LAT PHOTOGRAPHICKyle Busch's victory at Kentucky was nearly overshadowed by a massive traffic jam that caused thousands of fans to miss the start of the race.
By AL PEARCE on 7/11/2011
For lack of a better term let's call it “Piling On 101.” It's the fine art--and not so subtle, either--of kicking the beleaguered Kentucky Speedway while it's still reeling from Saturday night's traffic and parking fiasco that overshadowed its first-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
In summary: Several thousand fans--some have estimated 20,000 or more--didn't reach the track in Sparta in time for the 7:30 p.m. Eastern start because of a massive traffic jam along Interstate 71 and the region's rural roadways. Everyone--from third-place driver and defending NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson to track owner Bruton Smith to NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France to Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear--have expressed concern about the situation.
But nobody waded in with guns blazing like rival track presidents Roger Curtis at Michigan International Speedway, Grant Lynch at Talladega Superspeedway and Jeff Belskus at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Stating with Curtis, these are the high points of media releases they distributed on Sunday and Monday, each one taking dead aim at Smith and his beleaguered speedway:
“What should have been a shining moment for NASCAR and all racetracks--especially those in the Midwest--has sadly, potentially, put all of us back several steps, maybe even years,” Curtis said. “The sellout at Kentucky Speedway should have signaled the continuation of great things for fans in the Midwest and for our sport. Unfortunately, Saturday' night's events became an exercise in blame and unpreparedness, and fans, corporate partners, media and drivers were caught in the middle.
“As a track promoter, I'm saddened and embarrassed about what happened. To think all the hard work we've done at MIS and other tracks could be quickly erased by Saturday's events. Kentucky Speedway, having been open since 2000, should have known the challenges it would face when it tripled its seating capacity.
“Just to be clear: This isn't about kicking a racetrack when it's down. We all make mistakes, and MIS has certainly had past issues with traffic. And it isn't about swaying a Kentucky Speedway ticketholder to come to Michigan--although we'll be happy to treat them the way they should be treated.
“[Rather], it's about apologizing and doing what's right when you are clearly in the wrong. It is about having your priorities right in the first place--on the fan experience. That's why I'm upset.
“It's bad enough that [Kentucky Speedway] went into the weekend knowing traffic would be worse than they'd previously had with other series. But to think that [track owner] Bruton Smith made light of it with the media and pointed the finger at the State of Kentucky when posed with traffic questions is unfathomable.
“We work tirelessly with our [Michigan legislators and local officials] to ensure traffic moves efficiently and safely. We collaborate with local communities, our state, public safety officials and first-responders to ensure an event a MIS is a true public-private partnership, not a business threatening to hold its region hostage to meet our demands.
“It appears the mentality at some other racetracks is to see how much money they can make off a fan. Their line of thinking is to ban coolers, have fire sales on last-minute tickets, build, build, build without thinking, thinking, thinking, and blame others for their mistakes.
“Don't get me wrong: We are not perfect. But we listen to our fans, we recognize our shortcomings and we try to overcome them so race fans don't feel the burden. Most importantly, we learn from them so those mistakes don't happen again.
“Michigan International Speedway is sincere in saying we want to do things for our fans to grow our business. That's why we lowered ticket prices, launched a fan-appreciation program and have a fan advisory board. It's why we allow larger coolers in the grandstands, why parking is always free and plenty, why we've invested more than $60 million in our facility the past four years, why we work with the State of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan State Police to manage race-day traffic. And why have real race fans give a Fans' Trophy to the winning driver in victory lane.
“We try really hard to educate our fans on traffic and our facility. We have a system of feedback and information sharing with all our guests and listen to our guests about changes we need to make to grow our business. Fans are our bottom line.
“On behalf of the MIS staff, I apologize to the race fans whose expectations were not met last weekend, but also to those who read all the stories and were taken back by the treatment other people received. That is not how we do business at our racetrack and it's certainly not indicative of how every track operates. I hope fans recognize this and realize the vast majority in this great sport are working hard for the fans and do have their priorities right.
“We do not take our guests for granted and we pledge to do everything we can every day to make your experience at MIS the best it can be. We won't undercut our customers with a knee-jerk ticket offer to make up for what happened on Saturday. But we will match what our customers received [from Kentucky Speedway] by offering any race fan who has not had their expectations met at any racetrack our lowest ticket price of the season for seats in turns one and three.
“Send us your race ticket and you can purchase a reserved ticket for $45 for the Aug. 21 Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.”
Up next, Indy boss Belskus quickly used Kentucky's distress to pump sales--word is he needs plenty of help--for the July 31 Brickyard 400. His post read:
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has provided great fan experiences for the largest auto racing crowds in the world for 100 years, is offering special Brickyard 400 promotions worth up to $50 for ticket holders from the July 9 race at Kentucky Speedway.
“Fans who present a ticket from [that event] at the IMS [ticket office or remote ticket locations] will receive one free admission to Brickyard 400 practice Friday, July 29, or will be admitted to Brickyard 400 qualifying Saturday, July 30, for just $5. Fans holding tickets from the July 9 race at Kentucky also can park for free Friday and Saturday at IMS Lots 1, 2 and 3, located on the south, west and north sides of the [track]. The regular price is $10 per day to park in those lots.
“As an urban track, we offer a fan experience inside a vibrant city that provides restaurants, nightlife, cultural activities and top-rated hotels in addition to the history and tradition of 100 years of racing at Indianapolis.
“We have easy and efficient access to and from the track that allows our fans to participate in activities at the track. In just a matter of minutes, [they can] enjoy all that the city of Indianapolis has to offer or be well on the road toward home or the hotel.
“Fans can redeem their Kentucky Sprint Cup tickets for this [Friday-Saturday] promotion at remote IMS ticket trailers located at Gates 3, 6, 9 and 10A, near the parking lots in which these fans can park free. Kentucky race tickets also can be redeemed at the ticket office in the IMS administration building on the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street.
“The Brickyard 400 is an exciting event offering something for everyone, and it's been one of the most prestigious races on the Sprint Cup schedule since the inaugural race in 1994. We look forward to providing IMS fans--and Kentucky Speedway customers who still need a NASCAR fix--a great experience they will talk about all year.”
Finally, Talladega's Lynch wasted no time promising fans that Talladega will be ready for the large crowds expected for the Oct. 21-23 Talladega 500 weekend. His “we'll be ready” stance was an undisguised slap at Kentucky, which clearly wasn't ready.
“After hearing how rough the fans had it at Kentucky this weekend, I wanted to let them know that we're ready to show how a race weekend is supposed to run,” he said, speaking of the track's 40 years of hosting major Cup races. “We put fan experience at the forefront of everything we do.”
Footnote: In 1969, when many top drivers boycotted the inaugural Talladega 500 because they feared the track was too fast for the Firestone and Goodyear tires, NASCAR president Bill France filled the field with Grand American drivers and had a 500-mile race after all. On race day, he told fans to save their ticket stub and present it for free admission to a subsequent race at his track.
“That's why we allow coolers in our grandstands and provide hundreds of acres of free camping,” Lynch said, and alluded to his track's “true” Southern hospitality. “It's why we created a $49 two-day ticket and allow kids 12 and under to sit free in the Allison Grandstands on Saturday and Sunday. It's also why we work closely with the Alabama State Troopers and other organizations to ensure our fans arrive on time to see the race.
“You know when you come to Talladega you're going to get a show. This has been one of the most competitive years ever in NASCAR and Talladega Superspeedway still stands alone as the most competitive track on the circuit.”
Not surprisingly, nobody from any of Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks has said a word about Saturday night.
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