2022 Silly Season

[ShadowKnight508]

Great news, lads! Speedway Motorsports (SMI) has begun work on bringing back North Wilkesboro Speedway by tearing down multiple buildings that were damaged or structurally compromised (credit to Save the Speedway on Twitter):

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463356670365556737

View: https://twitter.com/savethespeedway/status/1463356670365556737

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463356678649303042

View: https://twitter.com/savethespeedway/status/1463356678649303042

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463356688078155778

View: https://twitter.com/savethespeedway/status/1463356688078155778

 

[Lastlap]

I hope what can be saved at NW does happen even at an expense. The track needs to keep it's look and character.

However I know all the old Winston painted walls etc will go. Maybe they can keep the red & white?

 

[BenRhodesTruck]

I hope what can be saved at NW does happen even at an expense. The track needs to keep it's look and character.

However I know all the old Winston painted walls etc will go. Maybe they can keep the red & white?

they did at Darlington and Richmond for awhile so why not... I'm sure Dale Jr is going to have a major say in this track.

 

[Highbank]

they did at Darlington and Richmond for awhile so why not... I'm sure Dale Jr is going to have a major say in this track.

or at least some input

 

[Lastlap]

they did at Darlington and Richmond for awhile so why not...

Retro painting a track is one thing, but keep the already red & white in place at NW is another IMO.

Looking at the photos, what brickwork is still stable they are hopefully keeping.

 

[Rollo75]

Retro painting a track is one thing, but keep the already red & white in place at NW is another IMO.

Not hard.

Colour matching can be done by shed loads of companies; including colour matching for faded walls and faded sheds.

In fact you should be able to walk into any big box store, even with a photograph, and they'll match the colour you want.

 

[Lastlap]

More about keeping the history than the colour, lol. Just don't want everything white & fresh and forgotten.

 

[Rollo75]

Also not a problem.

It is possible to save (or even build recreations of ) heritage pieces within sporting grounds.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463727829858889730

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463728878006976517

More Photos (credit to @Save the Speedway on Twitter):

 

[ShadowKnight508]

Mayor John Cooper to announce deal to bring NASCAR back to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (credit to The Tennessean):​

Nashville Mayor John Cooper and Bristol Motor Speedway officials have reached a deal in principle that will bring a NASCAR Cup Series race back to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the deal.

The announcement is expected to come this week as the NASCAR Awards Celebration gets underway at Music City Center.

The deal will include total renovation of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, where the city's last NASCAR Cup Series race took place in 1984.

On March 5, Cooper announced a letter-of-intent had been signed with Bristol Motor Speedway that could lead to the return of NASCAR events to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

The deal is subject to approval by the Board of Fair Commissioners and Metropolitan Council.

If the deal is approved, Bristol Motor Speedway would agree to a long-term contract to lease and operate Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and assume financial responsibility for track renovations, operation costs and maintenance.

The Metro Council would issue no more than $50 million in bonds for renovations to the racetrack, with debt and project costs being covered by racing and event revenue.

Cooper has expressed hopes that a NASCAR race could take place at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as early as 2022.

SOURCE: https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...eal-bring-nascar-back-fairgrounds/8767259002/

 

[Lastlap]

Would fans be happy with a switch between Nashville Fairgrounds & Nashville SuperSpeedway each year?

Like F1 has done with the Nurburgring & Hockenheim to host the German GP.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

Would fans be happy with a switch between Nashville Fairgrounds & Nashville SuperSpeedway each year?

Like F1 has done with the Nurburgring & Hockenheim to host the German GP.

