing one of NASCAR's premier events, a Nextel Cup Series race. Memphis attorney Jim Lockard, president of Tunica Motorsports Inc., said NASCAR doesn't guarantee events to proposed tracks, "and that's something we all have to accept." But, he added, "With the facility we're building, it would be very surprising if we couldn't attract those type of events." Plans call for a concert venue that could seat 60,000 or more. "Its success is not going to totally rely on the exact nature of the race we get," he said. From a racing standpoint, a Nextel Cup event would be the ultimate coup for the planned one-mile oval with initial seating for up to 60,000 and eventual expansion to 150,000. The project faces many hurdles, from financial demands to the need for a zoning change on the proposed 536-acre site, on U.S. 61 about seven miles south of the casinos. But the biggest challenge may be landing a Nextel Cup event. Attempts to reach NASCAR officials Thursday were unsuccessful. However, there's a lack of event availability, and steep competition - if one were to become available - from the Memphis Motorsports Park, which already is host to lower-level NASCAR events, and from the much larger markets that NASCAR is thought to crave. "I don't want to appear like you can't get one of these superevents," said Don Naman, Alabama-based consultant for Tunica Motorsports, "but there'd have to be some dramatic changes on the scene before that would happen." Naman, former track manager at Talladega Superspeedway, and Lockard both said they considered the Memphis Motorsports Park to represent a separate market. The Memphis track is under contract for NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series events through 2006. Jason Rittenberry, MMP vice president and general manager, said his track's existing NASCAR races and NASCAR-connected owner Dover Motorsports made it more likely than Tunica County to land a Nextel Cup event. He said MMP could expand seating at its 3/4-mile oval from the current 35,000 to about 100,000. But Rittenberry said the odds could be long for either Mid-South track, given NASCAR's desire to move into New York and other major markets. The Tunica track saga continues Monday, when the Tunica County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a zoning change for the track site.(Memphis Commercial Appeal)(12-8-2003)

Track in Mississippi? If developers get their way, NASCAR racing could be headed to the Mid-South in a couple of years. Plans call for a race track to be built in Tunica County [MS]. But there could be some track troubles as residents wonder how the track would affect them. A race track would give the folks at the Visitors' bureau something to talk about. Right now it's slot machines that spin in Tunica County, but soon it could be race cars taking a spin around what's being called the race track of the future. The plans are ambitious, a NASCAR worthy, state of the art race track that would start out with minor races then move into the big leagues. Developers based in Memphis want to build the track on 550 acres in Tunica County between New Highway 61 and the future Interstate 69. Proposals say at least twenty races a year could bring in tens of million of dollars and more than a hundred jobs. Folks who live near the land like the money and the jobs but wonder what else a track could bring. Those who back the track say it's already being talked about in racing circles and a contract has been signed with the International Hot Rod Association. If built, project backers say the track would have the latest in noise reduction and safety features for drivers and spectators also it would feature fiber optic video and audio and would also be billed as an entertainment venue for concerts.(WMCTV)(11-21-2003)

NEW MEXICO

Plans for indy-style track west of Albuquerque have stalled over questions about water supply and the impact of race fans traveling on INTERSTATE 40. The first phase of the proposed N.M. Motor Speedway calls for 1.25 mile track, seating for 50,000, and parking for 17,000 cars.(8-29-1997)

