Kentucky Speedway officials are "hoping the big crowds will return" this week when NASCAR's three series return to the track, which appears to have "solved the traffic and parking nightmare that marred" the venue's '11 race weekend, according to Lawrence Smith of WDRB.com. Thousands of fans "stayed away" last year, "even after the track spent millions to upgrade traffic and parking following 2011's horrific bottleneck." Kentucky Speedway Communications Dir Tim Bray said, "I think people will come because they've heard that we got it fixed. Maybe they've talked to their buddies that were here last year, and they didn't have any problem." Smith noted the track has made "only minor changes" this year, including "reinforced safety fencing and upgraded concessions" (WDRB.com, 6/25). In Cincinnati, Kevin Kelly noted the track "reinforced its catch fence in spectator areas," as new vertical steel cables have "been installed between the support posts." The cables are "anchored into the concrete retaining wall and connected to the existing horizontal steel cables with a unique steel clasp" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/25).
MUSICAL CHAIRS: In Las Vegas, Ron Kantowski wrote of Daytona Int'l Speedway's plans to reduce seating capacity, "You would think Daytona would be the last place where seats would be subtracted for stock-car racing." While attendance is "good at NASCAR races, attendance also is down." Sources said that 11 of NASCAR’s 23 tracks "reduced seating capacity" in '12. Kantowski noted that "doesn’t include places such as Las Vegas Motor Speedway," which in '10 widened its bleacher seats by 2 inches, "even after having announced a virtual sellout for its Cup race" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/25).
