- Nashville Superspeedway Single Event Tix on sale: Nashville Superspeedway will "green flag" Middle Tennessee's race season on Saturday, March 22 at the annual Pepsi
300 Nationwide Series race. Nextel Cup drivers Carl Edwards and Kyle Bush are featured in the line up. The Easter weekend race will also feature popular Christian rock band Third Day performing in a post race concert. Single event tickets for the Pepsi 300 (including all 2008 races) are on sale now; and include admission to the post race concert featuring Third Day. Tickets are available now by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or online at www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(1-10-2008)
- Old Nashville track in trouble? Nashville attorney Keith Moorman, who lives nearby Motor City Speedway, imagines a new place less than three miles from downtown. The 117 acres would teem with public parkland, a mix of homes and offices and shops with landscaped sidewalks and a walking trail along Browns Creek. The Tennessee State Fair and Music City Motorplex? They would move to less populated parts of town. Motorplex executives have their own ideas. In exchange for a 30- to 50-year lease, they say, they would develop amenities such as a baseball stadium, amphitheater, indoor water park, hotel and conference center, entertainment-retail development and motorsports hall of fame.
Those are among many ideas that consultants hired by the state fair will review starting next week. They will look at the best long-term use for the fairgrounds and report back in the spring, said James Weaver, a member of the Tennessee State Fair Board of Commissioners, part of Metro Nashville government. Some 700 people weighed in on a fair board Web site earlier this year with ideas ranging from horse racing, an amusement park and affordable housing to a farmers market, condominiums and a baseball stadium. About 300 people said the motorplex's NASCAR racetrack should stay, while about 130 wanted "anything but" that, said Bill Whitson, interim executive director of the state fair. The consultants, HOK Sport Venue Event and Markin Consulting, will hold a series of public meetings starting in January, Weaver said. Moorman, who has lived in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood and dealt with the Saturday-night noise of the racetrack for eight years, says the fairgrounds are unsightly. As the city has grown outward over the past 100 years, he says, the grounds have made less and less sense where they are. Executives at the Music City Motorplex have made a pitch for a 30- to 50-year lease from the city after their existing five-year agreement expires late next year. They say they could manage all of the amenities that they envision for the site. Joe Mattioli, president and owner of the motorplex, said the projects would be worth $200 million to $300 million. Mattioli and Norm Partin, the motorplex's general manager, said the site is historic. It has hosted some kind of motorsports since 1904, and visitors spend millions of dollars each year on Nashville's hotel rooms and restaurants.(Tennessean) and see more info at musiccitymotorplex.com and savenashvillespeedway.com.(12-17-2007)
- Nashville Single Race Tix on sale Monday: Nashville Superspeedway will sell single event tickets for the 2007 race season beginning Monday, January 8. Tickets will be available at the Nashville Superspeedway Ticket Office or by calling 1-866-RACE-TIX. Tickets will also be sold on-line at nashvillesuperspeedway.com. Nashville Superspeedway's seventh racing season begins Saturday, April 7 with the Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(1-5-2007)
- DW to serve as Grand Marshal for Nashville Truck Series race: Nashville Superspeedway will play host to the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon, August 13 and racing legend Darrell Waltrip will serve as Grand Marshal for the race. Waltrip will be joined by more than 9,000 Toyota employees from around the nation for the second annual "homecoming" event to celebrate the Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Toyota Tundra 200 tickets include the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at 1 p.m., the Toyota Tundra 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at 4:15 p.m., and the Capitol Records Post Race Concert featuring Chris Cagle 15 minutes after the checkered flag. Tickets are available by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or on-line at www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(8-4-2005)
- Elliott at Nashville: One of the most popular drivers in the history of NASCAR racing and 1988 NEXTEL Cup champion, Bill Elliott, will compete under the lights in the upcoming Federated Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Series event at the Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, June 11. Elliott will run in the Rusty Wallace Inc.-owned #64 Dodge and will be making his first appearance at a Nashville venue since the late 1980s at the old Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. This will be Elliott's first appearance at the 1.33-mile concrete oval. For tickets please go to www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com or call 1-866-RACE-TIX.(Nashville Superspeedway)(4-20-2005)
- Nashville sale denied; no plans to move Dover race to Nashville: Dover Motorsports President and CEO Denis McGlynn said he has no plans to sell Nashville Superspeedway but stopped short of denying that it has been discussed. ''We don't have any plans to sell Nashville,'' McGlynn said earlier this week in response to recent reports that the five-year-old, $125 million track is being shopped. Asked if he has talked with representatives from any group — including International Speedway Corporation — about a possible sale, McGlynn would say only: ''We talk to a lot of people about a lot of things.'' Reports of a possible sale of the Nashville track to ISC circulated last weekend at Bristol. Yesterday ISC spokesman David Talley said, ''We don't comment on rumors. Right now we are focused on our Pacific Northwest and New York projects.'' McGlynn also denied reports that NASCAR is pressuring Dover to move one of its two annual Nextel Cup races from Dover (Del.) International Speedway to Nashville Superspeedway.(Tennessean)(4-6-2005)
- No Nextel Cup in Nashville: Read his lips: There will not be Nextel Cup racing in Nashville, now or probably ever. Bill France Jr. refuses to sugarcoat it, but that’s the way it is and it doesn’t look like NASCAR will change its mind anytime soon. Those words are awfully hard to swallow for those dyed in the wool gear-heads who keep hoping the big tour will return to the Nashville area after a two-plus decade absence. The former Czar of stock car racing, in our town [Nashville] over the weekend for the opening night of the Music City Motorplex, spoke bluntly but honestly about exactly where Nashville stands in NASCAR’s grand plan. And it’s not in the sport’s fast lane. “Nashville is a great market, but our problem is two pounds in a one-pound bag,” France said. “The Dover people (the owners of NSS) knew that when they built the track, that we weren’t going to be able to jump in at all. If you’re going to become a national sport then you have to do something besides racing in the southeast,” he said. France drove NASCAR to that goal, which translated into a $2.4 billion multi-network deal. Even ESPN, which lost NASCAR, is ready to pony up huge dollars to get back into the race. France, who turned over his presidency to Mike Helton and was succeeded in 1993 as CEO and Chairman by his son Brian, has long emphasized the value of growing in the major markets, which further emphasizes how Nashville devolved into a triple-A racing town. “One of our biggest cities that watches our sport is New York City,” he explained. “The rating might not be all that many but a 2.0 in New York is a lot more homes, a lot more eyeballs than with maybe a 10.0 in Louisville.” Some rumors are circulating about Nashville possibly landing a midweek Nextel event, but France explained that with a full calendar there are just not enough hours in a week.(Nashville City Paper)(3-24-2005)
