Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 29

lo I Sunday April 21 1996 I Star-Telegram Section A Page 291 Door not shut on Winston Cup date for speedway official says '4 1 4" "That's a decision that has to be while the season finale of made in Daytona Beach" Gossage NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Se-said "Whether that will happen ries is scheduled for the new Las this year or not I don't know" Vegas Motor Speedway Both The date widely speculated to be events are to be televised live by favored by Smith for the debut of his "perfect speedway" is Nov3 CBS France and NASCAR's top officials logically would be ex- pected to attend the debut of an open slot on the Winston Cup schedule But that date presents lo- gistical problems for NASCAR of- NASCAR's premier Winston Cup ficials series at Texas Motor Speedway adding to the already slim chance "We've made our position pretty plain of a race being granted here on that on that date" Hall said I Sunday while the season finale of NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series is scheduled for the new Las Vegas Motor Speedway Both events are to be televised live by CBS France and NASCAR's top officials logically would be expected to attend the debut of NASCAR's premier Winston Cup series at Texas Motor Speedway adding to the already slim chance 1996 That's why we make our schedule one year at a time Really nothing's changed" France's remarks at North Wilkesboro came in response to inquiries about the stalemate there between 5050 partners Smith and Bob Bahre the owner of New Hampshire International Speedway Tickets for North Wilkesboro's Sept 29 Winston Cup race are scheduled to go on sale April 29 securing that date for 1996 Bahre has gone on record as wanting to transfer one of Wilkesboro's Winston Cup dates to his facility in Loudon NH giving him two major NASCAR races per "Bob Bahre is the one who is talking about moving dates at Wilkesboro not Bruton Smith at Texas Motor Speedway" Gossage said "That seems-to be a key point that nobody pays attention to Just because I'm talking about Texas does not mean I'm talking about Wilkesboro Nobody wants to hear that "But the real key thing is he France told reporters 'never say never' Wilkesboro is on the schedule We've maintained all along that Wilkesboro and Texas are separate deals" Gossage said that when Texas Motor Speedway is completed it will warrant a Winston Cup date on its merit BY JOHN STURM 'Star-Telegram Staff Writer FORT WORTH It will require an unprecedented move by NASCAR President Bill France Jr to award a Winston Cup race date to developer Bruton Smith at Texas Motor Speedway this season Since the inception of NASCAR's "thodem era" in 1971 the Florida-based stock-car sanctioning organization has never added a race date in-season France reiterated his commitment to run the 31-race 1996 schedule as published at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina last Sunday But NASCAR's "benevolent dictator" also told reporters "We never say never to any thing' That left the management of Texas Motor Speedway with a glimmer of hope for the fall "I view the door as being open" said Eddie Gossage vice president and general manager of Smith's WO million facility under construction two miles north of Alliance Airport in southern Denton County "I do not view the door to be any more closed this week than it was last week" Andy Hall NASCAR's director of public relations did not totally dispute that point "I'm not saying there won't be a race in Texas" Hall said "But as of now our plan is to follow our schedule the way it's published for "There's a lot going on that day We've got commitments to Homestead and Las Vegas and CBS" The season-finale of NASCAR's Busch Grand National Series is scheduled at Homestead Motor-sports Complex in Florida Mean "I'm not going to say 'slim chance' Hall said "I don't want to say anything that's going to get people speculating or getting their hopes up "I'm just saying it's never been done before" i'i i 4 4 1 da :11 1111111111' 41: 4 -if------' i50136- 't I A 'i 4'4 'I 11' t4190r i -4'' ''-m'''' itet- fr21-' 4 4'-- 1 1 0007 'I "i' 17' I 1 1 '-1' --r0 me 16101-lef''''' I 411 IP 4t4r1 azi vf--t Ayk Ni 4 I jiff A 1 LI tokL- r- I madmiko 4 41 IL 1 I 4h 411k rL 01 A 4( 4" (1 Media center atasmrswi TEXAS MOTOR VillrAlktb-' SPEEDWAY Nza Dxsr AT A GLAtICE "Dual-banking" track Texas Motor Speedway will offer a unique design with "dual-banked" turns that share the same straightaways The