City of Nashville turns down bid from Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway placed a bid to operate Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville

Yesterday, it was reported that Bristol Motor Speedway had interest in promoting Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. The current promoter Tony Formosa, also placed a bid to remain in control of race track operations. Additionally, Alexander Racing and Alabama Track Venture also placed a bid.

Related: Bristol Motor Speedway offers bid to operate Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville

Multiple competing bids to run Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. One for the multi-million dollar Speedway Motorsports Inc. The city of Nashville have made their decision.

City of Nashville
City of Nashville, TN

Strike a win for the little guy. Tony Formosa will remain in control of Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville after he received a letter from Metro on Thursday.

They now have interest in leasing the track for a 5 year deal. Formosa has operated the track since 2010. However, he’s been forced to renew his lease on a year-to-year basis. That has forced him to refrain from investing in the facility. Now, with a longer lease, he will be able to do so.

“This is probably one of the happiest days of my life,” Formosa told Tennessean. “Now we’re really going to be able to make something happen.”

Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville and Bristol Motor Speedway history
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 24: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Coating Systems Chevrolet, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, race during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 53rd Annual IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 24, 2013 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Why did Nashville turn down Bristol Motor Speedway?

Their bid was for a 30-year lease of the speedway. Additionally, they asked for Metro to fully fund capital renovations. Meaning, Speedway Motorsports Inc would only promote the speedway. They did not intend to invest their own money to upgrade the complex.

Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville
Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville

Instead, the city would have received a bill for upgrades.

There’s no doubt that SMI could have been a great thing for this track. It would have made a NASCAR more likely with them, than anyone else.

However, when NASCAR comes to a 100-year-old track it must be upgraded. So, if they happened, the City of Nashville would have footed the bill to upgrade the complex to NASCAR standards.

Naturally, they turned it down as a result. Tony Formosa might not bring NASCAR to the track, but he does plan to upgrade the facility, out of his own pocket.

Dale Jr on Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 24: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 53rd Annual IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 24, 2013 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

NASCAR drivers endorsed Bristol Motor Speedway’s bid for Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville

Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kevin Harvick all endorsed the bid by Bristol Motor Speedway. A bid that has since been turned down.

Dale Jr: “This is a brilliant idea. The fairgrounds is an amazing short track that ALL of NASCAR’s top series should be competing at in the future.”

Kevin Harvick: “Would be HUGE in many ways!”

Darrell Waltrip: “I believe there’s opportunity to bring a NASCAR series back, maybe even a Cup race if the track was upgraded to today’s standards.”

Formosa is fairly surprised himself. He told USA Today, “Honestly, I thought that if anyone besides me got it, it would be them.”

Dale Jr has since heard the news of the selection by Nashville. He’s disappointed that NASCAR likely won’t be returning to the track without SMI promotions, “Well damn.”

Author: Shane Walters

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Shane Walters
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