- Nashville getting SAFER: Nashville Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Cliff Hawks says you can't put a price tag on safety. Not even if that tag is $875,000. That's how much Dover Motorsports will spend installing new ''soft walls'' at the 1.3-mile Superspeedway. Work will start this month, and Hawks said the project will be completed in time for his track's March 26 season opener. NASCAR requires all tracks that hold Nextel Cup races to have the soft walls in place for the 2005 season, but they are not mandatory at tracks where lower-division races are run. Since the Superspeedway has no Cup race, the soft walls are not mandatory. So why spend the money if they don't have to? ''Because it's the right thing to do,'' Hawks said. ''This is an extremely fast race track and we feel it is necessary to do everything we can to protect our drivers. Clearly the SAFER walls offer protection in the event of a crash.''(Tennessean)(12-1-2004)
- Campbell to examine Nashville: Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said he plans to go to Nashville Superspeedway on Tuesday and examine that concrete track. Portions of the concrete corners came apart during last weekend's Cup race at Martinsville, and Campbell is looking into whether a small section needs to be repaired or the entire concrete sections redone. The concrete for the lower groove was poured in 1976. The second groove was poured in 1981 at Martinsville. Nashville's concrete was poured in the fall of 2000. The Busch series raced there earlier this month. "Nashville seems really smooth, nice with a lots of grip," said Robby Gordon, who finished fifth in the Busch race there. Any new work done might require a Goodyear test, but a Goodyear official said he didn't anticipate the company needing to make a new tire for Martinsville.(Roanoke Times)(4-25-2004)
- More on the future schedule; Nashville and Kentucky maybe? Speculation about NASCAR's 2005 and 2006 Nextel tour schedules continues, and NASCAR executives are now trying to cool prospects of an expansion beyond a 36-race Cup tour. But it appears that Daytona officials are planning to add new tracks to the tour by cutting some current tracks back to a single event. The two tracks being closely watched now are Nashville and Kentucky, which have held Busch races for several years. Among reasons for holding off on any expansion - sponsors might be unwilling to spend any more money on extra races, at least not until TV ratings start going back up. Plus, TV said it's not able to sell enough ads to make money on the current package of 36 Cup races and two special events. While Fox may be comfortable with its half of the tour (Phoenix and Kansas would likely be the only two new stops), the second half of the schedule is more problematic, particularly with NASCAR reportedly wooing ABC-ESPN for part of that schedule, depending on what NBC does.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-25-2004)
- Once again....No Cup for Nashville: NASCAR President Mike Helton yesterday echoed Bill France Jr.'s bleak forecast for Nashville's hopes of landing a Nextel Cup race. During a visit to Music City Motorplex last week France said the schedule is full and trying add more races would be ''like trying to put two pounds in a one-pound bag.'' Helton was at Nashville Superspeedway yesterday for the Busch Series Pepsi 300. He complimented Dover Motorsports, which owns and operates the track, and said he likes Nashville, but ... ''Nothing has changed in the past week,'' Helton said with a smile. Nashville lost its two premier races in 1984. There has been speculation that NASCAR might consolidate two non-points races — the Budweiser Shootout and the Nextel Cup Challenge — and hold them on weeks at when races are also scheduled. That would free up two weekends. ''It is being debated and will continue to be debated,'' Helton said. ''But I don't see any significant changes next season.'' It has also been speculated that additional schedule shakeups may be in store for North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham and Darlington (S.C.) Speedway. Helton said the 2005 schedule will be released this summer.(Tennessean)(4-11-2004)
- No Cup for Nashville? NASCAR's Bill France Jr. won't entirely rule out Nashville getting a Nextel Cup race sometime in the future, but makes it clear that the prospects are not promising. ''Right now it's like trying to put two pounds in a one-pound bag — the schedule is full,'' France said last night during a visit to Music City Motorplex [in Nashvile] where he served as honorary starter for the 49th season opener. NASCAR dropped Nashville from its top division in 1984 amid track management problems, and France said it was business, not personal. France noted, the aging Fairgrounds facility got behind the times, got left behind by NASCAR's national explosion, and now has little chance to catch back up. Not only is the schedule crowded now, but if and when another race is added it won't be in the saturated South.(Tennessean)(4-4-2004)
- Sponsor extends with Nashville SS: Sponsorship extension: PFG Lester, the nation's third-largest foodservice distributor, has extended its partnership with Nashville Superspeedway through 2006 and will sponsor the track's two annual ARCA races. All the track's races now have corporate sponsorships: Two NASCAR Busch Series races (Pepsi 300, Federated Auto Parts 300), the Indy Racing League (Firestone Indy 200) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (Toyota Tundra 200). ''During a period when we're seeing cutbacks in some sports sponsorships, our corporate partnerships remain very strong,'' said Cliff Hawks, the track's vice president and general manager. Nashville Superspeedway opens its fourth season April 9-10 with Busch and ARCA races. For ticket information call 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.(Tennessean)
AND Nashville Superspeedway recently announced that the “Official Artist of NASCAR” Sam Bass and Gibson Guitar have partnered to create one of the most coveted and unique trophies in NASCAR: The Sam Bass Designed Gibson Les Paul Guitar. "I think the idea of giving a customized guitar as a NASCAR trophy in the capital of country music is one of the coolest ideas anyone's had in racing,” Sam Bass said. “I'm honored to be teamed up again with Gibson and the Nashville Superspeedway for the 2004 race season.”