design will accommodate America's top two forms of and Indy-car racing "Dual-banking" The distance from the top of the outside wall is 50 feet down to the break where it goes degrees The straightaways (5 degrees) will feather and the Indy-car wall will slowly feather onto straightaway From 8 degrees to the inside is another feet The apron is banked about 1 degree for drainage about 25 feet wide rs Comparing the banks Turns Souvenir 2 1 iParking midway Parking Parking tor 1 i Parking for handicapped 1 handicaPPed Pedestrian Vandal I way Toilets Fiedwdm it 4 ar4 mit ma et 44 Stair ramp i 1 fr iik 1 '1 4 ill twwwr VIP Toilets onceestam Its AN" earkw -w wrilith Grandstands raw' 1 14' Swim Acce 't i roed 11 lAil road 1 7 r- 4 ti-7306 staFild4I Winners 94'640111 mentor Pit area li 4 Ii 1E8 la I HosSaillY I media Access toad Knlien i lent: Ht' lipasiNy' -INV crash center HakoPtar lents Tunnel Wall Competitor ge Competitor Pad aPanaat a sponsor Motor home 10111 Kitchen Soule f-i Parking Parking camping 1 IS 'tl 1 Car parking Secar0Y Tunnel 1 1111111 0 ri Toilets way Wee entrance 0 ts 1' showers Garage its 4 ''-'1: 'i '7a-A If tri Car parking Toilets Et i showers entrance Crash watt '1 Car parking Car parking -ty 't Motor holm' Motor horns 4 camping camping tent Toilets 41 alert us Indy track NASCAR traLit crtmes and Access condominium Alle 1 -'r road Hospitality CcaT Palk tents '''k0 4'0 MUM 4 104 Orinil T1 4 Guest Vcr Lr -1 515E-- trucKs ea I '1 I road Pedestrian Acosta ravx4 TI6c't 7" ramp Country Lane Estates Souvenir to Parking tot m4 handicapped p- 'Ada DAt TEXAS Dual-banking" track MOTOR VillrAll'bb'y SPEEDWAY Texas Motor Speedway will offer a unique design with Comparing "dual-banked" turns that share the same straightaways the banks The design will accommodate America's top two forms AT A GLAtICC of and Indy-car racing Turns II "Dual-banking" The distance from the top of the )J outside wall is 50 feet down to the break where it goes degrees The straightaways (5 degrees) will feather and the Indy-car wall will slowly feather onto straightaway From 8 degrees to the inside is another feet The apron is banked about 1 degree for drainage about 25 feet wide Turns Turns -l'' Star-Telegram I RON ENNIS Steel rods used to reinforce concrete lie in the foreground as the Texas Motor Speedway grandstands go up Track From Page 1 4 'stock Dade i maga 8' wr Cottor Mil Wall 1 -4 i 1 i vr ----Lt t'' Parable barrier lindfthe I Ito Indy Cars --4 i 7 it' f' -----44 -7 4 Ire 4 1 r- 1L 1 -----1 I 5 )rs1 40! i Location' -to 81 Southern Denton 13 Pee' 'Ur toge County 1 the northwest of 0 45 fe intersection of Its a Interstate 35W and Ate Texas 114 About 1 Ecle rreal th Fort 25 miles north of Worth Roanoke t7 Alliance Airport TARRANT CO Alliance Cost: Airport Haslet 111111 million IIII Acreage: 950 11111161 acres It a -41011 Seating Otal Capacity: 150061 (with possible future expansion to 270000 seats) VIP Suites: 194 suites each seating 64 people for a total capacity of 12416 seats Seating for handicapped: 1595 seats Racing Surface: 15-mile oval dual-banked track to accomodate both stock-car and Indy-car racing Additional Racing and Car-Testing Facilities: Road course of about 25 miles and two oval Legends Car racing tracks of one-fourth mile and one-fifth mile in length Infield Size: Approximately 100 acres accommodating at least 20000 people Parking: Spaces for 60000 cars and 7000 recreational vehicles a Parking for handicapped: More than 600 spaces Restrooms: 46 Toilets and Urinals: 2450 SOURCE: Texas Motor Speedway to 8 together the 45 Its Location' i to 8 Southern Denton 18 16-Pleaw 1 it ') together County immediately (81 A cf the northwest of i 0 45 intersection of Its Interstate 35W and i autbeth -t interstate 3511 and 1 El abeth 4 Texas 114 About 1 Fort Roanoke 25 miles north of worth IV SI Alliance Airport TARRANT CO Alliance- cost: silo Haslet Airport rillia million '''1 Acreage 950 Liul IX' 111111671 acres IV' Seating ihrlt ir mho mr1111 Capacity: 150061 (with possible future expansion to 270000 seats) 1 VIP Suites: 194 suites each seating 64 people for a total capacity of 12416 seats I Seating for handicapped: 1595 seats Racina oval dual-banked track to fish for racing fans who bring along a rod and reel Water-skiing exhibitions also may be held' there Gossage acknowledged that not 'everything will be perfect at the new speedway Fans can-expect a traffic jam for a big race he said And he said he worries about potential snafus in customer service In the speedway's