Houston to get track

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pettyfan4life

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* Houston Proposed Track: haven't heard much on this in a while: Star State Investment Inc. purchased 2,700 acres of land and announced Tuesday its intention of developing a superspeedway along Texas 288 in Brazoria County [TX]. The company plans a privately funded, $100 million venue, with construction tentatively beginning in late 2002 or early 2003, said Tom Floyd, Star State's chairman and chief executive officer. The last time big-time racing was held in Houston was an appearance by the CART series in October 2001. Because of construction downtown, CART racing will not return to Houston this year. Floyd's track would be able to handle a NASCAR Winston Cup race, but the Winston Cup schedule is full, and NASCAR officials have said in the past they will not expand it. NASCAR officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The superspeedway would seat 75,000 people and accommodate 150,000 people, counting the infield. Floyd said it was premature to begin lining up races but isn't worried about the speedway going unused. Floyd said he is confident in the investment in a track that would be 25 miles from the heart of the nation's fourth-largest city. A former marketing officer for Pennzoil, Floyd has met many people in the racing business. He said he has a leg up on the competition because he knows the sport.(Houston Chronicle), see past news on proposed Houston tracks on my Houston Past News page.(7-17-2002)
 
i might of missed it, but did they say how large of a superspeedway? that includes anything over 1 mile or 1 mile and up.
 
Just b/c they build a track, doesn't mean they will get a Cup date. Not unless they are planning on closing down Texas Motor Speedway.

There's already several tracks vying for a Cup date, like Nashville Superspeedway, but Nascar has said there is not more dates available for races and they don't plan on taking away any track's current dates.
 
They don't need any more speedways,I would build another short track if anything.They will have a hard time filling seats in the next ten years.Nascar has hit its peak for know.:)
 
Everyone wants in on the action, New York now Houston also heard New Orleans. The only way it will happen is if Ca. gets knocked in the ocean after an earthquake.;)
 
Money talks and all the other tracks get the trucks. Hang enuf dollar signs in front of nascar and you could have a Winston Cup race in your backyard.
 
That's what some of the newer tracks have been trying to do, but so far Nascar hasn't been budging. Though they sold out on the TV deal; it goes to show if you bring in enough money, Nascar will bend.

I like the name, 71fan. I'd like to see Marcis back in the #71, not Dick Trickle, what do you think?
 
I dont know about 71fan, but I for one would sure go for ol wingtips back in the car.
 
Has anyone thought that maybe, just maybe TRAC is in the mix for Houston? :)
 
TRAC... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Just let's say don't build a 100 million dollar track if all you are going to get is the TRAC series. TRAC is an XFL disaster waiting to happen. Houston would be better off getting an ARCA race.
 
Originally posted by rpmallen
TRAC... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Just let's say don't build a 100 million dollar track if all you are going to get is the TRAC series. TRAC is an XFL disaster waiting to happen. Houston would be better off getting an ARCA race.

On the surface, I'd have to agree.......but we really don't know much about it do we?:) What if TRAC takes off and does give NASCAR some competition? Remember, we have a lot of "newbies" watching NASCAR now and they are also WWF (or WWE) fans too!! If it makes money, TV will pick it up.........promote it and make it a possible "big sport". Don't laugh just yet.:D
 
Most major racing series has comp. IRL and CART NHRA and IHRA Busch and Busch North If you watch Speed very long, you can find a bunch of org. that you never knew existed.;) I am sure ya'll can think of some more.
 
If the proposed Houston area track really wants a NASCAR WC race, the solution is simple...all you have to do is cut in some of the NASCAR execs. into the tracks revenue stream and miraculously a date will somehow work out.

It happened in both KC and Chicago. Two tracks with substantial NASCAR lobbyists and they got WC dates. While here in KY a beautiful speedway was built and consistently has great races with more than one racing groove I might add. You can ask the drivers about the track. Many have tested here or raced on it at one time or another in another series and I haven't heard a driver say yet that it wasn't a great track. It was built, people have come, and What were we rewarded with? An ARCA race, BGN, IRL, and a Truck race. Don't get me wrong, those are all great races and they consistently draw some of the biggest crowds that each series will see but it is amazing how KC & Chicago got their WC dates in no time while the people here keep toiling away with only a slim chance of ever getting the coveted Winston Cup series.

Don't mean to sound ungrateful for the racing we have, just wish the Kentucky Speedway would be given an honest shot at a date.

Wouldn't it be possible to rotate some dates from year to year? Do the cup cars have to run at the newest tracks every year or could a rotation be set up to bring the series to the track once every 3 years or so? In non-WC years you could still have some great races. Maybe the Winston could go to one of those tracks in a non-cup year?