The beautiful, classic model six-string Gibson Les Paul guitar depicts the excitement of a colorful stock car seemingly speeding right off into the winner's hand! The one-of-a-kind guitar also features the Nashville skyline and the most-recognizable Nashville Superspeedway musically-theme logo. Race fans will see a race winner holding the guitar in Victory Lane eight times in 2004; and single-event tickets for Nashville Superspeedway’s 2004 Season are on sale now.(2-18-2004)
- Toyota to Sponsor Truck race: Toyota Motor Sales USA and the Nashville Superspeedway, a Dover Motorsports Inc. facility, have reached a multi-year sponsorship agreement in which Toyota will become the racetrack's Official Vehicle and title sponsor of its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. The "Toyota Tundra 200" race weekend is the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event sponsored by Toyota. "The relationship with Toyota will take our NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race to an entirely new level both in attendance and sponsorship," Nashville Superspeedway Vice President & General Manger Cliff Hawks said. "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the Middle Tennessee Toyota Dealers and Toyota's major manufacturing facilities." The sponsorship agreement will include involvement with Toyota Manufacturing Facilities in Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, and the new Toyota plant scheduled to open in Jackson, Tennessee in 2005. "Toyota is pleased to enter into this sponsorship agreement with the Nashville Superspeedway," said Toyota National Motorsports Manager Les Unger. "This will afford an excellent opportunity to showcase the NASCAR Tundra trucks to tens of thousands of dedicated fans, Toyota associates and dealership personnel." While the Toyota Tundra race trucks will make their NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2004 at the Daytona International Speedway, Toyota has a 30 year history of involvement in motorsports. Toyota has sponsored the Dover Motorsports-owned Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, California, a CART event, since 1975 and sponsors two Indycar Series events including the Toyota Indy 300 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Toyota Indy 400 at the California Speedway. "Team members at our Indiana truck plant were excited by the news earlier this year that our Tundra would enter the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; and sponsoring the 'Toyota Tundra 200' adds to that excitement ," Vice President of Administration and Manufacturing Planning at Toyota Manufacturing R.J. Reynolds said. "Having visited the Nashville track earlier this year, I came away feeling we could find no better place to be involved as the official vehicle and title sponsor of a race."
The "Toyota Tundra 200" NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race is scheduled for Saturday, August 14, 2004 and will also feature the ARCA RE/MAX Series and a major concert. Tickets will go on sale early 2004.(NashvilleSuperspeedway PR)(10-16-2003)
- Trucks back to Fairgrounds? Joe Mattioli, the new president of Fairgrounds Speedway, may try to bring NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing back to the track. ''It's something I'll take a look at, at some point,'' said Mattioli, who officially took control of the track yesterday. ''My first order of business will be to get our weekly racing series in order. We've got a lot of work to do between now and the time we open next spring,'' he said.(Tennessean)(10-3-2003)
- Ford to Celebrate at Nashville: On April 17, 2004, the Ford Mustang will officially celebrate its 40th anniversary. Fortunately, the date falls on a Saturday, perfect for the Mustang Club of America's official Mustang 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, on April 15-18, 2004. Past Mustang Anniversary Celebrations in 1994 and 1999 have been held at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Final details for the gala are still being put together, but the MCA has provided pertinent details for anyone who wants to make advance travel plans. According to event chairman Jim Chism, this is one event you won't want to miss.
Scheduled activities at Nashville Superspeedway include an open track (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), concours judging (limited to 300 cars), Judges Choice show (with space for 3,000 cars), and a huge vendor midway. Also planned is a Saturday Evening with FORD on the General Jackson Showboat cruise, which will take 600 attendees down the Cumberland River to downtown Nashville and back. Included will be a cocktail hour before the cruise, dinner, entertainment, and after-dinner speakers and dignitaries from FORD. On Friday night, the MCA has arranged a special package for Mustangers (limited to 1,000) at the Grand Ole Opry.
The official 40th Anniversary Celebration hotel is the Gaylord Opryland, a fun-filled resort with over 2,800 rooms and lavish surroundings. Reservations can be made online by going to the Mustang 40th Anniversary Celebration page at the MCA website, www.mustang.org. Or you can call the Gaylord Opryland reservations department at 877-234-6779. Be sure to mention the Mustang Club 40th Anniversary.
Like previous milestones, the Mustang 40th Anniversary Celebration will be the event of the year! To register your Mustang for the show
or open track, request a brochure from: Mustang 40th Anniversary Celebration, PO Box 51505, Bowling Green, KY 42102.
