Latest on 2011 schedule

[BenCrazy424]

What I would like is another road course, North Wilksboro back, and some more 1 mile tracks. The cars can't bump and run when the track is so big.

Also, the rock will never get a date back because they could never draw a crowd. They didn't even sell out on the last race there. Love the track though.

 

[pennst24]

Apparently NASCAR has told the Rock if they install SAFER barriers, they could get a truck date and possibly a Nationwide date.

 

[taz1458]

Apparently NASCAR has told the Rock if they install SAFER barriers, they could get a truck date and possibly a Nationwide date.

That would be a good start. Did they ever run trucks there before?

 

[MillsLayne]

That would be a good start. Did they ever run trucks there before?

I don't think it ever did, no. But, it did run Nationwide races there before. It does have an ARCA date and I guess Hillenburg is trying to get an NASCAR East date. Honestly, it could just be a matter of time before it gets back into one of the top 3 series in NASCAR.

 

[MattSRD28]

Because CA has Sonoma, Brooklyn is all Michigan has for the cup series, plus the Michigan track is older.

Um...I live 400 miles south of where Infineon Raceway sits, despite being in the same state as it.

Pretty sure multiple other Cup tracks are within that same radius of MIS.

 

[MillsLayne]

Um...I live 400 miles south of where Infineon Raceway sits, despite being in the same state as it.

Pretty sure multiple other Cup tracks are within that same radius of MIS.

Oh dude, I just realized you're like 45 minutes away from where I'm at. At least we have Vegas about 4 hours away and Fontana a couple of hours away. Not the best selection of tracks, but it's something.

 

[Fisha695]

Um...I live 400 miles south of where Infineon Raceway sits, despite being in the same state as it.

Pretty sure multiple other Cup tracks are within that same radius of MIS.

Watkins Glen
Chicago
Indy
Kentucky
Bristol (just sneaks into the 400 mile limit)

And if ya go out to about 450 miles you get Martinsville, Pocono & Nashville.

And if you go a tad over 500 you get Charlotte & Dover.

 

[Brandon Howe]

I don't think it ever did, no. But, it did run Nationwide races there before. It does have an ARCA date and I guess Hillenburg is trying to get an NASCAR East date. Honestly, it could just be a matter of time before it gets back into one of the top 3 series in NASCAR.

Why did NASCAR ever leave the rock anyway?

 

[Cheeze]

Why did NASCAR ever leave the rock anyway?

Because in 2004, when Winston left, NASCAR became NA$CAR.

 

[Fisha695]

Why did NASCAR ever leave the rock anyway?

Because in 2004, when Winston left, NASCAR became NA$CAR.

Actually it was completely out of NASCAR's hands. ISC was forced to sell the track to SMI due to a lawsuit by a guy named Francis Ferko who was a shareholder for Texas Speedway. When NASCAR wouldn't give Texas a second date he started a lawsuit and the Judge ruled that ISC had to sell Rockingham to SMI so SMI could have it's remaining date for Texas. ISC/NASCAR wanted to keep the track going but it was out of their power.

Bruton Smith & SMI then shut the track down. I'm not sure if there was some sort of provision in the ruling or not that stated that ISC could never own it again or if it couldn't hold certain races for so many years (or ever), etc...

 

[MattSRD28]

Actually it was completely out of NASCAR's hands. ISC was forced to sell the track to SMI due to a lawsuit by a guy named Francis Ferko who was a shareholder for Texas Speedway. When NASCAR wouldn't give Texas a second date he started a lawsuit and the Judge ruled that ISC had to sell Rockingham to SMI so SMI could have it's remaining date for Texas. ISC/NASCAR wanted to keep the track going but it was out of their power.

Bruton Smith & SMI then shut the track down. I'm not sure if there was some sort of provision in the ruling or not that stated that ISC could never own it again or if it couldn't hold certain races for so many years (or ever), etc...

Um...not quite. The TMS lawsuit was all about getting a date in the first place. First NASCAR promised a date would be given to Texas, and then welched on the promise. That was the genesis of the lawsuit. SMI got a date for Texas by jointly buying North Wilkesboro with Bob Bahre who owned New Hampshire at the time, and moved those dates to Texas and a 2nd date for New Hampshire. However, TMS still intended to force NASCAR to make good on the promise it made in the first place. That became the basis for TMS feeling entitled to a second date.