NEW ORLEANS/LOUISIANA

see my New Orleans Proposed Tracks page

NORTH WILKESBORO

see my North Wilkesboro Speedway page

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma Track? UPDATE: The U.S. Probation Office in Jackson, Miss., has initiated parole revocation proceedings against the promoter of a multimillion-dollar motor raceway and entertainment complex in Craig County. Charles D. Kelley of Wagoner, who has been promoting the supposed $730 million project west of Vinita, has been ordered to appear Thursday at an initial revocation hearing in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Kelley represents World Racing Association, headquartered in Wagoner. See the complete story at: Race backer may lose parole. For more info on the track project, see worldracingonline.com -- more info from Speedwords: Over the last year or so SPEEDWORDS has heard about a spectacular racing development reputed to include a 1 1/2 mile NASCAR style oval, a road course, a 1/2 mile dirt oval and a 1/4 mile covered drag strip. Sound impossible? Maybe not impossible but certainly expensive, reportedly around $730 million bucks. The complex was to be constructed not far from Vinita, Oklahoma. A few months ago I had a phone conversation with a representative of the World Racing Association that promised to keep me informed of all developments, except apparently this one. Charles D. Kelley, who has been promoting project, has been ordered to appear Thursday at an initial probation revocation hearing in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Mississippi. Kelley has been on three years probation (scheduled to end in late March) for a felony conviction on two counts of wire fraud in an U.S. District Court. Kelley was previously convicted of fraudulently obtaining money for a charity, obtaining money under false pretences and bail jumping in Oklahoma(Speedwords)(3-17-1999)

OLDER MISC NEWS

Dolphin Stadium executives are interested in luring ROC to U.S.: [Miami] Dolphin Stadium executives are interested in luring Race of Champions to the United States. "When I went to [work for] Dolphin Stadium and the Miami Dolphins, part of my marching orders is to bring new events to the stadium," said Terry Bassett, Miami Dolphins vice president of business development and former executive at International Speedway Corp., which owns 12 tracks on which the Nextel Cup Series competes. "We did a big renovation, about $350 million, to our building and … how are you going to fill it up? "Anticipating the Marlins not being there when they get their new building, when you're dark, you need to fill it with dates. This is a perfect event: big names, international scope. We believe because of our South Florida location, proximity to Central America and South America, we've got a location not many places in the U.S. can compete with." If this were to come to fruition, it would mark the first time ROC was held outside of Europe. Among the past locations are Paris, the Canary Islands, Madrid, Barcelona, Nurburgring and Monthlery. This was London's first time hosting the event. Johnnson said the current contract with Wembley Stadium is a one-year deal with "options in our favor for 2008 and/or 2009." He said the event is likely to return to Wembley next year. After that, it's anybody's ball game. Event founder Fredrik Johnnson said there are some seven or eight renowned venues worldwide in contention to secure the event in the future, Miami being one of them. Johnnson said ROC officials chose Wembley in 2007 over other venues such as Berlin's Olympic Stadium, which hosted the FIFA World Cup soccer final in 2006, and Dolphin Stadium, home to last season's Super Bowl. Along with those two venues, Beijing's Olympic Stadium, home to the 2008 Olympic Games, and Stade de France in Paris, where the event was run from 2004 to 2006, are interested in hosting ROC in the future. Bassett and the Dolphins want a piece of that dream. Bassett has American racing ties. He once worked for NASCAR and IRL team owner Roger Penske, helping manage Penske's former ring of oval racetracks in Brooklyn, Mich.; Rockingham, N.C.; Fontana, Calif.; and Nazareth, Pa. When Penske sold those tracks to International Speedway Corp., Bassett went with them to ISC. He said he'd love to re-enter the racing realm by securing ROC for Dolphin Stadium. The event has drawn more than 50,000 fans every time out, Johnnson said, and has drawn as many as 62,500.(see full story at ESPN.com)(12-20-2007)

City approves NC track: on August 9th the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Town of Spencer, NC, unanimously approved High Rock Raceway’s Conditional Use Permit to operate a Country Club Racetrack, as well as all of the requested variances. For most of the four hour session, the five person Board, led by T. Jefferson Morris, meticulously laid out, agreed on and approved “findings of fact” that supported approval of the Permit. The Board on several occasions made note of the overwhelming public support that had been demonstrated for the project. An initial release of fifty individual memberships is being offered at $25,000.00 each. Members will have the exclusive use of the entire 2.15 mile road course on sixty pre-scheduled dates throughout the year. This membership is perpetual, meaning that it does not expire.(High Rock Raceway PR)(8-12-2007)

Lowe's to be the primary building material supplier for High Rock Raceway: High Rock Raceway announced that Lowe's will be the primary building material supplier for High Rock Raceway. High Rock Raceway which is a $30 Million dollar motorsport road course will purchase material from Lowe's product vendors and raw materials to construct the 126 "Race Condo" units and other support buildings on its 2.2 mile course which is set to open in February 2008.(PR) More info at racehighrock.com.(5-19-2007)

