The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 23

4 Sunday Special Sunday, July 9, 2000 Daily News Journal, turfreesboro, Tenn. A 9B Construction crews work on the new Nashville Superspeedway In Wilson County. The 1.33-mlle track is scheduled to be completed In April 2001. Nashville Superspeedway beginning to take shape million in employee compensations, $83 million in personal income, $222 million in regional output and $17 in direct business taxes. Backing with experience The Nashville Superspeedway complex is part of Dover Downs Entertain ment, which owns and operates a multi-pur-.

pose entertainment complex producing NASCAR auto racing, pari-mutuel harness horse racing, nari-mutuel waeerin? on primary take the y3i gT By Corby A. Yarbrough Sports writer All of this for 4.83 miles of racetrack and $125 million, but for Middle Tennessee they could not see a better investment. The new Nashville Superspeedway Currently under construction at the Wil sonRutherford County line will soon become the supermarket of racing. Who knew 3,100 acres 66 had so much to offer? with the highlight of focus is to the motorsports complex, the 1.33-mile oval, scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2001, Middle Tennessee will officially be back into big-time racing. Along with the superspeedway, a paved short track, a oval dirt track, 34-mile drag strip around Tennessee.9 Cliff vice president, manager, Superspeedway facilitX.mtO community i.

the simulcast and thoroughbred horse races, DWJ photo by Jim Davis Busch Series tickets, Craftsman Truck Series or All Pro tickets for the 2000 season at Nashville Speedway will have first opportunity to purchase a season pass to the superspeedway. "Our first priority is our season ticket offer," Hawks said. "If you purchase a ticket to the August Craftsman Truck race (at Nashville Speedway USA) or purchased a ticket to last April's Busch race, you are automatically put in the database for first priority to tickets to next year's races atsthe superspeedway. "You get to pick exactly where you want to sit before the tickets go on sale to the general public. And based on the number of calls we have received, tickets for the new superspeedway will go very quickly.

The idea to be able to pick your seat is very ideal." It is a different approach than that of. the Titans, in the fact that with the PSL you are buying the right to season tickets, not so at the new superspeedway. "We're not selling PSL's; there is no (See Nashville, page 10B) direction, Hawks is the one to wave the finger at. Before taking his position as vice president and general manager June 1, the Lipscomb University gradu-" ate served as the Nashville Sports Authority's executive director, responsible for the sale of permanent seat licenses in Adelphia Coliseum. With the success of the NFL's Titans and the NHL's Nashville Predators, the dream of big-time sports in the region is now a reality.

"I don't think there's any question that the presence of the NFL and NHL have paved the way for the new superspeedway," Hawks said. "People understand the value of having season tickets." A different approach The new superspeedway will not sell -season-passes in the form of permanent seat licenses (PSL's). Instead, the superspeedway will offer a season pass, which includes race tickets for each racing event promoted by the track. Patrons who have purchased either Middle Hawks general Nashville ing was the region's claim to fame. With the advent of the Nashville the region has come full circle.

Many people are still upset about 1984, a dismal year for NASCAR in Nashville. It was in 1984 that Nashville Speedway USA had its Winston Cup date snatched from right under naive noses. The new Nashville Superspeedway is not promising Winston Cup, however, but it is the biggest step the region has taken in the last 16 years. And since that fateful day, July 14, 1984, the last Winston Cup race at Nashville Speedway USA, Middle Tennessee has become a hotbed for professional sports. "Before we had professional sports, Middle Tennessee and Nashville was a walk-up area," Hawks said.

"You could walk up the day of the event and still-purchase a ticket. That has definitely changed now, and you can point to the Titans for helping make that change And if you want to point to someone who helped push the region in the right i it p0 Track Track Infield and video lottery machine operations in Dover, Del. The company also operates Nashville Speedway USA, located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, organizes and promotes the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California, and -operates Gateway International Raceway in Madison, 111., and Memphis Motorsports Park. "There's no question that to have Dover Downs is a major advantage as we look to develop different tracks and superspeedways," Hawks said. "Dover Downs has been involved with NASCAR for over 30 years and they own six tracks nationwide.

This company has been successful in the world of racing and it is a major positive to have their backing in this undertaking." This ain't the same Middle Tennessee It's funny how things can come full circle. Not to say that Nashville or Middle Tennessee has reached its ceiling on how many professional sports the region will become home to, but NASCAR was the original. Sure, there were the Nashville Vols long before there were the Sounds, but for a long time auto rac- and a 1 road 1 course will be nestled inside these 3,1 66 acres. But for now the construction is in what track officials are calling Phase and according to track vice president and general manager Cliff Hawks, things could not be going any better. "The actual construction is a little ahead of schedule and our primary focus is to take the facility into the community and around Middle Tennessee, so our racing fans and spectators have an opportunity to learn what an advance and state of the art facility it really is," Hawks said.

SHOW ME THE MONEY The state-of-the-art facility will also translate into money returned to the community. Ultimately, Nashville Su- perspeedway will have die ability to expand and accommodate 150,000 people. When completed, the superspeedway will create more than 4,000 part- and full-time jobs and annually generate $73 14 MM SUPCRSPKOWAY JREOUUTION I DRAG STRIP .1 niuin lynnv TRACK OVAL I Length 1 oval Surface Concrete Banking 14 in turns, 9 in front, 5 in back Width r-. .58 feet and 60 feet in turns Tunnel between turns three and four Three lanes of traffic, plus pedestrian walk Seating .50,000 (Phase I) 150,000 (Phase II): Luxury Boxes .24 (Seating 30 or 60 people) Parking .400 acres paved and turf parking Overnight Camping Yes Location Wilson County (1,265 acres) NOTEWORTHY More than four miles of storm and sanitary sewer lines in the infield More than 525,000 cubic yards of concrete will be used on the project Architect HNTB Architects Engineers Planners, Kansas City CONSTRUCTION TIMETABLE Grandstand Erection July 15 Track Paving SeptemberEarly October First Seat Placement December Completion 2001 NASH VILLI SUPI8SPIIOWAY FACILITY 3CHIDULID OPENING APRii 2001.