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No Cup Race In Kentucky In 2009

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The Associated Press

Published: May 24, 2008

SPARTA, Ky. - Kentucky Speedway will not have a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2009, despite a change in ownership to Bruton Smith.

Smith, the Speedway Motorsports Inc. owner, announced Thursday he had purchased the Kentucky track, located halfway between Cincinnati and Louisville, with the intention of having a Cup race there next season.

But after a sanctioning meeting Friday, NASCAR officials said it's too late to consider Kentucky for next season's schedule.

"The 2009 schedule will not include a Sprint Cup race in Kentucky, regardless of ownership," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "I don't see any scenario where there will be a Sprint Cup race there in '09."
Kentucky Speedway spokesman Tim Bray said Friday it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the matter.

Poston said NASCAR has yet to receive a formal request for a race from SMI, which owns seven other NASCAR-sanctioned tracks.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Speedway founder Jerry Carroll were planning to meet with Smith on Sunday during the running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Also being considered for the 2009 Sprint Cup schedule is a three-track swap of race dates. Atlanta would receive the Labor Day race that's currently run in Fontana, Calif.; Fontana would receive Talladega's fall race; and Talladega would receive Atlanta's fall race.

That move is designed to help Atlanta and Fontana, Calif., which have struggled with weather problems on their original dates.

According to papers filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Smith has not yet completed the purchase, in which he agreed to pay $78.3 million for the speedway that cost $152 million to build.

There is a 90-day window in which Smith can still walk away from the deal.

The track hosts Nationwide Series, Indy Racing League and ARCA events.

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