Speedway Motorsports CEO
Bruton Smith told Charlotte’s WBTV television today there is a 70% chance he
will petition NASCAR to move his October Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor
Speedway to Las Vegas.
Smith, whose Speedway
Motorsports Inc. owns Charlotte, Las Vegas and seven other major motorsports
facilities, said, “When the game is over, it’ll be money, money, money. Money
will move it. I'd say (the odds of moving the race) are about 70/30.
“I've been
having strong conversations about one of these events being moved," said Smith
to WBTV reporter Paul Cameron today. "Las Vegas is a great place -- the
entertainment capital of the world -- and they want another event."
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
currently hosts a single Sprint Cup Series race, in March of each year. Smith
has repeatedly lobbied NASCAR to move its season-finale from Homestead Miami Speedway
to Las Vegas, but the sanctioning body has shown no interest in doing so.
NASCAR has already begun
work on the 2014 Sprint Cup Series schedule, but has not received a request
from SMI – either written or verbal -- to realign a race.
So, is this Bruton doing his normal politicing and making threats ? I fear not in this instance. Would be a simple realignment plug in October for Las Vegas. That is a slow time in Vegas and they would love to have a date. Would be a very sad day for the Charlotte area.
ReplyDeleteIt's only about money anymore. This guy, and others, do not care about the racing. To me Vegas is a very boring race, and before you ask, yes I've been there Please keep this race in Charlotte!
ReplyDeleteThat blows.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again... Sometimes I wish someone would call his bluff. I stopped giving him any of my money a while back.
ReplyDeleteWhat about moving one of chase race to the Lady in Black, one of the most historical tracks there is. Meet one of the orginal founders Mr Harold Brasington in 88 when I moved here, Lived around the corner from me. Knew one of the company's founders that helped build the track.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really about the roots of the sport anymore, it's all about the money. Sad sad sad.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope Cup dates at race tracks don't become like college teams switching conferences all the time in pursuit of more money.
ReplyDeleteI see dark clouds on the horizon for NASCAR if they don't step in and nip this in the bud.
Let's put the pieces of the puzzle together. Lots of empty seats at the All-Star. The 600 is this weekend. Bruton announces he is strongly considering moving the October race to Las Vegas. Sounds like a promoter trying to use fear to sell tickets to the upcoming race. NASCAR owns the race dates and they have the ultimate say so. Bruton Smith is a lock for the Hall Of Shame.
ReplyDeleteUp to this point, NASCAR hasn't stepped in and stopped tracks from moving dates around, in fact they (NASCAR through ISC) have done it a few times themselves.
DeleteIf Charlotte area race fans are counting on NASCAR to step in and prevent tracks from moving dates, then they better think again. NASCAR has as many corporate partners to keep happy as tracks do, and it wouldn't take much convincing on a tracks part if they think they could move a date from a joint only attracting 65,000 to 80,000 or 90,000 at another venue.
It's all about money and NASCAR is trying to make as much of it as everybody else (drivers, teams, track owners, etc).
I beat the teams will hate this. One less week at home.
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you people, this man will do it... If we don't start putting people in the seats at Charlotte then Vegas has a good chance to get another race. That being said if it happens I wonder what we will do to protest??? The seats at Charlotte maybe empty for the May races..... We need the October races at our HOME track!!!!
ReplyDeleteNascar needs to stand up and say NO if they ever actually receive the application to move the race.
ReplyDelete