Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, a longtime critic of NASCAR, became the sanctioning body’s biggest supporter Friday, blasting the recent formation of the Race Team Alliance. ‘What I know about it, of course I don’t like it,’ Smith said after Sprint Cup practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which is one of eight SMI-owned tracks that play host to NASCAR’s premier series. ‘I don’t know anything about it that’s good for what we do. I don’t see anything that’s going to be good for the sport. Nothing. What little bit I know about it right now, it seems it will damage the sport. If NASCAR needs us, we’re there with NASCAR on the deal. We’re there every day, every hour, if they need us.’
Announced Monday, the RTA is comprised of nine teams that have aligned with the objective of saving costs. Smith, though, said it won’t improve NASCAR and likely would hurt it, though he was vague when pressed about how. ‘If you’re NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports, show me one thing that’s going to help the sport,’ Smith said. ‘I don’t see anything I’ve heard or read about it.’
Smith often feuded with former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. about race scheduling and the sport’s direction, and there was speculation that the RTA might view him as an ally, given his maverick streak and vast business holdings. But Smith snuffed any such perception. ‘Absolutely not,’ he said. ‘I’ll be standing shoulder to shoulder with NASCAR on this one. I know (the RTA isn’t) going to like it. I like this sport. I’ve been in it forever. We have a huge investment around $4 billion. I don’t sit up at night worrying about it, but I do not like the people to damage the sport.’(see full story at the USA Today)(7-12-2014)
