Sprint Cup date for Kentucky could be announced Aug. 10
Kentucky Speedway has hosted NASCAR Truck Series and Nationwide events, but is a Sprint Cup Series race date in its future? // John Sommers II, Getty Images
LONG POND, Pa. – Speedway Motorsports Inc. is planning for an Aug. 10 news conference at Kentucky Speedway, which likely will address the future of racing at the track and whether it will get a Sprint Cup race there in 2011.
A source confirmed that a news conference is tentatively scheduled for that date, and SMI Chairman Bruton Smith confirmed the date of the news conference for The Cincinnati Enquirer. Smith would not tell the newspaper whether a Cup date announcement would be part of the news conference concerning the 1.5-mile oval about 30 minutes south of Cincinnati.
SMI bought Kentucky Speedway for $78.3 million in December 2008 and Smith has wanted to move a Cup date to the track. NASCAR required him to wait until a lawsuit by the former track founders was over before he could make a realignment request.
The case ended in NASCAR’s favor in May. Smith has not said whether a Cup date for Kentucky was part of his 2011 realignment request and has not indicated which track could have its date moved to Kentucky.
Atlanta Motor Speedway seems to be the most likely candidate, although speculation also has included New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