The FORD Motor Company will be launching the all new 2005 Mustang to coincide with the event and should have many of the new cars here for all the world to see. Many FORD dignitaries will be on hand for the event and attending our Evening with FORD Banquet. Plans are in the works to have William Clay "Bill" Ford as the keynote speaker. Plans are also in the works to have Jack Roush and his NASCAR FORD racing team participating in some capacity during the four day FORD extravaganza.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(10-1-2003)
- Nashville Not Selling: Even though Nashville Superspeedway wasn't sold out for last Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race, Denis McGlynn, said he is comfortable with the track's progress and denied reports that it might be for sale. ''We don't have any plans along that line,'' said McGlynn, president of Dover Motorsports, which owns and operates the track. ''Making a track successful takes patience, and we're going to stick with it.'' There have been reports that Speedway Motorsports Inc. or International Speedway Corporation might purchase the 3-year-old track.(Tennessean)(6-12-2003)
- Nashville Title Sposnor for Busch race in June: On the heels of a successful and thrilling Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series race, Nashville Superspeedway and Capitol Records representatives announced today that the title sponsor for the Saturday night, June 7 NASCAR Busch Series race will be the Trace Adkins Chrome 300. Trace Adkins Chrome 300 tickets are on sale today by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX. Chrome, the second gold album by Capitol Recording Artist Trace Adkins, which features the hit songs "Chrome," "I'm Tryin'," and "Help Me Understand" has continued to make Trace Adkins a household name in the country music genre. His debut album released in 1996, Dreamin' Outloud, was certified platinum and registered a string of hits early on. Capitol Records will release Trace Adkins Greatest Hits, Volume 1 containing 12 of Trace's greatest hits from his four previous albums and his latest hit single, "Then They Do" on Tuesday, July 8. "I've been a big fan of racing for as long as I can remember and have watched NASCAR on TV since I was a kid," Adkins said. "So you can imagine how honored I am to have a race with my name on it at the Nashville Superspeedway." As part of the Trace Adkins Chrome 300 NASCAR Busch Series night race, Adkins will perform live from the front straight Saturday, June 7 at 4:45 p.m. The pre race activities begin at 5:45 p.m. and the green flag waves at 7 p.m. Adkins will also serve as the Grand Marshal and sing the national anthem. "The Nashville Superspeedway has enjoyed a really good working relationship with the country music industry " Nashville Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Cliff Hawks said. "Capitol Records has made this title sponsorship a reality and we appreciate them bringing Trace Adkins in concert before our NASCAR Busch Series night race." Adkins joins an already impressive list of artists who have performed at the superspeedway including: John Michael Montgomery, Jo Dee Messina, Brad Paisley, Lee Greenwood, Chely Wright, Sherri Austin, Craig Morgan, and Anita Cochran. "The Nashville Superspeedway is an impressively run organization and a first-class racing facility," Capitol Records vice president of Marketing Fletcher Foster said. "Capitol Records sees the unlimited opportunities associated with the superspeedway and bringing the Trace Adkins Chrome 300 title sponsor to the NASCAR Busch Series night race is hopefully just the beginning." The Trace Adkins Chrome 300 NASCAR Busch Series race will be Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. live on FoxFX. On Friday night, June 6 at 8 p.m. is the Bob Harmon Memorial Sunbelt Rentals Southeast Kodak Series All Pro 125. Tickets are on sale for both of these races by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit online at www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.(Nashville Superspeedway PR)(4-26-2003)
- Pocono Raceway owner looking at Fairgrounds Speedway? Joe Mattioli plans to make another attempt to gain control of Fairgrounds Speedway [in Nashville]. Mattioli, who lost his bid against Bob Harmon for the track lease a decade ago, will return to Nashville next week to ''look around, ask some questions'' and discuss the bidding process. The State Fair Board will offer a five-year lease when the second of two one-year contracts with Dennis Grau expires this fall. Grau intends to bid on the new lease. ''I've always liked the Nashville track,'' said Mattioli, a former president of Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, which is owned and operated by his family. Mattioli is starting his fourth season as operator of South Boston Speedway in VA. He and two partners are exploring building a $27 million motorsports complex in West Virginia that will include weekly short-track racing.(Tennessean)(3-20-2003)
- Country Singer promotes Nashville Superspeedway: Nashville Superspeedway unveiled a promotion video for the 2003 race season and a special guest -- county music star Chely Wright. The MCA Nashville artist has charted five number one country singles and a budding race fan. "I am really excited that Chely has agreed to help promote our 2003 season," Nashville Superspeedway Vice President & General manager Cliff Hawks said. "She is a sports fan and just a lot of fun to be around." Wright will also perform the National Anthem live on national television before the Pepsi 300 which is scheduled for Saturday, April 12. Nashville Superspeedway Pepsi 300 NASCAR Busch Series tickets are on sale now by calling toll-free 1-866-RACE-TIX. As part of the ticket price, race fans will experience several activities including the pre race show, free concerts, Party Place Kidz Zone, Expo Row, Autograph Sessions, Fan Walk, and the all-new Super Midway.(Wilson World)(2-19-2003)
