Could Speedway Motorsports, Inc. be expanding its track portfolio?
Sources say that SMI Chairman Bruton Smith has added New Hampshire International Speedway to its holdings. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, at which time the purchase is expected to be announced.
When FOXSports.com asked Smith on Wednesday whether a "little announcement" was on tap for Friday, Smith replied, "There's more truth to that because it's going to be large — enormous!"
Smith would not speculate whether a NASCAR Nextel Cup date from NHIS would be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In recent years, SMI has lobbied NASCAR for an additional Cup race at the 1.5-mile speedway but have been told no.
New Hampshire International Speedway owner Bob Bahre was not available for comment on Wednesday, but said last month that he'd "talked to about eight different groups of people" regarding the possible purchase of the one-mile track. Bahre partnered with Smith before on the purchase of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1996 and moved the race dates to NHIS and Texas Motor Speedway, respectively.
Bahre began building the Magic Mile in 1990. He hosted the first Cup race at the Loudon, N.H.-based track in 1993 and has sold out every Cup event since.
In the last few years, Bahre, 80, has admitted that his son and track president Gary, 43, would not "want to run the track alone."
"I'm going on 81," Bahre said. "So someday I want to do something with the track."
Smith added that he met again on Tuesday with "about 25 people" from Concord, N.C. regarding the future of one of his other venues, Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"It was a very friendly meeting," Smith said. "I guess I could say it feels good to be wanted."
Smith's phone continues to ring with proposals for potential track sites throughout the Carolinas. He had additional planning sessions scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
"I have some full-time engineers working on a lot of different things and have spectacular offers from a lot of people."
SMI currently operates six tracks which host Nextel Cup Series racing: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway
Sources say that SMI Chairman Bruton Smith has added New Hampshire International Speedway to its holdings. A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, at which time the purchase is expected to be announced.
When FOXSports.com asked Smith on Wednesday whether a "little announcement" was on tap for Friday, Smith replied, "There's more truth to that because it's going to be large — enormous!"
Smith would not speculate whether a NASCAR Nextel Cup date from NHIS would be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In recent years, SMI has lobbied NASCAR for an additional Cup race at the 1.5-mile speedway but have been told no.
New Hampshire International Speedway owner Bob Bahre was not available for comment on Wednesday, but said last month that he'd "talked to about eight different groups of people" regarding the possible purchase of the one-mile track. Bahre partnered with Smith before on the purchase of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1996 and moved the race dates to NHIS and Texas Motor Speedway, respectively.
Bahre began building the Magic Mile in 1990. He hosted the first Cup race at the Loudon, N.H.-based track in 1993 and has sold out every Cup event since.
In the last few years, Bahre, 80, has admitted that his son and track president Gary, 43, would not "want to run the track alone."
"I'm going on 81," Bahre said. "So someday I want to do something with the track."
Smith added that he met again on Tuesday with "about 25 people" from Concord, N.C. regarding the future of one of his other venues, Lowe's Motor Speedway.
"It was a very friendly meeting," Smith said. "I guess I could say it feels good to be wanted."
Smith's phone continues to ring with proposals for potential track sites throughout the Carolinas. He had additional planning sessions scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
"I have some full-time engineers working on a lot of different things and have spectacular offers from a lot of people."
SMI currently operates six tracks which host Nextel Cup Series racing: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway
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