Sunday, June 18, 2000
Speedway turns away fans
Rain turns parking lots into quagmire
By Travis Mayo and Kristina Goetz
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Fans who made it to the parking lots trudge through mud to the Speedway.
(Ernest Coleman photo)
| ZOOM |
|
SPARTA, Ky. — Thousands of fans who endured hours of traffic hoping to get into Kentucky Speedway's inaugural event were instead turned away Saturday night because of parking lots turned into mud pits by rain over the past two days.
“I wish I was there to see it,” said Mary Ann Janes, who was making the trip from Marietta, in southeastern Ohio, but was stuck in traffic on Interstate 71 two miles from this small Gallatin County town as the race began. “I've gone 12 miles in three hours. It's been a nightmare.”
Rains that began Friday evening and continued through Saturday delayed the 7:30 p.m. start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 225 by 31 minutes and caused a 90-minute rain delay at the 82-lap mark. In addition, rain ruined several of the parking lots and scrapped local officials' traffic plans.
A bus carrying fans from Erlanger got stuck in the mud outside the main entrance.
(Tony Jones photo)
| ZOOM |
|
“They've had to close the entrance,” Amy Lashley, a Kentucky State Police dispatcher, said at about 8:30 p.m., when the decision was made. “They've run out of parking. Now they're having a little trouble turning people around.”
She added that it was a joint decision by track owner Jerry Carroll and state police supervisors to close the track and issue refunds. There was no word late Saturday from track officials on how many refunds would be issued.
“What sticks in my mind is the number 63,750,” said Mr. Carroll, referrring to the reported crowd that did make it through the turnstiles and into the $153 million racetrack.
Mr. Carroll tried to stress the positives, saying that the race drew the largest crowd ever to see a NASCAR Craftsman Truck event.
“We've shaken up a lot of people, hopefully the right people,” Mr. Carroll said.
Jerry Carroll looks over the cloudy sky as trucks dry the track before the race.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
| ZOOM |
|
The backup along I-71 from the north had reached 20 miles, and the backup from the south had reached 15 miles when the decision was made to close the gates, officials said.
“There are literally thousands of people out here on the highway,” Ms. Janes said from a portable phone. But by 10:30 p.m., traffic was moving normally on both sides of the interstate.
In the days leading up to the event, Kentucky State Police officials had estimated backups might reach three miles.
On Saturday, some fans told of waits upward of five hours to get to the raceway, and the sides of I-71 southbound were littered with cars abandoned by fans trying to get to the track by foot.
Officials had turned a northbound lane of I-71 into a southbound lane to handle the extra traffic. They even made Ky. 35 one-way toward the speedway, but their efforts still didn't do enough. And the switch made it more difficult to reroute those who did not get in to see the race.
“There are a lot of disappointed people, and a lot of crying kids,” said Mary Long of North College Hill, who was turned away. Once inside the entrance, race fans had to wait about another 90 minutes before they could travel the final half-mile or so to the parking lots — originally planned to handle 35,000 cars. Tow trucks began arriving at 1 p.m. to drag out those caught in mud.
Many fans wished Mr. Carroll had paved the seven parking lots in addition to repaving the track six months ago.
“It's a shame that rain would cause this and we wouldn't have any control over it,” Mr. Carroll told ESPN during the rain delay.
No one's immune
Even four-wheel-drive vehicles found themselves stuck.
“We had to pull out a bunch of state troopers,” said Scott Burton, from I-75 Gas in Dry Ridge. “We'll probably be here all night. Every two cars you pass now, there's another one stuck.”
Mike Toppin, who was turned away after driving from West Chester, said the parking debacle hurt the speedway's chances for landing a Winston Cup event — the major leagues of NASCAR.
“The only reason I bought season tickets was to have a chance to see the big-time races. And now I'm doubtful I'll renew my current tickets,” he said.
Bill Oldfield of Covington and a handful of friends weren't worried about the mud. Ten years ago, they bought a 1981 blue-and-white former school bus that has taken them to Bengals games and other sporting events. On Saturday, the big bus hauled them to Sparta.
“Tell Jerry (Carroll) we're leaving it here until he blacktops” the parking lots, said Damian Weller of Erlanger.
Traveling cohort Jason Wells of Fort Mitchell refused to allow gridlock and the parking lot quagmire to upset him.
“There's cool beer, warm pizza and a stuck bus. It's a package,” he said.
Inside, it's fun
Those who did get inside said the traffic and delays were worth it.
“It's awesome!” said Dave Corson, 28, of Cincinnati.
The 150-lap event featured trucks hitting speeds of nearly 190 mph around the 1.5-mile tri-oval track.
Beauty queens and aging rockers added to the mix of die-hards and merely curious. Spotted in the crowd was Miss Kentucky USA Jolene Youngster, who mingled with fans and track dignitaries.
Singer Joe Walsh sang the national anthem, but drew a few chortles by botching some words.
Business was brisk at both souvenir and food stands inside the speedway, with ice cream and the official $15 sleeveless T-shirt the best-selling items on a muggy afternoon.
“Everybody that comes here is getting the Kentucky Speedway stuff because it's new,” said Norm Jewett of Dayton, Ohio, outside his booth.
Mr. Jewett, who travels all over the NASCAR circuit to sell his wares, gave the new speedway high marks.
“They've said its one of the most beautiful tracks on the circuit, and it is,” Mr. Jewett said. “It's fan-friendly and the track runs fast, which is good.”
Sports Stories
