Kentucky Speedway

Motorsport venue
Name = Kentucky Speedway | Location = Sparta, Kentucky


Image_caption = Kentucky Speedway logo
Events = NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, IRL IndyCar Series, IRL Firestone Indy Lights, ARCA RE/MAX Series
Capacity = 66,000 (Stands)
Owner = Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Address = 5120 Sparta Pike, Sparta, KY 41086
Layout1 = Tri-Oval
Length_mi = 1.5
Length_km = 2.4
Banking = Turns - 14°
Tri-Oval - 8-10°
Straight - 4°

Kentucky Speedway is a convert|1.5|mi|km|1|sing=on motor speedway located in north-central Kentucky, near the community of Sparta, Kentucky; approximately halfway between Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, and is additionally convert|70|mi|km|0 from another fairly sizable market, Lexington, Kentucky. The track was designed to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and has hosted NASCAR Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series races, as well as IRL IndyCar Series and IndyPro Series races. However, NASCAR officials have refused any discussion of a Sprint Cup Series race being moved there.

The track has become one of the top tracks for testing Sprint Cup cars, because of NASCAR's testing restrictions implemented in 2005. As a result of the new testing restrictions, teams may only test at NASCAR-authorized testing sessions at seven specific tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit. As Kentucky is not a Sprint Cup venue, private testing of such cars is permitted with no restrictions, and spectators are allowed to view testing sessions from outside of turn three.

There has also been talk that Kentucky Speedway owners might purchase Pocono Raceway and move one of its Sprint Cup Series races to Kentucky. However, the Mattioli family, which owns both Pocono Raceway and South Boston Speedway, and manages the Music City Motorplex, has so far shown no interest in selling that superspeedway.

On September 16, 2007, Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll attended the Sylvania 300 Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. Carroll told USA Today that he was interested in purchasing the track and moving one of the race dates to Kentucky Speedway. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2007-09-17-loudon-notebook_N.htm Jerry Carrol wants to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway] ] However, on November 1 it was announced that NHIS was being sold to Bruton Smith, CEO and chairman of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. [http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=3089586 SMI Purchase New Hampshire International Speedway] ]

Both of Kentucky's major 300 mile races (NNS, IRL) are sponsored by Meijer.

On May 22, 2008, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. purchased Kentucky Speedway from Jerry Carroll. However, the deal will not be finalized till October. Current owner Jerry Carroll will still retain a small ownership stake in the racetrack. The new owners plan is to place a Sprint Cup race there within the next couple of years. Bruton Smith, head of Speedway Motorsports Inc. who is buying the racetrack, said he even hopes to have one at Kentucky Speedway by 2009. However, NASCAR said this wouldn't happen as the schedule for next year is already being finalized and it doesn't include a race at the Kentucky Speedway.

NASCAR Lawsuit

In July 2005, Kentucky Speedway filed a lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation, (ISC) claiming that they violated federal antitrust laws by not allowing tracks to bid for NASCAR races, provided they meet the necessary requirements. On January 7, 2008 the lawsuit was thrown out, with United States District Court Judge William O. Bertelsman writing in his ruling "After careful consideration and a thorough review of the record, and granting [Kentucky] Speedway the benefit of the doubt on all reasonable inferences therefrom, the court concludes that Speedway has failed to make out its case."

In response to the Kentucky Speedway's lawsuit, NASCAR fans and union members of UNITE HERE and Teamsters gathered over 40,000 signatures asking NASCAR to sever ties with the Kentucky Speedway while the lawsuit proceeds. The petition raises concerns that if the lawsuit is successful, then the competitive bidding process it advocates could cause ticket prices to rise and smaller tracks could lose their races.

Acquired by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

On May 22, 2008, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. announced it had purchased Kentucky Speedway from Kentucky Speedway, LLC. [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=99758&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=1150004& SMI Purchasing of Kentucky Speedway] ]

Current Races

* Indy Racing League IndyCar Series - Meijer Indy 300 presented by Coca-Cola and Secret
* Indy Racing League Firestone Indy Lights Series - Kentucky 100
* NASCAR Nationwide Series - Meijer 300 presented by Oreo
* NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers
* ARCA RE/MAX Series - Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150
* ARCA RE/MAX Series - WLWT Channel 5-150

ee also

*List of NASCAR race tracks

References

External links

* [http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com/ Kentucky Speedway Official Site]
* [http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/ken/index.html Kentucky Speedway Page] on [http://www.nascar.com NASCAR.com]
* [http://motorsportsschedules.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=26&func=shlocevents&locatid=6 2008 Kentucky Speedway Schedule]
* [http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=154&sid=1322016 Article on Antitrust suit against NASCAR being dismissed]
* [http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/print/NASCAR_ISC_win_antitrust_lawsuit_against_Kentucky_Speedway.html Another article on Antitrust suit against NASCAR being dismissed]
* [http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/business/01/08/kentucky.lawsuit.battle/index.html Another article on Antitrust suit against NASCAR being dismissed]
* [http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2008/01/kentucky-speedways-antitrust-suit.html Another article on Antitrust suit against NASCAR being dismissed]
* [http://www.sirius-speedway.com/2008/01/breaking-news-court-throws-out-kentucky.html Another article on Antitrust suit against NASCAR being dismissed]
* [http://autoracingsport.com/nascar/report-bruton-smith-to-buy-all-or-part-of-kentucky-speedway/ Article regarding the rumored sale or partnership of KY Speedway with Bruton Smith]