- No More NASCAR at Fairgrounds: Fairgrounds [formerly Nashville Speedway] Speedway President Dennis Grau has decided not to continue the track's NASCAR affiliation, primarily to cut costs that last season totaled $50,000 for NASCAR sanction fees and related expenses. Grau also resents NASCAR putting more premier races on night-time television, drawing away fans at a time when local racing is struggling to survive. Dropping the affiliation will not change the racing divisions at Fairgrounds. Fairgrounds Speedway had been one of about 100 tracks that participated in NASCAR's weekly racing series. Few, in any, have had a longer association with NASCAR.(Tennessean)(2-2-2003)
- Old Nashville Speedway [now Fairgrounds Speedway] to drop NASCAR? Fairgrounds Speedway President Dennis Grau is on the verge of discontinuing the 45-year-old track's NASCAR affiliation. Grau has been debating the decision for months and this week said he is leaning toward dropping the sanction. Grau said he doubts that the benefits NASCAR offers a weekly racing program are worth the annual $50,000 sanction fee. Grau said he has discussed dropping NASCAR with several drivers and none has voiced any objections. There have been brief periods in the track's past when it was not NASCAR-sanctioned. Fairgrounds Speedway's dropping NASCAR will have no bearing on NASCAR's relationship with Nashville Superspeedway, which runs two annual Busch Series race and a Craftsman Truck Series event.(Tennessean)(1-16-2003)
- Mayfield tests at Nashville UPDATE: #19-Jeremy Mayfield tested at Nashville Superspeedway on Tuesday and Wednesday and had this to say: "I think it's a great track, it's very quick, tons of grip and I plan to spread the word to other drivers. I think our Dodge team has learned a great deal testing here on this fantastic concrete track that we'll use the rest of the season. I definitely plan to return here to test. The facility is tops, the staff are some of the friendliest and best around anywhere. I think Nashville could do super with some kind of Cup event for sure. When I tell all the other Cup drivers how incredibly smooth this track is, they'll want to come and test here too I think. It's one of the smoothest, not slick, that I've ever tested on, it's truly a great place."(6-6-2002)
UPDATE: Former Fairgrounds Speedway driver Jer-emy Mayfield practiced a Dodge R&D (research and development) Winston Cup car yesterday at Nashville Superspeedway. ''This is my first look at the track and I'm really impressed,'' Mayfield said. ''It's a good smooth racing surface and the rest of the facility looks great.'' Mayfield, a teammate of Nashville's Casey Atwood and veteran Bill Elliott with Evernham Motorsports, said all three teams ''are making good progress and we all get along great. There's no political stuff between any of the teams.''(Tennessean)(6-6-2002)
- No TRAC at Nashville: Nashville Superspeedway said thanks but no thanks to a radical new racing league that wanted to compete there. Officials from Team Racing Auto Circuit (TRAC) met recently with Dover Motorsports to discuss the possibility of holding some races on the Superspeedway when the new series starts next year, but were turned down.(Tennessean)(5-2-2002)
- Fewer Seats at Nashville: Nashville Superspeedway has decided to have only 40,000 seats for its April 11-13 opening weekend races, 10,000 fewer than it had for last year's inaugural event. ''I'm not disappointed,'' said Cliff Hawks, the track's vice president and general manager. ''I think we're going to have a great crowd, and when we combine the attendance of our two Busch races [the second scheduled June 8] I'm optimistic that we'll draw more total fans than we did last year.'' The Superspeedway has 25,000 permanent grandstand seats. Last year it added another 25,000 temporary seats for the season-opening Busch Series race, which failed to sell out.(Tennessean)(4-3-2002)
- New Name and Site: Nashville Speedway USA has changed it's name to Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville and has a new website address: www.fairgroundsspeedway.net.(1-29-2002)
- Nashville Delays Expansion: Dover Downs Entertainment has indefinitely suspended plans to build a drag racing strip and a dirt-racing track adjacent to Nashville Superspeedway in Wilson County. The decision comes on the heels of a canceled multimillion-dollar short track at the complex. That plan was scrapped because the Fair Board unexpectedly decided to continue operation of Nashville Speedway at the Fairgrounds.(Tennessean)(11-29-2001)
- Nashville gets 2nd BGN race: ESPN2's RPM 2Night reported Wednesday that Nashville Superspeedway was awarded a 2nd BGN race for the 2002 season, scheduled for a night race on Saturday, June 8th(7-26-2001)
- No new Nashville Superspeedway short track? The future of Nashville's longest-running professional sport — weekly stock car racing — grows murkier by the day, and a new short track originally planned adjacent to Nashville Superspeedway may not be built. Dover Downs Entertainment's lease with the State Fairgrounds expires in Sept. 2002, at which time DDE president Denis McGlynn had expected the historic old 5/8-mile track to cease operation. He planned to have a new short track in place at Nashville Superspeedway to take over the weekly Saturday night races. However, Fair Director Jennifer Hill said she has been approached by ''several persons'' interested in operating the Fairgrounds track when Dover's lease expires. McGlynn said if that happens, he will not invest ''millions of dollars'' in a new short track which would be forced to compete with the old Fairgrounds track for drivers and fans(Tennessean)(7-25-2001)
- Nashville President Ill: Bob Harmon, President of Nashville Speedway USA and NASCAR Gatorade All Pro Series Promotional Consultant underwent successful heart bypass surgery Wednesday morning June 20. Harmon, 69, of Prattville, Al, had double bypass surgery performed at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery, AL(Nashville Speedway USA PR)(6-21-2001)