To be honest, I think that they can make two races in the Nashville area work, considering that one is being held at a beloved short track and the other is being run at a unique high-speed concrete tri-oval. Just need to make sure that both race dates are quite a few months apart from each other (see examples below):

Nashville Superspeedway: Have the race either run in May (on one of the two weekends before the Coca-Cola 600) or in early June to mid June so that there is at least a full four to five month gap between the two tracks holding their race weekends. The example for NSS below is theoretical for the sake of post (don't take as reality, since NASCAR isn't going to the Fairgrounds in 2022):

May Dates [2022]

1. - Sunday, May 15th or Sunday, May 22nd

June Dates [2022]

1. - Sunday, June 5th, Sunday, June 12th, or Sunday, June 19th

Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway: Have the race be in the Playoffs (one of the three Round of 8 races in October). Perhaps SMI will ditch the 500 mile Texas race in October and move it to the Fairgrounds (and have the All-Star race weekend race date at Texas Motor Speedway in June changed back to a regular 500 mile race)? The example for NFS below is theoretical for the sake of post (don't take as reality, since NASCAR isn't going to the Fairgrounds in 2022):

October Dates [2022]

1. - Sunday, October 16th, Sunday, October 23rd, or Sunday, October 30th

 

[Lastlap]

With the tracks being 40mins apart.... maybe some kind of double header, Sat & Sun?

Or host the ST a week before or after the SS. Keeping the fans in the area.

 

[Rollo75]

Or host the ST a week before or after the SS. Keeping the fans in the area.

We just had four consecutive weekends of Supercars races in Sydney because of the cut down calendar and the 'rona.

It was pretty neat.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

It's now official. The mayor of Nashville has agreed in principle to the proposal submitted by SMI to renovate Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and bring NASCAR back to the historic track. More info below:

NASHVILLE MAYOR COOPER AGREES IN PRINCIPLE TO BMS REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR LEGENDARY NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY (credit to Bristol Motor Speedway):​

Following the letter of intent signed in March 2021, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) has presented Mayor John Cooper with a proposal to both revitalize the legendary 117-year-old Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and bring NASCAR Cup Series racing back to Nashville. Mayor Cooper has agreed in principle to the plan.

“This partnership creates an economically viable future for our historic track, spurs hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, and completes the last unrenovated part of the Nashville Fairgrounds at no cost to the Metro General Fund,” said Mayor John Cooper.

About the Proposal:
The Bristol proposal meets Mayor Cooper’s objectives: revitalize the speedway at no cost to the Metro General Fund; benefit the overall Fairgrounds campus; implement noise mitigation as part of the redesign; reduce track testing days; and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact for Nashville.

The Metro Charter requires auto racing at the Fairgrounds, so Metro Government has an obligation to maintain the facility. A partnership with Bristol Motor Speedway satisfies those obligations while restoring the second-oldest operating motor speedway in the United States back to the national stage.

The Deal’s Benefits:
The partnership will result in a modernized track that meets NASCAR series standards and transform Fairgrounds Speedway into a true multipurpose venue that can also host non-racing, revenue-generating events. BMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates eight state-of the-art sports entertainment venues nationwide.

A renovated, activated Fairgrounds Speedway under experienced leadership would have a significant economic impact for Nashville and the region. A slate of NASCAR series and other major races in addition to an expanded calendar of revenue-producing non motorsports events would generate about $100 million annually in economic activity, through visitor spending in hotels, restaurants, and other local attractions, according to an analysis by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics.

Recent renovations to the Fairgrounds have included a new state-of-the-art MLS stadium and new expo facilities, but have lacked a vision for the historic speedway’s future. In March, Metro Government entered a letter of intent with Bristol Motor Speedway to explore involvement with the experienced track operator.

Next Steps:
An independent sports finance consultant is currently reviewing the financial framework of the proposed plan. If the external consultant’s report confirms the sound financial footing of the proposal, it will be publicly presented to the Board of Fair Commissioners for consideration once the two open Fair Board seats have been filled. Mayor Cooper is working with Vice Mayor Shulman to create a Fair Board that reflects the cultural diversity of both Fairgrounds visitors and Davidson County overall. If the deal is approved by the Fair Board, the proposal will be submitted to the Sports Authority and the Metropolitan Council with related legislation.

“In keeping with the national profile that Nashville Soccer Club is bringing to the Fairgrounds in 2022, this innovative partnership will bring our historic speedway back to life as a crown jewel in the world of motor sports,” said Mayor Cooper. “No other urban area has professional soccer and NASCAR side by side. Our Fairgrounds will be a unique asset for Nashville’s future. I look forward to working with Bristol, the State of Tennessee, the Fair Board, the Sports Authority and the Council on this proposal.”

