By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kentucky Speedway officials received the best news yet in the three-year history of the track when NASCAR brought up the possibility that tracks without a Winston Cup race could land one after 2003.

Kentucky Speedway has hosted races for NASCAR's second-tier Busch series but never an event on the premier Winston Cup circuit.

NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr.'s surprise announcement Tuesday that four tracks might lose their yearly Cup date after the 2003 season is the first indication to Kentucky Speedway general manager Mark Cassis that NASCAR might consider moving into new markets such as Kentucky, St.Louis and Nashville.

France called the potential move "realignment." Cassis has lobbied NASCAR for a Cup race at Kentucky since the track's opening in 2000.

"We are very encouraged," Cassis said. "... Now there's an opportunity, and we at Kentucky Speedway have to go find a date."

NASCAR will not expand its 36-race Winston Cup schedule, but France targeted Lowe's Motor Speedway outside of Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta Motor Speedway; Darlington (S.C.) Speedway; and North Carolina Motor Speedway as tracks that might not be renewed for one of their Cup races in 2004. Each of those tracks hosts two a year.

For Kentucky to pick up one of those races, a merger with France's International Speedway Corp. or rival Speedway Motorsports Inc., the sports' two largest track ownership groups, might be necessary. Kentucky's independent owner, Jerry Carroll, would have to be willing to give up some of his ownership stake or make a deal with an independent track that hosts two races, such as New Hampshire International Speedway or Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, to secure a date.

Even more intriguing is the possibility for Kentucky to "rent" a race from New Hampshire, which France said could happen if New Hampshire owner Bob Bahre were willing to take one of his races to Kentucky for a set number of years.

"We have to go out and find a home ourselves," Cassis said. "It's up to Jerry (Carroll) and his group to look at what we can do with this opportunity."

Carroll spoke with investors by telephone Wednesday.

"Our people got into this with the understanding that we're in it for the long run, to work our way to acquiring a Winston Cup race," Carroll said. "Now we are looking at different options, such as who would we merger with."

Winston Cup is NASCAR's premier racing class, with well-known drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. The Meijer 300, Kentucky's Busch race, has sold out both years at Kentucky.

Atlanta Motor Speedway often does not sell out, which is a reason why it might lose its race. Atlanta and Lowe's Motor Speedway are both SMI tracks. North Carolina Speedway and Darlington are owned by ISC, which already has two tracks, California and Kansas, waiting for Cup races.

If Kentucky were awarded a Winston Cup race, the facility would have to expand from its seating capacity of 66,000 to 100,000 and double its luxury suites to 100.

Cassis said the success of the 2003 season is critical for Kentucky to appear attractive as a potential Winston Cup location. The facility will host four race weekends this summer, highlighted by the Busch Series race June14 and the Belterra Casino Indy 300, an Indy Racing League race, Aug.17.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com