New road course track planned in NC: High Rock Raceway is being developed on a 200+ Acre Parcel a 2.25 mile world-class road racing track and 120 trackside garage/ town home condominiums (“Race Condos”). Because these will be town home units, Race Condo owners will own the land beneath their Race Condo. The property is located adjacent to Interstate 85, approximately forty minutes drive north of Charlotte, NC and forty minutes drive south of Greensboro, NC. The track will be forty feet in width with a 2,400+ foot front straight, a 1,600+ foot back straight and a 10+ acre paved paddock. Throughout the twelve-turn course there will be ten separate rolling changes in elevation of between thirty and sixty feet. The Race Condos will be 1,400+ square feet on two floors. Condo owners can keep their performance vehicles in their own garage and enjoy exclusive access to the track on sixty pre-scheduled dates each race season. More info at racehighrock.com.(4-4-2007)

NASCAR looking at Missouri to build track? While researching ideas on what draws people to the region, we [Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Staff] ran across several folks talking about a possible future attraction. Word is NASCAR has been shopping around for land in southwest Missouri to build a new racetrack. Sources in McDonald County have confirmed this and even said NASCAR has identified about 1,200 acres of property near Anderson, Mo., a few miles north of the state line. There is a caution flag, though. The land includes about eight separate farms and not all of the farmers are on the same track. In fact, we’ve been told there are a few not willing to sell, regardless of the price. Calls to NASCAR, based in Daytona, Fla., were not returned, but it sounds like this deal has a roadblock or two to get through before it reaches the finish line.(Northwest Arkansas Business Journal), if this is for a NASCAR track, it would have to be for a short track and not for Truck, Busch or Cup Series as Anderson, MO is within 2-3 hours of Kansas Speedway.(3-3-2007)

Texas World Speedway for sale: Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas has been listed for sale, for $10.5 million. According to real estate listings, the speedway cost over $17 million to build in 1969 and sits on 563 acres of land. The listing follows the death of TWS Managing Partner Dick Conole on January 3.(roadracingworld.com)(2-3-2007)

Stewart, Schrader and Kenny Wallace buy into Macon track: One of the oldest race tracks in Illinois gets new life with new owners. Macon Speedway revealed the new ownership team Sunday as part of the Racing Expo at the State Fairgrounds. Past track owner-operator Macon's Bob Sargent and NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader make up the team. Racing on the dirt track ended ahead of schedule last season because of financial hard times. The track was built back in 1946 in Macon.(wandtv.com)(1-22-2007)

Shower Power: Maui Shower Co. has made its Bristol debut, at Farmer Bob’s Campground off Tenn. Highway 394. The colorful trailer holds 11 shower “pods” that can accommodate up to 1,000 showers a day. “It’s a state-of-the-art, premier, multishower unit,” said Pamela Withage, who is running Maui Shower with her husband, Mike. Each private pod consists of a stainless steel shower — cleaned with hospital sanitizer after every use — and a changing area. Maui Shower’s generator is continuously running so hot water is always available. Towels can be purchased for $4 each, soap and shampoo for $1. The showers operate on tokens, bought at the trailer, that are worth $1 each. It costs two tokens to start a shower and one for each additional minute. Withage said she encourages patrons to buy $20 worth, since most people don’t know how long it will take them to shower and leftover tokens can be used any time. This is Maui Shower’s fourth stop since inception — the first three were at races and a “bike week” in Florida. Withage said they are following the NASCAR circuit, and have about 28 weeks booked this year. The company tries to set up at multiple-day events that draw no less than 5,000 people.(Johnson City Press)(4-2-2005)

