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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kentucky Speedway moved a step closer to landing a coveted Sprint Cup Series race when Speedway Motorsports Inc. on Thursday added it to its growing portfolio of tracks.
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Kentucky's previous owners have fought for a Cup race, and SMI owner Bruton Smith said he wants a date for his new track by 2009.
Just how he gets one at his eighth facility remains to be seen.
"We will continue to wonder about that," Smith teased. "We'll certainly be working on that."
Smith has battled for years with NASCAR over the awarding of Cup races, and Kentucky already has unsuccessfully sued to get its own date.
Track officials filed an antitrust lawsuit in 2005 against NASCAR and Smith rival International Speedway Inc., but it was dismissed in January. It's now in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
There was immediate speculation Smith has his eye on Pocono Raceway, which currently has two Cup races. If he purchased that track, he could move one or both its dates to any of his speedways.
"I'm always interested in a speedway," Smith said. "But here again, if I say something about Pocono, it would indicate to you that it's for sale. I don't know if it's for sale or not, but if you're telling me it is, then I'll make a phone call tomorrow."
Smith has acquired race dates by purchasing tracks before. He and Bob Bahre teamed in 1996 to buy North Wilkesboro Speedway, which they promptly shuttered when Smith took one of its races to his Texas track and Bahre moved the other to New Hampshire.
Smith last year spent $340 million to buy New Hampshire from Bahre, and there was immediate speculation he'd take one of its two races to Las Vegas, where Smith has unsuccessfully lobbied for a second date.
New Hampshire president Jerry Gappens said Smith has assured him the track is not in danger of losing one of its dates to Las Vegas or Kentucky.
"He never made a promise, but he did tell me he doesn't see any reason to change anything," Gappens said. "He spent two days up there a few weeks ago looking everything over, we just spent $200,000 renovating the offices and Bruton has a master plan for that track."
If New Hampshire is safe, then Smith might look to his track in Atlanta. The facility doesn't sell out and is saddled with a pair of dates that are often afflicted by poor weather. And, Smith has already offered to swap dates with ISC-owned California Speedway to help both tracks overcome weather handicaps.
