Bruten Smith and Speedway Motorsports Inc has purchased New Hampshire International Speedway for $340 million. This purchase includes the 50% interest that Bob Bahre had in the North Wilksboro Speedway, which Bahre and Smith bought together and split the Cup dates. Bob Bahre took one Cup date to New Hampshire and added it to his September line-up, ultimately turning into the first race to the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Bruten Smith took the second date and added to Texas Motor Speedway.
Four other parties wanted to purchase NHIS; which included the Fenway Group’s John Henry, George Gillett from Gillett Evernham Motorsports, a member of the Penske Group (unclear who is was), and the owner of Kentucky Speedway. I would speculate that John Henry would have left the track with two dates. It’s unknown what George Gillett would have done. The Penske Group member would also be an unknown, but who knows. The owner of the Kentucky Speedway would of taken at least one date away so Kentucky Speedway would have a Cup date. But I would speculate he probably would have taken both.
Bruten Smith ultimately intends, even though he won’t admit it now, intends to take the September date and move it to Las Vegas. That speculation has been in the press since the September NHIS race and beyond.
According to NASCAR the 2008 schedule is locked in, so 2009 would be the earliest Bruten Smith could take the September date to Las Vegas.
So what is NHIS customers thinking now? Get your orders in for 2008, because 2009 doesn’t look good for NHMS. He couldn’t even leave the name alone! I speculate NHMS is in for a few changes; higher ticket prices, parking fees, higher food prices, more seats, and maybe loosing that hill.
New Hampshire has sold out the last 25 straight Cup races, something some of his other tracks can’t say. Lets hear from you New England and Canada. What do you think?
