The demise of Pikes Peak International Speedway in Fountain could turn into a blessing for Denver-area race fans who have yearned for a NASCAR Nextel Cup superspeedway.
International Speedway Corporation announced Friday its purchase and planned closing of PPIR, which in 2000 backed a political smear campaign that likely aided in the failure of ISC’s bid to build a massive Cup- pegged speedway in Arapahoe County.
Spokesman David Talley said ISC, which is run by NASCAR and owns or operates 12 Nextel Cup venues, has no intention of hosting races at PPIR because Denver still is its target area.
“We’ve tried to tap into the Denver market, and it hasn’t worked out,” Talley said from ISC and NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. “But it’s safe to say that we’ve always felt that Denver is a great market for motorsports. While right now we focus on Seattle and New York, it would not be surprising to me that sometime in the near future we’d look at Denver again.
“We certainly feel Denver can support a major motorsports facility.”
ISC intends to distribute PPIR’s transferable assets – such as grandstands, fences and scoreboard tower – to its existing facilities or to store for future expansion projects.
A Denver-area track could be one destination of some PPIR items, but Talley said that’s not likely.
ISC is working on building tracks in New York City and Seattle. The land in New York has been purchased and the location in Seattle is in the due diligence process, Talley said.
“It takes 18 to 24 months to build a facility,” Talley said. “I don’t have a timeline and haven’t heard of a Denver site or about when we’d like to get into Denver. But I would think the Pikes Peak items would be allocated by then.”
This year PPIR hosted AMA superbikes, the U.S. Auto Club, the NASCAR Busch Series and the Indy Racing League. The IRL dropped Pikes Peak from its 2006 schedule.
PPIR, which opened in 1996, will be the second prominent Front Range track to close in 2005. Rocky Mountain National Speedway lost its permit to race in Commerce City.
“Like everyone in Colorado who is a race fan, I’m devastated,” said Jerry Robertson, a three-time late-models champion at Colorado National Speedway and part-time Busch Series driver. “I kind of heard a rumor that they (PPIR) were going to get rid of the Busch cars next year, but not shut it down completely.
“It’s a blow to Colorado, a big step backward. I hope someone else builds something in the region.”
John Bandimere Jr., who partnered with ISC in the 2000, $500 million WorldPark venture, said the closure of PPIR would hurt business for the remaining tracks such as his, Bandimere Speedway (drag strip) and Colorado National Speedway (paved oval).
“I believe all the racetracks that we can possibly have makes motorsports that much stronger,” Bandimere said. “The more activity you have, the better the sport is perceived and the better it’s accepted.”
Bandimere said it’s too early to comment about a ISC-built, Denver-area track, but is hopeful it would happen.
Staff writer Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
