SMI's Bruton Smith mum on realignment request, doesn’t like potential changes to Chase
SMI Chairman Bruton Smith sidestepped questions about the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule. // Archive, NASCAR Illustrated
CONCORD, N.C. – Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith was busy Tuesday promoting an event for the Legends cars he sells and didn’t have much to say about the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule nor potential changes to the Chase For The Sprint Cup.
Smith, the Chairman of SMI, would not comment on the 2011 Sprint Cup schedule and his realignment request for a Sprint Cup date at Kentucky Speedway.
Getting a Cup race for Kentucky and adding a second Cup date at Las Vegas have been the two additions that Smith has floated in the past. NASCAR Chairman Brian France said earlier this month SMI had submitted a realignment request but wouldn’t mention the tracks involved.
Potential SMI tracks that have two dates and could lose one include Atlanta and New Hampshire. NASCAR would have to approve all realignment requests.
“I talked to Brian yesterday and all our conversation surrounded what we are doing here [and this weekend’s Legends race],” Smith said Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway when asked about his recent discussions with France on the 2011 schedule.
France said recently that NASCAR is considering making changes to the Chase for next year.
As far as proposed changes to the Chase, Smith said, “What little I’ve heard about it, it sucks.” He later said, however, that he doesn’t “know enough about it.”
“Brian and I get along very, very well and I don’t think he’s going to do anything to screw it up,” Smith said.
In talking about the first half of the season, Smith said what he has liked most is the new Nationwide Series car, which Ford has branded as a Mustang and Dodge has branded as a Challenger.
“I’m hoping that as quick as possible, they’ll get that in the Cup Series,” Smith said. “[The manufacturers] want these vehicles to be recognized. They’re doing the things now on the front of these cars where we can recognize them.
“That’s a giant step in the right direction. That’s going to add ticket sales. It’s going to be much easier to promote these events.”
