Speedway Motorsports Inc. is expected to add to its portfolio of race tracks this week with the expected acquisition of New Hampshire International Speedway, according to several reports.
Publicly held SMI is based locally and owns six tracks, including Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord. SMI Chairman Bruton Smith could not be reached for comment Thursday morning. The Boston Globe reported Thursday that a formal announcement will be made Friday at Smith’s Texas track, host of this weekend’s NASCAR races.
“I have no news,” says Fred Neergaard, a New Hampshire International Speedway spokesman. Asked whether he anticipates an announcement on Friday, he says, “At this point, I’m not anticipating anything.” Erik Spanberg, Biz Journals.com
The future of NASCAR racing in New England seems clouded by uncertainty after sources with knowledge of the deal indicated last night that O. Bruton Smith, CEO and chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., had entered into an agreement to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob Bahre, the track’s 80-year-old chairman who is among a rare breed in NASCAR: the independent track owner/operator.
A press conference is expected to be held tomorrow at Texas Motor Speedway, one of six SMI-owned racing venues that stage 10 Nextel Cup events. With the acquisition of NHIS, that stands to grow to 12 Cup dates.
Efforts to reach Bahre last night were unsuccessful. Reached last night, NHIS spokesman Fred Neergaard said, “There’s nothing new to report. ” An SMI source, however, indicated Smith had reached an accord with Bahre, but was not clear as to the terms. Michael Vega, Boston.com
Sources have told the Herald that Speedway Motorsports Inc. will announce tomorrow the purchase of New Hampshire International Speedway
The announcement is scheduled to take place at Texas Motor Speedway, site Sunday’s Dickies 500.
“We have nothing to report at this time, ” said Fred Neegaard, director of communications at NHIS.
New Hampshire International Speedway owner Bob Bahre acknowledged earlier this year that he had held talks with people interested in buying the track.
Dave Exum, Boston Herald.com
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