Rockingham was sold in 2004 as part of the settlement of the Ferko suit. What actually happened was that for the 2004 schedule, Rockinham's once tradition 2nd to last race date was moved to California (Auto Club) Speedway. That left it with one date in 2004, which proved to be ultimately its last. For the 2005 schedule, that date was moved to Phoenix. The Ferko suit settlement meant that the track would be sold to SMI, and SMI agreed not to hold any NASCAR races at Rockingham. The sale took place after it was determined that the race would be moved to PIR.

The way Texas got its 2nd date was by moving Darlington's traditional Southern 500 race (its 2nd) to Texas. It gets messy because a few flip-flops took place that can result in a lot of confusion looking back. In 2004, California Speedway, despite having been given Rockingham's 2nd date, did not host the 2nd to last race of that season. California and Darlington flip-flopped that year , so California had the Labor Day race, and Darlington had the November date. That was the only year that happened. In 2005, the 2nd Darlington date was given to TMS, and the 1st date was moved to Mother's Day. PIR, which was given Rockingham's 1st date that year, then flip-flopped with California Speedway, moving ACS to the 2nd race of the year in Feb, and PIR to its current weekend.

In a recent example of a flip-flop, ACS and Atlanta just flip-flopped last year giving Atlanta the Labor Day weekend date.

Point is that Rockingham's sale was because of the settlement that was agreed to before the lawsuit went to trial. No judge ordered anything regarding Rockingham's date being sent to Texas.

 

[labontefanboy]

Well, it's official for Atlanta:
Atlanta announces one race for 2011: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials announced the facility's 2011 event schedule will include one NASCAR racing weekend on September 2-4. One of the original NASCAR superspeedways, the track has hosted two of NASCAR's premier event weekends for 50 years, including the upcoming Emory Healthcare 500 slated for Sunday night, Sept. 5. "Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," said speedway president, Ed Clark. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."(AMS)(8-5-2010)

 

[MillsLayne]

^That's too bad. I'd rather have seen a date taken from Auto Club or Kansas.

 

[pennst24]

Why Atlanta? Why a track that's been around for ever and that has produced some of the best finishes in NASCAR history? Why not these new "modern" tracks in California. I don't think Auto Fail should have a date on the schedule at all.

And yes, my nickname for Auto Club is Auto Fail!

 

[MillsLayne]

Why Atlanta? Why a track that's been around for ever and that has produced some of the best finishes in NASCAR history? Why not these new "modern" tracks in California. I don't think Auto Fail should have a date on the schedule at all.

And yes, my nickname for Auto Club is Auto Fail!

It is Auto Fail. The new modern tracks are all over, though, unfortunately. Kansas, Chicagoland, Auto Fail (I'll adopt that, too), Las Vegas, they all produce very mediocre racing and it's unfortunate that the track owners and builders have forgotten about good short tracks and even just the plain oval. No cookie cutter or swooping frontstretch, just a straightaway.

 

[pennst24]

It is Auto Fail. The new modern tracks are all over, though, unfortunately. Kansas, Chicagoland, Auto Fail (I'll adopt that, too), Las Vegas, they all produce very mediocre racing and it's unfortunate that the track owners and builders have forgotten about good short tracks and even just the plain oval. No cookie cutter or swooping frontstretch, just a straightaway.

Exactly. and I don't have a problem going out west, but if you're going to do that, make a racetrack that produces good racing.

 

[MillsLayne]

That's the tricky part. There aren't too many paved ovals in California that NASCAR would look at for a Cup venue, so they have to build them. The only blueprints left, though, are of the cookie cutter variety.

 

[pennst24]

That's the tricky part. There aren't too many paved ovals in California that NASCAR would look at for a Cup venue, so they have to build them. The only blueprints left, though, are of the cookie cutter variety.

Because apparently NASCAR higher-ups don't like tracks shaped like Dover or Homestead...

 

[Frigus5]

NASCAR here's an idea,

Go back to the the way it was in 2003.

All problems are now solved.

Of course I'm kidding. NASCAR won't do that and I'm tired of hearing all this whining about NASCAR making the "wrong" decisions.

 

[Fisha695]

Why Atlanta?

Because attendance sucks. Since 2003 they've only sold out their first race ONCE. Their total "non-attendee" count for their first race from 2003 to 2010 is 211,600.

Auto Club

Why would ISC give one of their dates to SMI?

But since you've used Cali as an example... Since 2003 they have sold out their first race TWICE. Their total "non-attendee" count for their first race from 2003 to 2010 is 14,000

That means over 9 races Atlanta had 197,600 less people attend their races then Cali has.