- Nashville and Winston Cup? No? How about the Winston? The question didn't take long to come up Wednesday, and NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. offered the best "non-answer" he could. Asked about the chances for the new Nashville Superspeedway to land a slot on the Winston Cup schedule, France showed off the skills perfected while running NASCAR for nearly three decades. "Mike Helton does the scheduling. He's not here," France said of NASCAR's president. "Right now all we've got done is the 2001 schedule. We'll probably be starting to work on 2002 before too long. "I'm giving you kind of a non-answer, but that's the best I can do right now."(Sporting News/AP)
AND: Bill France yesterday was largely noncommittal in terms of the future Winston Cup prospects for $125 million Nashville Superspeedway, which holds its inaugural races this weekend. But he did hint at the possibility the track may get to host The Winston — NASCAR's annual Winston Cup ''all-star'' race. ''We might have something to say about The Winston soon ... that's just a tidbit,'' France said with a smile.(Tennessean)(4-12-2001)
- Nashville Open House: The new Nashville Superspeedway's open house tomorrow(Sat Apr 7th) is expected to draw between 10,000 to 15,000 people eager to get a look at the racing complex that will host its first major race April 14. The 50,000-seat facility, located along State Route 840 in Wilson County near the Rutherford County line, will be open for visitors from 10:00am to 3:00pm/et(Tennessean). For more info see the Nashville Superspeedway site(4-6-2001)
- Nashville Gets First Test: Shawna Robinson and Tim Steele made local racing history yesterday by becoming the first drivers to make test runs at Nashville Superspeedway. Not only is the 1.3-mile track brand new, it has a race concrete surface(Tennessean), no speeds reported(3-6-2001)
- Nashville and Safety: Officials at the new Nashville Superspeedway in Wilson County say they will take every precaution to make the Busch race April 14 as safe as possible. Safety concerns have become an even bigger issue in the wake of Dale Earnhardt's death after a wreck in Sunday's Daytona 500. More at the Tenneseean(2-20-2001)
- Nashville Tix: Nashville Superspeedway season tickets go on sale today at 547-RACE or 1-866-RACE-TIX. The $125 million Wilson County racing complex is nearing completion for its April 13 opener, with an unveiling of the 50,000-seat grandstands set for tomorrow at noon.(Tennessean)(1-22-2001)
- Ford and Nashville: The Middle Tennessee Ford Dealers have reached agreement with Nashville Superspeedway to make Ford the Official Vehicle of Tennessee's longest racing "D" oval track. The three-year deal includes all races at the track beginning with the 2001 inaugural season(Ford PR)(12-14-2000)
- Nashville Story: The final big-time race will be run Sunday at Nashville Speedway where, for almost a half-century, the Who's Who of racing have roared into battle. The curtain won't fall completely on the Fairgrounds facility. Weekly Saturday night races will continue for at least two more years. But starting next season all the major races will be moved to gleaming new Nashville Superspeedway. See full story at the Tennessean: Nashville Speedway waves white flag by Larry Woody(11-3-2000)
- Nashville Tix: Nashville Superspeedway general manager Cliff Hawks said there was no intent to mislead fans who thought they could buy single-race tickets -- rather than the more expensive season-ticket packages -- to next year's races at the new facility. Hawks recently promised to make sure single-race tickets will be available, even if it means installing additional, temporary beachers at the 50,000-seat track in Wilson County(TN)(Tennessean) and see separate story at: Superspeedway builds trust with fans from the Tennessean by Larry Woody(10-25-2000)
- Nashville Tix Hot: but they are not even printed or being sold yet...see the full story at the Tennessean: New Nashville track draws interest(9-22-2000)
- Nashville Speedway Looking: On Saturday, August 12, Nashville Speedway USA will host it's 5th CTS race and will celebrate the heritage and tradition of the historic track. Race fans will be able to see a tent display showcasing the historic Nashville Speedway USA from 1904 to present. The new Nashville Superspeedway is located on more than 1,200 acres in Wilson County and is scheduled to open in April 2001. It is owned and operated by Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc and will host the CTS race in 2001 and beyondm while the Nashville Speedway will continue to hold the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series for the next two years. As part of the display, Nashville Speedway USA officials are seeking memorabilia including: Motorcycles and historic race cars that competed at the Nashville Speedway; Uniforms, helmets, trophies, touring series programs, souvenirs; Driver keepsakes; Historical photos and videos; and Old Nashville Speedway logos, see the Nashville Speedway Site for more info(8-8-2000)
- Nashville Suites Gone: Three weeks into its sales pitch, Nashville Superspeedway has leased all 18 available luxury suites and a waiting list already has 15 names on it, general manager Cliff Hawks said(Tennessean)(7-26-2000)
- Nashville Praised: Local NASCAR drivers praise Nashville Superspeedway by Chip Cirillo(Tennessean)(6-22-2000)
- Nashville, Homestead and Gateway gets IRL races: The IRL on Sunday announced its 2001 schedule, which includes a race at Nashville Superspeedway on July 21 to be televised on ESPN. The 50,000-seat facility in Wilson County is scheduled to open in April(Tennessean)
AND The Grand Prix of Miami will have a new look and feel when the race returns to South Florida next Spring as the Indy Racing Northern Light Series becomes the new sanctioning body for the event, Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray announced Monday. The Grand Prix of Miami is set for April 8, 2001(Homestead Miami Site)
AND Less than a week after Gateway officials learned that CART would not return to the facility in Madison after this September's race, the Indy Racing League filled the void. The IRL will stage a 300-mile event on Gateway's 1.25-mile oval on Aug. 26, 2001 and will be televised nationally by ESPN(St Louis Post Dispatch)(6-20-2000)