Senate Passes Corporate Tax Bill, NASCAR Tracks Included: The Senate passed a far-reaching, $136 billion corporate tax package Monday that cuts taxes for businesses ranging from film companies to bow and arrow makers while closing tax loopholes and bringing U.S. exporters in line with international trade rules. The corporate tax bill grew out of the need for Congress to respond to a World Trade Organization (news - web sites) ruling that a $5 billion annual subsidy for U.S. exporters was illegal. As a result, 1,600 American exports to Europe are being hit by penalty tariffs that now stand at 12 percent and are rising by one percentage point a month. The bill became the vehicle for the most significant overhaul of corporate tax law in nearly two decades. It includes $76.5 billion in new tax relief for the manufacturing sector, which was broadly defined to include oil and gas producers, architectural and engineering firms and film and music companies. The package also provides benefits for a wide range of groups, from native Alaskan whalers, importers of Chinese ceiling fans, NASCAR race track owners [note: or any race track owner] and residents of states without state income taxes, who would be able to deduct state and local sales taxes from their federal tax returns. The measure includes a $10.1 billion buyout for tobacco farmers. Several senators from both parties objected strenuously that the final version of the bill drops Senate-approved language that would give the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) the power to regulate tobacco.(Yahoo News)(10-12-2004)

Dedication of Augusta International Raceway: On Saturday, September 11th, a Memorial Dedication remembering the Augusta International Raceway, was held at the Diamond Lakes Regional Park in Augusta, Ga. What was unusual about this Memorial is that it honors a track that has been closed for over 40 years. Augusta International Raceway was a three mile road course that opened in November of 1963. The first race was a 510 mile NASCAR event that was won by Fireball Roberts. The last races at A.I.R. were held on March1st of 1964 and were USRRC sports car races and won by Dave MacDonald and Ken Miles In an eerie twist of fate all three drivers would lose their lives in racing accidents within the next two years. Two drivers that participated in those events, 1960 NASCAR champion Rex White and Ted Tidwell were present at the dedication and were awarded plaques to commemorate the occasion.(Georgia Drag Racing News with links to photos of the event)(9-15-2004)

The 'Gate' being used in Victory Lane UPDATE 2 - No More Gate: many readers noticed the while 'gate or fence' Winston Cup Officials held above Jeff Gordon so he couldn't get on the roof of the car in the winners circle/victory lane. On CNN/SI's NASCAR Plus, Benny Parsons was asked about the 'gate' and said he wasn't sure why, but that it was probably to keep the driver off the top of the car so a proper insepction could be done. Last year at California, the #12 Team was penalized for having a car that was too low and it was caused by Mayfield jumping on the roof of the car, denting the spot that the inspectors measure. Otherwise have seen nothing official on the reason for the gate(10-2-2001)
UPDATE: sources have confirmed that NASCAR doesnt want the drivers on the roof tops after the race for saftey and technical reasons(10-3/8-2001)
UPDATE 2: Benny Parsons confirmed on CNN/SI's NASCAR Plus that NASCAR took so much heat from everyone about the PVC Pipe fence they decided not to use it anymore. Ironic they stop using it and the #8 is too low, the thing they were trying to avoid, but Earnhardt Jr did not get on top of the car, so it is a moot point, but the 'gate' is gone(10-23-2001)

Aircraft Ban at Stadiums UPDATE: Effective as of noon yesterday (9-20-01) the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has banned all aircraft from flying within 3 miles of major professional and college sporting events and any other large open air gathering. This protected "no-fly zone'' extends up to an altitude of 3,000 feet above such facilities, which by definition, include race tracks. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown, said the regulation applies to all types of aircraft including small planes, blimps, balloons and gliders. "We issued this to cover everything,'' Brown said. ``It's a blanket order so that it would include a state fair, a high school football game.'' This ban could change how we view races on TV if the helicopter that relays in-car camera signals would be out of effective signal range above the 3000-foot ceiling or prevented from remaining in the air space at that height by conflicts with scheduled air traffic. It appears blimps will also be prevented from providing their normal overhead views as well. Radio traffic between NASCAR, teams, track officials, spotters and drivers is direct and will not be impacted.(Speedway Illustrated)(9-21-2001)
UPDATE: Dover Track president Denis McGlynn said a no-fly zone will be in effect for today's race, no aircraft within 3,000 feet or three miles laterally, but said NBC's in-car camera relays should be fine as long as its helicopter stays at least 3,000 feet above the speedway(AJC)(9-23-2001)

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