Just some ramblings and venting.
 
KY-Raptor,
I think rotating tracks from year to year would get to confusing. Plus the fact that tracks that are currently on the circuit need more than one event in order to be able to stay in business. Running a muilti-million dollar track that isn't used for 50 or so weeks of the year probably runs up a nice bill in itself. Only having one race, nonetheless having only one race once every year or so could kill several of the tracks on the circuit, and I don't think Nascar wants to do that at this point. It's an interesting idea, i just don't know if that's the right solution.


And as far as Trac, I just don't see why people would want to bother watching that series when there are plenty of other good series out there if you ever take the time to look for them. Arca, for example, is one of the few series that still has a dirt track on their schedule. ASA is a great series as well, many current Cup stars came out of there. BGN North can have some pretty good races. Winston West cars are almost set up exactly like the Cup cars, just put on smaller tracks. The Goody's Dash Series, the Featherlite Modified series, even Cascar. The list goes on and on, the problem is they don't have as much clout as Winston Cup, but if you watch them you might actually like them. So why are we adding Trac again?
 
Yeah, you're probably right about the confusion that would ensue.

I guess I'm just disappointed that NASCAR gave Kentucky a BGN race in its second year with the implication (nothing ever stated out right) that if KY could prove that it could pack the stands and handle everything it could get a date.

Then just recently before the 2003 schedule was printed, a NASCAR official, I can't remember which one, made some disparaging remarks about KY's chances of ever landing a cup date and he made this to the press before the owners of the speedway heard it. Not a real smooth PR move in any business.

I know there has been talk about The Winston moving soon and maybe they could move that event from year to year. From everything I've seen, KY Speedway isn't in trouble financially and has really done a nice job of scheduling a diveres slate of races with a little bit of something for everyone.

NASCAR's all-star event could be just the ticket that KY needs. :D
 
Yeah but, KY-Raptor,

Even though Kentucky is financially sound, one reason why Nascar doesn't want to move a Cup date there is b/c it is in between some other big tracks. The location is what is hurting Kentucky Speedway.

And likewise, if Houston builds it's own track, they aren't going to want to have two tracks in Texas, no way.

And even in PA, Nazareth has been trying to get a Cup date for years, but one main reason why it can't is b/c Pocono is only a little more than an hour away and has not one but two Cup events. There had been some talk about moving one Cup race to Nazareth in place for Pocono's date, but Pocono wasn't going for that idea. Nazareth is 8 min. down the road from me, I'd love for there to be a Cup race there, but at this point it's just not going to happen. So I can feel for Kentucky fans wanting a Cup date in their own state. But Nascar just doesn't have much more room to grow. Unless there's more money...
 
I can tell you one thing about the location of the proposed track----

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH ROADS!

Speaking from experiences at different tracks around the country, the infrastructure isn't there to handle traffic. TMS is just now getting better for traffic. The new intersection with the freeway helped tremendously.

The developers may think building on 288 is great, but there are no other large traffic arteries around. There would be only one way in/out.
 
Originally posted by rpmallen
I'd like to see Marcis back in the #71, not Dick Trickle, what do you think?

I'ld love to see it too but don't think it is going to happen. He's not one to go back on his word and he told Helen he was done so I imagine that's it. I'm really surprised that he continues on testing for IROC.

Personally, I think Dave and Dick are two of the best that have ever been and don't have a problem with Dick in the car at all. I don't have a problem with ANYBODY in the car for that matter, I just hope Dave can secure sponsorship enuf to keep the team alive. :D

Silly season this year is going to be fun. You can bet your bottom dollar that Dave's Rent-a-Car will be at Daytona come Feb. Best guess is it will be Dick Trickle, Andy Hillenburg, or Dwayne Leik at the wheel but wouldn't it be a hoot to see Ricky Rudd or Steve Park or any number of other drivers in there?

Or maybe some out of the blue total unknown? We haven't seen the last of the 71 car that's for sure. After all, it's all the old dude knows.
 
TexasRaceLady,
It's the same way at Pocono. There's only one highway to get in and out of there, and there's a detour route that ends up going to the same highway. If you go to Pocono, you expect to spend the whoooooooole day at Pocono. I'm sure that's the same for a number of other tracks.

71fan,
The biggest problem for Dave's team is money. Without money, it's hard to say when we're going to see that team in another race. I don't really mind Dick Trickle, I think Viagra could have made a tremendous investment had they hooked up with him. But seriously, I met Dick Trickle once when he was in the Busch series, and he winked at every woman there, including my mom. Lol. He's a scary but friendly old man. I'd prefer Marcis back in the car, but I'd just like to see him be able to continue that team. It would be a shame to see that #71 operation close shop.
 
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