- Race Dates? NASCAR officials say that Dover Downs won't be allowed to move a Winston Cup date from here to the company's new track near Nashville because it's too close to Talladega and Indianapolis, according to track sources. However, International Speedway Corporation officials are expected to move Darlington Raceway's spring Cup date to California Speedway for the 2002 season. That ISC move would be prelude to NASCAR telling Bruton Smith to do likewise, moving a date from one of his own tracks, if he wants a second Cup date(at Texas or Vegas). However, NASCAR has already told Smith he can't move the Cup date from Sears Point(PitNow)(6-5-2000)
- Nashville News: Amid the grunts and groans of giant earth-moving equipment, one of the nation's more diverse motorsports complexes is quickly taking form. Nashville Superspeedway is almost ready for paving. The 1.3-mile track is one of six racetracks that are part of the $125 million project. The superspeedway showpiece will be ready for racing in early April 2001, project coordinator Barry Brooke said(Tennessean)(6-8-2000)
- Nashville and Cup? story: Superspeedway investor convinced Nashville can get Cup race by Larry Woody of the Tennessean(5-22-2000)
- Kentucky Beats Nashville: Next month Nashville will officially lose the racetrack race. Jerry Carroll's 70,000-seat, $152 million Kentucky Speedway is scheduled to open June 16. Carroll's track will cross the finish line almost a year ahead of new 50,000-seat, $125 million Nashville Superspeedway. Originally scheduled to be up and running this spring, various delays have pushed the Wilson County track's opening back to next April. See full story at the Tennessean by Larry Woody(5-5-2000)
- Nashville Seats: The new Nasville Superspeedway track initially will have only 50,000 seats (25,000 permanent, 25,000 portable), which is about one-third of the number needed to accommodate a Winston Cup crowd. Those 50,000 seats should be sufficient for a Busch Series race, however, which will be the track's big event next season. That's why they are designing new $125 million Nashville Superspeedway to accommodate 150,000 seats in the future -- just in case they get a Winston Cup race(Tennessean)(4-14-2000)
- Nashville: Yesterday's BellSouth Mobility 320 was the last big NASCAR race for Nashville Speedway. Next year's NASCAR Busch Series race will be run at new $125 million Nashville Superspeedway. The track will open with 50,000 seats and can expand to 150,000(Tennessean)(4-9-2000)
- Nashville News: a report on the status of the new Nashville Superspeedway at RacinDeals, including this: Most of the tracks that NASCAR has added to the Winston Cup circuit over the last few years have been "cookie-cutter" tracks. California is based on Michigan, Texas and Atlanta are based on Charlotte, etc. Not the new Nashville Superspeedway. While it will be the same length as Darlington (1.3 miles), the banking in the turns will be 14 degrees, and it will be a D-shaped oval. Oh yeah, the surface will be concrete. So there really isn't another track like it anywhere(RacinDeals)(4-7-2000)
- Nashville News: BellSouth Mobility will return for a sixth season as corporate sponsor of Nashville Speedway's April 8 BGN race, likely the last major NASCAR event at the aging Fairgrounds facility. Next year's BGN race will be moved to new Nashville Superspeedway, assuming construction remains on schedule for the $125 million Wilson County track. The official announcement of the renewed BellSouth Mobility sponsorship will be made Tuesday, Mar 7th a press conference at the downtown NASCAR Cafe. Three generations of drivers -- Coo Coo, Sterling and Steadman Marlin -- are scheduled to attend the press conference. Both Cool Coo and Sterling are past Nashville Speedway champions. Steadman will attempt to make his first BGN start in next month's TNN-televised race. Also scheduled to be on hand for the press conference is Kenny Irwin, Sterling Marlin's Winston Cup teammate, whose car is sponsored by BellSouth(Tennessean)(3-7-2000)
- Nashville/Dover? The new Nashville(TN) area speedway, being built east of the city, could be ready for testing by late summer or early fall. The speedway is owned by the same company that owns Dover Downs, and there have been indications that the company might move one of its two Winston Cup tour dates from Dover to Nashville(Pitnow) Note: most comments I have heard from Dover Downs officials is that they have no plans to move one of the Cup races from Dover. Also see a story on the Nashville track at: Nashville Business Journal - Busch series success key for speedway(2-15-2000)
- New Nashville Update: the work on the new $125 million Nashville Superspeedway is on schedule so far and expected to be ready for the 2001 season. Developer Dennis McGlynn said workers have removed 3.9 million cubic yards of bedrock, with 700,000 more to go. If the track meets its scheduled 2001 opening deadline, that will mean that the April 8 NASCAR Busch Series race will be the last one run at Nashville Speedway. Plans are to immediately move the premier Busch race to the new track(Tennessean)(2-6-2000)
- Nashville News: The $125 million motorsports complex being built in Wilson County, TN is scheduled to be ready for racing in the spring of 2001 and during a tour last week, developer Denis McGlynn was told the project is right on schedule. The next step for McGlynn is to try to land a premier Winston Cup race for his track(Tennessean)(10-27-1999)
- Nashville News: A hearing is scheduled Sept. 28 in Lebanon on a suit intended to halt construction on $125 million Nashville Superspeedway. An anti-track group claims that proper notification was not issued prior to a zoning vote on the Wilson County property. The anti-track side also has attempted to create an environmental roadblock over wild flowers which grow in the area(Tennessean)(9-21-1999)
- Nashville Speedway news: Gaylord Entertainment has discontinued its partnership with Dover (Del.) Downs Entertainment in a $125 million area superspeedway, but Dover Downs president Denis McGlynn said the split was amicable and will not adversely affect the project. See full story at: Gaylord backs out of Superspeedway deal by Larry Woody of the Tennessean(7-20-1999)
- Nashville Name: Local identity goal as name for track by Larry Woody of the Tennessean(7-7-1999)
