Ticket Sales Slow For Michigan Int'l Speedway's LifeLock 400

Michigan Int'l Speedway (MIS), like "every other track hosting a Sprint Cup race this year," is experiencing slower ticket sales for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 and will be "shy of a sellout for a number of reasons, mostly economy-related," according to Angelique Chengelis of the DETROIT NEWS. MIS President Roger Curtis: "We've known for a while it's not going to be a sellout. ... It doesn't concern me. It's still going to be one of the largest races of the year from an attendance standpoint." Track surveys have indicated that the "top reason for slower ticket sales and fewer renewals is the poor job market in Michigan," and gas prices are "scaring off fans, as well, particularly those who drive from neighboring states." Curtis: "We are going to be down, but I want to spend the week focusing on the 100,000 fans who are coming and making this a great week for them" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/10).

Group Of NASCAR Drivers Voice Concerns About Pocono Raceway

POCONO: In Philadelphia, Pete Schnatz reported NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle last weekend voiced "concerns ranging from safety to the quality of the racing" at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt acknowledged that "taking a race away from the Philadelphia-New York corridor would not be 'smart logistically.'" But he added, "By the end of hearing all the comments from all the drivers, NASCAR will probably have the same opinion we do." Biffle: "Should we come here twice? I think there's some better racetracks (where) the fans can see more and would be better for television" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/8).

KENTUCKY: In Cincinnati, Kevin Kelly reports the pending sale of Kentucky Speedway to SMI has Fox' Darrell Waltrip "excited about the possibility of NASCAR's marquee series coming" to the track in either '09 or 2010. Waltrip: "How can you not think that Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati could be a great market? Toyota is there. Cintas is there. Procter and Gamble is there. With Louisville and Cincinnati and all the surrounding areas, it's a great market and it proves it by selling out that (Nationwide) Series every year." Kentucky Speedway officials yesterday said that "about 2,000 tickets remain" for Saturday's Nationwide Series Meijer 300. Kelly notes the track can seat 66,089 in the grandstand and has "averaged an announced capacity crowd of 70,952 for its seven previous" Nationwide races (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/10).

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