| What the France family doesn't own in NASCAR, | | | | eighth race at Kentucky by next year, regardless of |
| Charlotte billionaire O. Bruton Smith does. That's the | | | | what the France's decide or permit. The 1.5-mile track |
| perception between business rivals involved in the | | | | regularly sells out its Nationwide Series race, |
| same industry. Of the 22 tracks NASCAR uses, all | | | | scheduled in '08 for June 14, and hosts another |
| but three are owned by either the France's | | | | Craftsman Truck Series event on July 12. When the |
| International Speedway Corp., or Smith's Speedway | | | | Kentucky sale is finalized, a new name is anticipated. |
| Motorsports Inc. Smith, it seems, wants to tilt the | | | | To make it Cup ready, Smith plans to add around |
| playing field in his direction-a tall order considering his | | | | 50,000 seats to the Sparta, Kentucky track by next |
| competitors call the shots and own more facilities. | | | | year. |
| With Smith's recent acquisition of Kentucky | | | | Kentucky lost its three-year federal antitrust suit |
| Speedway and his separation from longtime friend | | | | against NASCAR in January after claiming the |
| and employee H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, the world of | | | | sanctioning body was unlawfully keeping a Cup race |
| motorsports is wondering what Smith has up his | | | | from its gates. An appeal has been promised and the |
| sleeve. | | | | new owner is allowing the case to continue, though |
| For now, one-third of the Sprint Cup schedule rolls | | | | not under the SMI banner. After the deal is closed, |
| through an SMI site, and Smith wants more. NASCAR | | | | speculation has it that Smith will use the threat of |
| insists that it alone has the authority to shape its | | | | litigation as a bargaining chip for an already promised |
| racing schedule, but Smith speaks with assurance | | | | Cup race in '09. If he wants to move a date from |
| that Kentucky will host a race in 2009. Dates at SMI | | | | one of his other tracks, he would need to submit a |
| tracks Atlanta and California could be moved due to | | | | plan to NASCAR soon, as the governing body is |
| a drop in attendance at both venues, but that would | | | | about to conclude its sanctioning agreements for |
| be shifting the hole, not filling it. One of the two | | | | next season. |
| races held at his New Hampshire track is another | | | | Smith has the wealth, the property, and enough |
| option, pending NASCAR approval. He could always | | | | business savvy to start his own racing series if he |
| buy or build another speedway, but if '09 is the | | | | wanted to. He denies that likelihood under present |
| target, Pocono and Dover are his only options since | | | | conditions, saying publicly that he's a NASCAR man all |
| IRL dominant Indianapolis Motor Speedway would | | | | the way. Even so, he is clearly uncomfortable with |
| never sell. | | | | asking NASCAR's permission for every business |
| Whatever he wants, Smith, 81, has reason to believe | | | | decision he makes. |
| he can acquire it, arrange to build it, or make it | | | | Assuming he honors his intentions, stated or |
| happen. Through his SMI corporation, the racing | | | | otherwise, reversing the pecking order appears to be |
| tycoon holds eight speedways and hosts at least one | | | | on his mind. A business takeover has not been ruled |
| Sprint Cup Series race in seven cities across the | | | | out. |
| nation (ISC owns 12 tracks). He expects to add an | | | | Stay tuned. |