Popular, huh? Healthy, huh?
Just a day after Brian France proclaimed NASCAR healthy and on a the rise, a motor speedway says it's going to drop NASCAR short track events because they're just not as popular as they used to be.
According to the official press release, co-owner David Hagan had this to say:
"We have lots of ideas, but there's no story yet. We are sitting around the table now and hashing it out. We have tried to make the speedway successful, but with a downturn in interest, it's increasingly difficult to make it work. We are looking at a variety of events to bring new life and excitement to the property. We have a unique venue in terms of versatility, and our new operation will reflect that. The schedule could include everything from concerts, mud runs, festivals, camping, and even new racing events at some point. You name it and it's probably come up at our table."
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Hagan and his partner Larry Shelor, also own the Calfee Park/Pulaski Yankees baseball operations in Pulaski. Watching the increasing popularity of the baseball program only solidified in their minds, the need for change the Motor Mile Speedway. He went on to say:
"When you see the huge family crowds that baseball is drawing just a few miles away from the Speedway, and how much those fans are enjoying the experience, it really highlights the difference between the two sports,"
Although it's sad to see this venue move away from stock car racing, it's understandable the business couldn't go on any longer as-is. Hagans' optimistic about the changes and ended the press release with this:
"While we respectfully celebrate the racing history of Motor Mile Speedway, we are excited about what the future may hold for this special venue. The opportunities are endless."