start-up phase But asked whether he is confident that Smith will fulfill his vow to build the best auto speedway ever constructed Gossage responded "I don't think there's any question "We think we are building something that is second to none in terms of providing the ability to be entertained with comfort that is unmatched by any other racing facility in the world" Gos- sage said Fort Worth business e-ecutive David Jones a longtime racing enthusiast and former chairman of the Sports Car Club of America said Smith's Charlotte Motor Speedway is currently the best auto-racing venue in terms of spectator facilities and VIP accommodations for corporate entertaining He said it's even better than the famed Daytona and Indianapolis speedways Smith has spent 35 years of trial and error to make Charlotte what it is through continual expansions and upgrades At the Texas speedway he is improving on that proven format Jones said The racetrack is taking shape on a 950-acre site that has already been partially annexed by Fort Worth Smith is still trying to acquire 200 surrounding acres to provide more parking space and better speedway access Gossage estimates the speed- way's basic construction cost at $110 million But that does not include a 10-story building to house the condominiums and speedway administrative offices Nor does it include the cost of a potential future expansion of the raceway's capacity to as many as 270000 seats The 100-acre infield of the Texas speedway located inside the racing oval will hold about 20000 fans many of whom will stay in their motor homes and campers during the week of a major race Eight Texas Stadiums could fit in the infield Gossage said referring to the Cowboys' home in Irving Although the racing world has grand expectations for Smith's speedway the construction project has faced nagging uncertainties As a result it may be next year before the speedway hosts a pro 1 en be We qui pre bet wa: $11 clui the adr hie tur car sea '1 Te the 20 sta cat ma col sai hoi 4 gn sP Pr( yel Concession Stands: 88 Souvenir Stands: 18 a NI Tunnels: Two one at each end of the 15-mile racing oval These will allow racing teams in 18-wheelers as well as racing fans in motor homes and campers to go under the racetrack and iter the infield at any time Elevators: 21 high-speed traction elevators serving VIP suites ands: 88 is: 18 a nn at parh anti cif thp I c-MIIP rapinct hval ThAQA will and campc Elevato New speedways being touilt near Las Vegas and San Bernardino Calif are expected to be first-rate sail)ohnny Rutherford three-time Ingmapolis 500 champion But he predicted that Smith's $110 million raway now under construction two miles north of Alliance Airport in southern Denton County "is going to be N64" The speedway's initial seating capacity of 150061 will make it the second-largest sports venue in the United States behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which can accommodate more than 300000 spectators said Eddie Gossage general manager of the Texas track Stock-car racing traces its roots to moonshiners who hot rodded through the North Carolina hills trying to evade the law But in a sport once characterized by shabby dirt tracks and a lack of business sophistication the new Texas speedway will offer such features as these: 194 air-conditioned VIP suites each with a wet bar buffet dining plush theater-style seats and televised broadcasts of the races that will serve as oases for corporate entertainment 58 luxury condominiums priced from $275000 to $575000 each that will provide a panoramic living-room view of auto races being run below A revolutionary dual-banked racing surface that can accommodate full-bodied stock cars and open-wheeled Indy cars thereby expanding the number of big races that the speedway can host A state-of-the art lighting system for nighttime racing using reflective mirrors to eliminate glare in the eyes of drivers hurtling around the 15-mile oval at speeds exceeding 180 mph A media center with a 100- seat theater where victorious drivers can hold post-race news conferences without leaving their cars Theys-will be able to drive their 700-horsepower monsters onto the theater's stage to field questions A people-moving system with such features as a five-mile ring road around the speedway 10 large pedestrian walkways a tunkel-under the speedway racing ovarbig enough to accommodate racing fans' motor homes and 21 higlyspeed elevators to whisk fans to VIP suites A 23-acre lake stocked with priced from $275000 to $575000 each that will provide a panoram- ic living-room view of auto races being run below A revolutionary dual-banked racing surface that can accom- modate full-bodied stock cars and open wheeled Indy cars thereby expanding the number of big races that the speedway can host A state-of-the art lighting system for nighttime racing using reflective mirrors to eliminate glare in the eyes of drivers hur- tling around the 15-mile oval at speeds exceeding 180 mph A media center with a 100- seat theater where victorious driv- ers can hold post-race news con- ferences without leaving their cars Theys will be able to drive their 700-horsepower monsters onto the theater's stage to field questions A people-moving system with such features as a five-mile ring road around the speedway 10 large pedestrian walkways a tunkel-under the speedway racing ovarbig enough to accommodate racing fans' motor homes and 21 higlyspeed elevators tck whisk fans to VIP suites i A 23-acre lake stocked with I I Stariblegram -A -1 a 1 r-1i 1 iAt: i 1 1 i It i 4 1 5S1 -A-i-i 'ci A I I 1 i 3 A 414 1 i 4 aa446-dia buy condos include Ross Perot Jr Alliance area developer and new Dallas Mavericks co-owner Don Carter Mavericks founder and longtime owner and Norm Miller chairman of Dallas-based Interstate Batteries sponsor of a NASCAR racing team owned by former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs Gossage forecasts that the speedway will be successful because Texas already has a large base of auto racing fans and the closest major stock-car speedway is in Talladega Ala In addition attendance at NASCAR races is escalating every year he said Smith said the Texas speedway will also be a major draw because it will be a first-rate sports and entertainment venue with quality construction "We're building it with these giant concrete columns that go down into bedrock" he said "No speedway has ever been built like this We're building a speedWay for the next 500 years" constructing a 1-story 10000- square-foot building that will house temporary speedway offices The building is to become a combination ticket office gift shop and tour center after completion next year of a 10-story building to house the 58 condominiums and permanent administrative offices overlooking the speedway There are already strong indicators that the speedway will be a commercial success Gossage said speedway staff members have received more than 45000 advance requests for tickets even though no race has been scheduled Traditionally an average request is for four tickets putting advance demand at an estimated 180000 tickets he said Nearly 300 corporations or individuals have expressed interest in buying condominiums Twenty companies or individuals have put down deposits equal to 10 percent of the purlhase price Spears said Gossage said those planning to Winston Cup race sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing or NASCAR The Winston Cup competition with 31 races annually represents the major leagues of stock-car racing After months of negotiations the Fort Worth City Council is to consider approval Tuesday of a final agreement with Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc regarding financial incentives for the raceway Assistant City Manager Mike Groomer said the master agreement must be completed before the city can lay water and sewer lines to the racetrack and launch construction of the five-mile four-lane ring road around the speedway The city has agreed to commit up to $4 million for the water and sewer lines and up to $7 million for the ring road improvements that must be in place before the speedway can host a Winston Cup race Gossage said The speedway is expected to be completed by early fall said Cherie Spears the racetrack's director of administration But although the water and sewer lines could be completed by Oct 1 the ring road probably cannot be finished until later in the year Groomer said Smith's hopes of hosting a NASCAR event in November have been hurt both by the delay in completing the master agreement and by his inability to get a Winston Cup race date shifted from a much-smaller track in North Wilkesboro NC in which he owns a 50 percent interest In addition to the Texas speedway's featured 15-mile racing oval there will be a road course of about 25 miles for Sports Car Club of America competitions and auto testing There will also be two short tracks for racing Legends Cars smaller-scale versions of legendapt stock cars of previous eras Soon Smith expects to begin.