Marcus Smith, President and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., has an ambitious vision for the future of NASCAR at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville.
His company reached an agreement with the speedway’s current tenants on Wednesday and must now reach an agreement with the city of Nashville, which owns the track, before any NASCAR dates can be added to the venerable 0.596-mile Tennessee Motor Speedway. If SMI achieves this goal, it is believed that Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville will be added to the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule.
Smith addressed the topic on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio with host Dave Moody on Wednesday following the announcement and provided additional details on his vision for major league stock car racing at one of the sport’s oldest venues.
What are the latest news ?
“What we have done is taken the first step to do just that, bring NASCAR back to Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. We still have work to do. We have a great relationship with the city and with the Formosas who operate the weekly circuit. program on the race track with great success. So now we need to work with the city and others to bring this vision to life and get it ready for the big moment. We are working hard with the city with the goal to bring this vision to life. the exhibition center comes back to life.”
When is the earliest that NASCAR will be able to race there?
“I would say ideally we could see some work starting in 2019, and the earliest we could expect to see a change in the timeline is 2020.”
Have you spoken to NASCAR about Nashville?
“I’ve spoken to them. We’ve received great feedback and encouragement. We all see this as a really positive development and a great addition to the schedule. There’s a lot to work out with the city and the fairgrounds. A lot “People are optimistic and it’s a positive thing for us to set our sights on this.”
Is the Cup Series part of this vision?
“I think there’s potential for it…My personal preference is to always ‘think big’. If we’re really aiming for that, the ultimate goal is to have a Cup Series race there.”
Would a current SMI circuit have to lose a date for this to happen?
“I think it’s both the easiest and hardest thing to shift the date from one piece to another. When it comes to 2020 and beyond, there are a lot of ideas .I think it’s not out of line to consider shifting a date from one piece to another.from one location to another.There’s been a lot of talk about midweek races and the park exhibitions would be a great place to try this. It’s only a mile from downtown. This is unusual in NASCAR. I don’t want to start a “There’s a flurry of speculation about this, but what I mean is that there are a lot of ideas and opportunities. We’re going to throw a lot of darts and see which ones hit the mark. “
What does Fairgrounds Nashville need in terms of renovations?
“It’s a really great place. I was there a few days ago to meet Tony and Claire Formosa. We walked around the facilities. I love the big canopy that leans over the stands. It’s old school. There is a lot of history that we would like to preserve, but we need to bring it back to current specifications. It needs foam walls, SAFER barriers, fencing and lighting network quality. There’s a lot of work to do, but the good news is that we’ve already done it.”
Background: It is estimated that it will take between $20 million and $30 million to properly renovate Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in preparation for a NASCAR Cup Series race. However, the fairgrounds will soon be home to a Major League Soccer stadium and any improvements to the property would benefit both the track and the stadium. Exactly how much the city will spend on the race track will be part of what will need to be negotiated.
What work should be done with local elected officials?
“We’re going to… We’ve already started working with local officials on ideas and what we could do. We’ve had great support from the mayor’s office, from Scott Borchetta and from Darrell Waltrip. Dale Jr. expressed his support. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm. We’re going to have to work with the Fair Board, the Major League Soccer team and the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville team to bring this vision to life. “
Does this need to be a long-term deal?
“I think it has to be long term. Part of the next step is to work out a lot of these details with the city, to fairly discuss the terms and details. We’re looking at this long term and that’s the only thing to do.” This is a way of doing it, things that are consistent with what’s already happening in Nashville. It’s amazing what’s happened to Nashville over the last 10-15 years. I enjoy every trip I make to Nashville…It’s a good place for NASCAR. “
Background: Speedway Motorsports Inc. proposed a weekly operating lease in 2016. It requested a 30-year agreement. Ultimately, the city reassigned a five-year lease to the Formosa family who had operated the track since 2010.