“I grew up going to the Fairgrounds Speedway with my dad on Friday nights, listening to him work as a spotter for racers like Andy Kirby and Steadman Marlin. It would be my honor to sponsor legislation that brings NASCAR back to Nashville and restores the track into something that our whole county can be proud of again,” said Zach Young, District 10 Metro Councilmember.

Key terms in the proposal include:

1. - BMS would lease, manage, and operate the city-owned Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for a 30-year term.
2. - The Metro Sports Authority will issue 30-year revenue bonds to finance the speedway renovation.
3. - BMS will install state-of-the-art sound mitigation components during track renovation and reduce track practice rentals to 20 days per year – a combination that will reduce sound impacts to surrounding neighborhoods by 50 percent, according to analysis conducted by Wrightson Johnson Haddon & Williams, an international acoustics engineering firm.
4. - Revenue streams to pay for the speedway renovation include rent payments, user fees and taxes paid by patrons of the venue, sponsorship agreements, and event revenue.
5. - The proposal limits race and practice dates and addresses other quality of life issues that were raised during more than two dozen community meetings conducted by BMS and the Fair Board over the last few months.
6. - The proposal is contingent on use of "guaranteed maximum price" construction contracts to eliminate the risk of construction cost overruns.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the mayor, government officials and Nashville community to breathe new life in the legendary Fairgrounds Speedway,” said Marcus Smith, president and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports and Bristol Motor Speedway. “In addition to bringing major NASCAR series races back to the historic facility, we’ll create a calendar for local racing and special events that generates a positive economic impact for the region.”

Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, said, “Once the renovations are complete, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway will be a new destination for motorsports and entertainment. We’ll operate to maximize event opportunities while mitigating the impact on area residents. Our goal is to create something that Nashville and the surrounding community can be proud of.”

Preserving the Historic Speedway:
Historic preservation is a priority of the plan, Mayor Cooper said. Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, which opened in 1904, is the second-oldest operating motor speedway in the United States and hosted an annual NASCAR Cup Series event from 1958-1984. It has a celebrated history, with past champions that include Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and local drivers Darrell Waltrip and Sterling Marlin.

“I still remember the first time I came to the Fairgrounds to race. I fell in love with the place after the first lap,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Nashville Fairgrounds is a historic and iconic venue, and Bristol Motor Speedway is the very best partner to continue that storied history. I’m looking forward to witnessing the next chapter in the life of this historic landmark.”

“The historic Fairgrounds Speedway is one of Nashville’s unique entertainment assets and deserves an opportunity to rekindle its great reputation,” said Butch Spyridon, president and chief executive officer of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “The relationship with BMS is an incredible opportunity to restore this track and bring top tier racing back to Nashville.

SOURCE: https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.co...legendary-nashville-fairgrounds-speedway.html

 

[MrDude68]

- Zane Smith to the #38 Front Row truck
- Tyler Ankrum to the #16 Hattori truck
- Chase Purdy to the new #61 Hattori truck
- Tate Fogleman to the #30 On Point truck

I see Hattori recruiting drivers straight from GMS lol

 

[DavidLivez]

Richard Petty Motorsports he agreed to sell majority interest to GMS Racing…

 

[mtblillie]

Wow, that is sort (but not quite) a curveball. But what does it mean exactly? RPM will get swallowed into GMS and effectively cease to exist? Maybe they operate independently (from a team standpoint) and have GMS and RPM cars? My guess is it will be like when CGR took over DEI and it became EGR for a while until Chip wasn't obligated to keep Earnhardt in the name anymore.

 

[Rollo75]

Or does this mean that the "Petty Ware Racing" charter as well as the #43 have been packaged?

 

[ShadowKnight508]

This report by FOX46 in Charlotte covers the work being done at both North Wilkesboro Speedway and Rockingham Speedway (upcoming repave along with the plan to add a lighting system to The Rock so it can hold races at night):