4LT GS RoadsterSparta, KY - What appears to be a significant shakeup in next season's NASCAR schedule took further shape Tuesday when Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith made official the news that Kentucky Speedway had landed a Sprint Cup race in July 2011.
While the announcement of a 400-mile race on July 9 (a Saturday night) wasn't a surprise, it attracted a throng of politicians, community leaders and fans to a news conference in a stuffy tent behind the grandstand of the 1.5-mile track.
But the news was another piece falling into place in the changed landscape of the 2011 schedule, which is expected to be announced officially next week:
The Kentucky race will replace the March race in Atlanta (another SMI track), which will continue to have a race on Labor Day weekend.
Kansas Speedway gained a race, at the expense of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., which now will have just one race.
Chicagoland Speedway will be the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, moving New Hampshire back a few weeks.
The changes are a result of lagging attendance at Atlanta and California....
thatsracin.com
While the announcement of a 400-mile race on July 9 (a Saturday night) wasn't a surprise, it attracted a throng of politicians, community leaders and fans to a news conference in a stuffy tent behind the grandstand of the 1.5-mile track.
But the news was another piece falling into place in the changed landscape of the 2011 schedule, which is expected to be announced officially next week:
The Kentucky race will replace the March race in Atlanta (another SMI track), which will continue to have a race on Labor Day weekend.
Kansas Speedway gained a race, at the expense of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., which now will have just one race.
Chicagoland Speedway will be the first race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, moving New Hampshire back a few weeks.
The changes are a result of lagging attendance at Atlanta and California....
thatsracin.com