- Nashville News: Due to various delays, the new superspeedway in Wilson County(near Nashville, TN) won't open until the 2001 season, a year later than originally scheduled, developer Denis McGlynn said. The $125 million track was supposed to be ready for racing next spring, but due to various delays, McGlynn said the opening has been pushed back a year(Tennessean)(4-20-1999)
- Nashville News: Legislation clearing the way for construction of the Nashville SuperSpeedway in Wilson County(Tenn) passed in the House and Senate last night and was sent to Gov. Don Sundquist for his signature. The legislation permits the Wilson County Sports Authority to raise $15 million for public improvements through a 30-year debt repayment system. Dover Downs Entertainment wants to build a 50,000-seat superspeedway near Gladeville at an estimated cost of $125 million. See the rest of the article at the Tennessean - Financing passes for Wilson racetrack and an article at the Nashville Speedway Site - I Back the Track(3-9-1999)
- Nashville Track Article: Plenty of communities would be delighted to land such a prize. The racetrack will be a national sports attraction as well as an economic bonanza for the area. But in Wilson County, it has been one headache after another for Denis McGlynn, head of Dover Downs Entertainment, which is behind the project. See the complete article at Opposition waves another caution for new track (The Tennessean)(2-22-1999)
- Nashville Trouble: Three Wilson County residents have joined 500 members of Speedway Residents Against Speedway Havoc (CRASH) to take legal aim at stopping development of a racetrack in Wilson County. See the complete story at Wilson group files suit to halt track(Daily News Journal)(2-17-1999)
- Nashville and Cup? Story at the Tennessean - Winston Cup possibly in Nashville's future(12-28-98)
- Nashville Speedway Approved: A $125 million auto racing complex was given the green light by the Wilson County Commission last night despite pleas from some county residents and commissioners opposing the development. The commission voted 22-3 to approve rezoning of about 1,200 acres for the proposed 50,000-seat superspeedway. See the complete story at the Tennessean - Zoning approved for racetrack and another story at the site - Speedway coming to Wilson County, Also see I Back The Track on the Nashville Speedway site(12-22-98)
- Nashville Speedway Article: at the Tennessean - Foes, friends mounting attacks. Also see I Back The Track on the Nashville Speedway site(12-21-98)
- Nashville Speedway News: The Nashville Speedway Site has a "I Back The Track" section with all the latest news and info on the proposed new race track near Nashville that Dover Downs Entertainment wants to build there. Next up: December 21, 1998 - The Wilson County Commissioners will vote on the speedway at 7:00pm.(Nashville Speedway Site), no idea hpw the 12-17 meeting went.(12-18-98)
- Nashville Speedway News: The Nashville Speedway Site has a "I Back The Track" section with all the latest news and info on the proposed new race track near Nashville that Dover Downs Entertainment wants to build there. Some of the news: December 17, 1998 - "I Back the Track" meeting will be held at Shoney's on Hwy 231, Lebanon, TN. Will be broadcasting live with Norman Parton on 99.7FM the sports talk show from 6:30 to 8:30.(Nashville Speedway Site)(12-9-98)
- Nashville Speedway approved? A proposed $124 million auto racing complex received the green light from two county planning panels yesterday despite the persistence of unanswered questions about the project. The Wilson County Planning Commission and the county's Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a rezoning change and a site plan for the development, but left the responsibility to Dover Downs Entertainment Inc. to provide all the necessary information. See the rest of the story at Zoning for racetrack approved but planner wants more details.(The Tennessean, thanks Joe)(11-12-98)
- Nashville Speedway News: Two self-described grass roots organizations are enlisting some high-powered help in their fight regarding a $124 million superspeedway project in Wilson County(TN). Back the Track, an organization established by Wilson and Rutherford County residents to support Dover Downs Entertainment Inc.'s plans to build a multi-track speedway east of Nashville. Meanwhile, the group opposing the superspeedway has mustered up its own star power. Citizens Rising Against Speedway Havoc, or CRASH, has retained the services of renowned Murfreesboro attorney Frank Fly. See the story Racing toward the checkered flag... Groups square off over speedway issue.(Nashville Business Journal thanks Chase)(11-11-98)
- Tennessee Speedway forced elsewhere: Two property owners in Rutherford County, TN have forced Dover Downs Entertainment to move its proposed site for a super speedway because they refused to sell their land. Dover Downs now plans to build a 150,000-seat track entirely in Wilson County, instead of having it straddle the Wilson-Rutherford line. See the AP story at the Kingsport News Times/AP.(10-23-98)
- More news on the planned Nashville race track: New owners prepared to up ante for Winston(11-11-97)
- Big Story and news! "A $25 million - $30 million motorsports facility will come to town in the near future, according to new owners of Nashville Speedway USA. Dover Downs Entertainment Inc.,(DVD) which operates the successful Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Del., today announced it has acquired Nashville Speedway USA with the intention of building a new speedway in another location. Gaylord Entertainment will become a minority partner in the project. According to Dover Downs President and CEO Denis McGlynn, ``The facility will house a superspeedway(at least a mile in length), a drag strip, a dirt track and a road course." Initially the seating will be for about 50,000 fans with the ability to expand that right from the start. See the full story by Joe Caldwell/Banner Sports Writer at Gaylord Joins Venture to build $25M Motorsports Complex(forwarded to me by a reader/Nashville Banner). Also see The Nashville Speedway Page for additional info.(11-7-97)
