Jerry Carroll was guardedly optimistic Tuesday about reports that NASCAR might award Kentucky Speedway a Winston Cup race in 2002.

        Carroll, the Speedway chairman, said he believes the track eventually will get a race. The Sporting News reported that the NASCAR “garage rumor” is that two more Cup races will be added next season, with Kentucky awarded an inaugural event and California Speedway getting a second race.

        NASCAR president Mike Helton has said the sanctioning body is working on the 2002 schedule, but he has declined comment on the rumors regarding next season.

        “I feel very secure that we will get a race at some point, through sheer performance,” Carroll said. “It's NASCAR's decision, and I respect their judgment.”

        Carroll is enthused that his NASCAR Busch race, which will be staged Saturday at the speedway, is nearly a sellout of 66,089. The Speedway passed 64,000 in ticket sales Tuesday and is on track to break the Greater Cincinnati sports record attendance of 64,006 set by the Bengals-Browns opener at Paul Brown Stadium in September.

        “We'll have a great race, and only then can we think about Winston Cup,” Carroll said. “I feel very good that Winston Cup will be here someday, because we have everything in place.”

        Winston Cup is the major league of NASCAR, featuring stars such as Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett. The Busch circuit is a feeder for Winston Cup.

        NASCAR usually announces its annual schedules in late summer.

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