GLADEVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Superspeedway is going out of business unless someone else thinks he can do better.
Dover Motorsports Inc. announced Wednesday it won’t hold NASCAR races at the concrete track in 2012 and might put the superspeedway up for sale. The track’s website sums it up: “Thanks for the Memories!”
The company has been trying unsuccessfully to secure a NASCAR Sprint Cup race since 2001. Kentucky hosted its first Sprint Cup race in July, and Dover decided it couldn’t continue without getting onto NASCAR’s top schedule.
“But the reality is after 10 years of effort we have to face the fact that without a Sprint Cup race and/or a significant change in the operating model for other events, we simply cannot continue,” general manager Cliff Hawks said in a statement.
Dover opened the 1.33-mile track 10 years ago. The superspeedway has hosted NASCAR trucks and Nationwide races with two dates on each series this year and also had a slot on the Indy Racing League schedule before losing that after the 2008 season.
Dover Motorsports president Denis Mc- Glynn said they had years of support from local, county and state officials and fans.
“We are, however, at a juncture where we must evaluate all of our options for this track, including its possible sale,” he said.
Nashville had been on NASCAR’s schedule for the top circuit until 1984.
Dover unveiled ambitious plans for the superspeedway with the ability to expand to up to 150,000 seats along with a dirt track, a short track and a drag strip. Lights were installed along with 25,000 permanent grandstand seats for night racing.
The track landed a prime spot on NASCAR’s Nationwide circuit, hosting the series annually on Easter weekend when plenty of top drivers took advantage of the Sprint Cup series being off. But landing a Sprint Cup race was the target all along, and Dover never got Nashville squeezed into NASCAR’s top schedule.
Keselowski taken to hospital after crash
BRASELTON, Ga. — Brad Keselowski was airlifted to a Georgia hospital after a head-on crash into a wall at Road Atlanta.
Penske Racing said Keselowski walked from the car and was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
Keselowski later posted several updates on his Twitter page, including two photos that appeared to show a swollen ankle and an abrasion on his foot.
“Guess I needed a reminder,” he posted, ” . . . this racing (stuff) is still dangerous.”
Keselowski posted he was going to be released from the hospital Wednesday and would be fine to race this weekend at Pocono Raceway.
The Associated Press
