Las Vegas lobbies for NASCAR date changes Atlanta

LAS VEGAS - Speedway Motorsports chairman Bruton Smith believes that switching the fall dates of Atlanta Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway would solve two of the Fontana track's problems — weather and attendance.

 

"We're interested in helping California," Smith said. "The proposal has been made that we give California the October date in Atlanta. Then, the Labor Day event date would come to Atlanta. Everyone will love it. The sport will love it, you will love it and I will love it.

 

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"It's the thing to do. The people I've talked with within the sport — within NASCAR — they all agree it's the thing to do. I hope we'll have an answer in the near future. If it happens, it will be for next year."

If the change takes place, the track formerly known as California Speedway would receive a coveted Chase for the Sprint Cup date and relief from horrendous late summer heat. Last year's Labor Day weekend temperatures reached 114-degrees in Fontana.

In exchange, Atlanta's date would offer more pleasant weather, as it would be run under the lights on a Saturday, giving teams the added bonus of having an extra day or two to prepare for the last race of the regular season in Richmond, Va., the following week. The move would also alleviate Atlanta's attendance problem, as the race has often been hampered by a schedule conflict with the University of Georgia versus University of Florida football game.

That isn't the only change Smith wants in future versions of the NASCAR calendar.

During his chat with the media Friday, the billionaire reiterated his feelings that Las Vegas Motor Speedway should have two Cup races every season, and that he shouldn't have to switch a date from one of his six other tracks in order to get his wish.

"I think we've earned a second race," Smith said. "I feel like we have earned that right.

"There are other places out there that maybe a date could come from."
Robby Gordon gets his day

The National Stock Car Commission will hear Robby Gordon's appeal on March 5 — the day he returns to Charlotte from the two-day Phoenix test. NASCAR docked Gordon 100 points and fined his crew chief Frank Kerr $100,000 for having an unapproved nose on the front of his No. 7 Dodge.

"We're prepared but that doesn't mean we're going to win," Gordon said. "We have our facts and we'll present them. Then we'll see whether they think our facts are worthwhile or not."

Gordon finished eighth in the season opener at Daytona and 18th last Monday at California Speedway. He is currently 32nd in points, but would be 12th without the penalty