Bye Bye ATLANTA Spring Race

[vols fan]

Atlanta to play host to one race weekend in 2011
By Official Release
August 5, 2010
12:47 PM EDT

type size: + -HAMPTON, Ga -- Atlanta Motor Speedway officials on Thursday announced that the facility's 2011 event schedule will include one NASCAR racing weekend -- Sept. 2-4.

One of the sport's original superspeedways, the track has played host to two event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sept. 5.

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"Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," speedway president Ed Clark said. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."

AMS played host to its inaugural Labor Day racing weekend in 2009 when the events were moved forward on the schedule from the speedway's traditional October date.

"We were thrilled with the acquisition of the Labor Day date two years ago and are proud to host such a prestigious, historical date on the NASCAR schedule," Clark said. "This track produces some of the greatest racing the circuit sees, it remains one of the drivers' favorite tracks and we will continue to build a platform that sets this one date apart from the rest."

An announcement is set for Tuesday in Sparta, Ky., at which time it is expected that Kentucky Speedway officials will announce the track will receive a Cup Series date for 2011. The 1.5-mile tri-oval halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati will host NASCAR's top series in early July.

Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the speedway from the original ownership group in 2008. SMI owner Bruton Smith said his main goal was to bring the track a long-coveted Cup date.

The original owners filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., contending they tried to exclude the track from the Cup Series.

SMI owns nine tracks on the NASCAR schedule: Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, Infineon, Kentucky, Las Vegas, New Hampshire and Texas.

[vols fan]

I understand the weather isn't always great and we don't always have the best crowd but we were better than the 2 Pocono raaces within 6 weeks and California is a fucking snooze fest. I'
m glad we kept the Labor day race though.Thats one hell of a party

[kbsooner21]

I agree, one of the Pocono races has to go. That track is boring as fuck. The mile and a halfs at Texas and Atlanta can be boring too though.

[vols fan]

I agree, one of the Pocono races has to go. That track is boring as fuck. The mile and a halfs at Texas and Atlanta can be boring too though.

I agree Atlanta can be boring as shit but the campgrounds and the whole area does really well that weekend.It's a big hit financially to the area I can promise you that

[vols fan]

Maybe the prices will drop on one of those fancy condos in turn 4

[kbsooner21]

Yea, the financial impact will be huge. Sold out races or not, NASCAR brings in a lot of money to the areas where they race.

[wayne1218]

I'm just glad it wasn't N.H. that lost it. They said it was a possibility and still might be if a track like Vegas gets a 2nd race.

I'm sorry but Atlanta didn't deserve to keep 2 races with their ticket sales as they were. It has been ridiculous lately watching races there and seeing all the empty seats. Loudon may be boring too but they have sold out every race they have had there in the last 20 years and you can't overlook that. Also, it is the only races held in the northeast besides a road course in NY. The south has plenty of races and if nascar wants to expand more out of the south, they need to leave the 2 at Loudon alone.

[vols fan]

I'm just glad it wasn't N.H. that lost it. They said it was a possibility and still might be if a track like Vegas gets a 2nd race.

I'm sorry but Atlanta didn't deserve to keep 2 races with their ticket sales as they were. It has been ridiculous lately watching races there and seeing all the empty seats. Loudon may be boring too but they have sold out every race they have had there in the last 20 years and you can't overlook that. Also, it is the only races held in the northeast besides a road course in NY. The south has plenty of races and if nascar wants to expand more out of the south, they need to leave the 2 at Loudon alone.

I don't have a problem with NH.Always good racing and the races are short.They need to take a race from Pocono and California bottom line.Maybe Nascar will make it up to major sponsors based here in Atlanta like Home Depot and UPS and give us the All-Star race

[vols fan]

I'm sorry but Atlanta didn't deserve to keep 2 races with their ticket sales as they were. It has been ridiculous lately watching races there and seeing all the empty seats.

The weather was so bad every year for that March race. For Atlanta to have success with two races we would need one in May and the Labor Day race.I hate it cause it was two weekends a year to hang out and party with family and friends great camping spots around the track but as a business I can see why they did it. I will feel alot better if California loses a race.I hope it's not just us.

[wayne1218]

no doubt Pocono should lose one. You want to talk about bad weather, there are rain delays in every damn race there!