Nascar fights KY Speeway Trial

[kat2220]

NASCAR fights Ky. Speedway trial
By Kevin Kelly, Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - The Kentucky Speedway’s antitrust lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March, but lawyers representing NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. soon will try to convince a federal judge that a trial isn’t necessary.

U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman will hear arguments Nov. 19 in Covington on several motions filed in the case - including a sealed motion for summary judgment filed earlier this year by NASCAR and ISC.

The speedway filed suit in July 2005 alleging NASCAR and ISC violated antitrust laws by restricting which tracks host Nextel cup races and trying to “monopolize the market for hosting premium stock car racing events.”

In an amended complaint filed in April, the speedway said it wanted NASCAR to develop "objective factors" for the awarding of Nextel Cup races; for the France family to give up control of either ISC (a public company that operates tracks and whose majority of voting stock is owned by the Frances) or NASCAR (a private company owned by the Frances); for ISC to sell at least eight of the 12 tracks it owns that host Nextel Cup events; and more than $200 million in damages.

 

[barelypure]

While I think this may actually go to trial I feel that Nascar is right and should get the summary judgement and the case dismissed. There are other race organizations and Nascar hasn't kept any of them from utilizing Ky. Nascar drivers are also not restricted from driving in a race held at Ky. Some of them race any time any where.

 

[buckaroo]

I feel for the people of Kentucky and those who want a race, but this is only the latest in the "can't get a race" track problems. When I was living in the Quad Cities, along the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois back in the 80's, there was a big attempt to build a track there and get a date for a big NASCAR race. NASCAR told them that they never (repeat...NEVER) award dates to a track that hasn't been built. With their consistant claim of that, the track was never built. Then it happened, Chicago and Kansas tracks were built with promised dates for races. Why? The Frances had controlling interest in the tracks.

It's no secret that NASCAR has been a monopoly, but that is also what has made the sport what it is today. It is also what will cause the down fall of the sport...no, not the sport, but the series as we know it today. Kentucky Speedway is looking at what happened with the suit against NASCAR by the Texas track and are hoping that something like what happened in that suit, will happen to them, i.e. at least one date. I can see that happening, but with one of the current tracks losing one of it's dates, and that track being Martinsville. Just what the series needs, losing one of the four half mile track dates to what has been called a cookie cutter track. We lost Rockinghams dates to a a couple of cookie cutter tracks, and North Wilkesboro to another couple of cookie cutter tracks. Oh wait, New Hampshire isn't a cookie cutter track but rather one of the most exciting tracks on the circuit.

I don't know what will happen with this suit, but I can predict that what ever happens, it isn't going to add a new race to the circuit and will more than likely take away from one of the few tracks that isn't a mile and a halfer. Good luck to the track, but just remember, when NASCAR no longer brings in the big bucks, you guys just missed the boat.

 

[barelypure]

If Ky wins what would stop others from building tracks and following the same path? The resulting confusion and distraction would irreparably harm the sport.