Well folks, the name of this story is Mission Accomplished, but no I am not really talking about Juan Pablo Montoya at Watkins Glen last Sunday. That definitely was a mission accomplished though, for him and crew chief Brian Pattie. Hopefully, it will go a long way to solidifying the relationship between the two. I really like Brian a lot and it really hurt to see he and Juan at odds with each other like they were.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s in racing, other forms of competition or just life itself, there’s nothing like a win to cure all ills. Hopefully, Sunday’s win will give them renewed confidence in each other. I really would like to see Juan Pablo win on an oval. I really think that is part of his frustration -- that he has yet to win on that type of track.
Everyone knows what an excellent road-course driver Juan Pablo is. I mean let’s face it, that’s what the guy grew up on. I just believe he feels that he needs to win on an oval to feel like he is a well-rounded NASCAR driver. Now he’s had great cars before at oval tracks, but for one reason or another, he hasn’t been able to close the deal. I think that’s where a lot of that frustration comes from.
He and the team should have some great momentum and a full head of steam heading into this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway. He loves a big, fast, low-banked race track, so I look for him to make some noise again this weekend. Hopefully they will do well. I am pulling for the entire team, but probably more so for Brian.
Now, on my front, we finally got that elusive NASCAR Sprint Cup date for Kentucky Speedway. I know you probably all have followed the ongoing saga of Kentucky. If not, well sit back because I will bring you up to speed – pun intended.
Roughly 11 years ago, my friend Jerry Carroll called me and said he, along with a number of investors, wanted to build a racetrack in Kentucky. Growing up in Owensboro, Ky., and being a native of the Bluegrass State, it was really near and dear to my heart to see folks step up with the goal of bringing NASCAR racing to Kentucky.
Now you have to understand that through the years many folks have asked me to be part of their plans to build racetracks. However, they would always say, “If we can get a date, then we will build the track.” Well heck, who wouldn’t? It just doesn’t work that way.
I told Jerry that we needed to do things in reverse. We needed to build a world-class state-of-the-art facility that would rival anything that was out there. That was our mission and I think we all did a really good job.
Now in hindsight, while I was very confident about the track getting a Sprint Cup date, maybe I was naïve, too. I felt with my history in the sport and my relationship with Bill France Jr. that we could quickly prove to them why Kentucky deserved a spot on the schedule.
You also have to remember back then the sport was exploding. Other tracks were adding seats left and right. There were sponsors galore. The timing simply couldn’t have been better to build a new speedway and secure a Sprint Cup date for Kentucky.
Sure the track had no guarantees. They didn’t have even a definite maybe. I still was convinced if they built the track and built it right, that NASCAR would see our commitment and a Sprint Cup date wouldn’t be too far behind.
We were able to secure a Truck series race first from NASCAR and the Truck race was a huge success. Later on we were able to secure a Nationwide Series race. It also was a huge success. The fans in that area are just so passionate for racing. IRL and ARCA races were also added and the fans responded. We know we already have 65,000 die-hard race fans. We know that because they have been selling out the joint for all these years.
It hasn’t always been sunshine and blue skies however. In fact, until Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith came on the scene a couple of years ago, I had given up. When the investors decided to file suit against NASCAR, that’s when I stepped away from the speedway. It scared me and I wanted no part of that.
I love this sport. I have committed my whole life to NASCAR. My God-given talent, hard work, passion and dedication to the sport were returned with wins, championships, friendships and memories I cherish daily. I worked so hard to help grow the sport and continue to, that I wanted no part in anything attempting to tear it down.
I was talking to Bruton, my good friend, one day and I was telling him how great the track and facilities were over at Kentucky Speedway. I was telling him what a shame it was to have a place like that but for it not to have a Sprint Cup race. When Bruton started investigating what I had told him, he quickly saw the proverbial “diamond in the rough.”
He thought so much of the potential of the area and what the track had to offer that, by golly, he put a deal together and bought Kentucky Speedway. Folks, like the old saying goes, “The rest is history.” Now with the culmination of a lot of people, particularly Bruton, Kentucky Speedway is finally on the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.
Bruton Smith is a man who loves our sport. He loves pushing the status quo and moving our sport forward. Bruton reminds me of Bill France Jr. He is a visionary. He sees things and opportunities that the rest of us don’t. He is always thinking about where the sport can go next. He has a continuing drive to improve and grow our sport.
You have to have that in everything. You simply can’t tread water. You can’t live on your laurels. That’s not how Bruton operates. The improvements he is beginning to make at Kentucky Speedway will rival anything on the circuit. Bruton’s goal is to make it the “Las Vegas of the Midwest.”
Folks, the really cool thing is Bruton won’t rest until he does it.
He stood there at the press conference Tuesday and told everyone that he is going to spend the money and make the improvements. Trust me, he will because Bruton does what he says he will do. I am thrilled with what he has done for the state of Kentucky, the racetrack and our sport.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear was at the press conference Tuesday and Bruton was already working on the governor to build an airport nearby because the track needs it. I am sure that once the economy improves and things continue to turn around, then the two of them will work together to make it happen.
Bruton told reporters he plans to spend $90 to $100 million on the facility and the surrounding area. Folks, that means jobs. What a great shot in the arm that will mean for everyone in the area. It’s a beautiful piece of property. There’s not a more beautiful setting for a racetrack than that 850 acres.
I just feel so invigorated. This reminded me once again that you never, ever give up. You’ve heard me say this before, but never say never. If you keep the faith, you never know what you might be able to overcome and accomplish.
So for all those naysayers out there that said the track would never get a date on the NASCAR Sprint Cup calendar – well I will see you Saturday night July 9 at Kentucky Speedway.
