Inaugural Quaker State 400 @ Kentucky

[EricSturrock]

The GM of the track said they were expecting all the people but not all the cars............

[sparkie1260]

And just exactly how were all those people supposed to get there...walk? And besides that, if porta-potties and concessions were an issue (as they were), then honeslty, they weren't ready for all the people either. I knew it....just sayin'....

[lemonhead75]

Did they really add like 50,000 seats and not expand parking enough? Wow.
I can understand if traffic was a problem, but not having enough PARKING is simply inexcusable.

[MarkMartinRules.]

Did they really add like 50,000 seats and not expand parking enough? Wow.
I can understand if traffic was a problem, but not having enough PARKING is simply inexcusable.

Exactly. You can't add 50,000 seats and not add at least 25,000 parking spaces. If they couldn't do it at the track then a park and ride option could have been an alternative route. I know of a few tracks that offer that to keep the traffic down somewhat. Still in all, when they built the track these systems should have been put in place. As Larry Mac said, "Build it, and they will come..." I guess Bruton and the people at SMI need to do some more political pushing to get I-71 and the local roads worked on for next year. Obviously it's not going to be fixed overnight but they can start doing some minor things and start building other solutions that might take four to five years to finish.

[sparkie1260]

I honestly don't think that I-71 is the real issue. The REAL issue was the parking. Those cars wouldn't have been backed p on I-71 if they could have gotten in and been parked correctly on the property or either on a lot near the property and shuttled in. The road on the turn 3-4 end of the track (I can't remember the name of it) WAS expanded to multi lane just a few years back even before all this drama with KY Speedway came up. It is a MUCH nicer road than it was back in 2005 when I started going to KY for the truck race. The issue is the parking and the attendants who monitor it. It wouldn't matter how fabulous the highways are if they have incompetent people "parking" cars and no plan for how to park them!!!!

[regansmithfan4life]

The track is offering the fans a choice of being able to go to another SMI track this year of to go to Kentucky next year.

http://kentuckyspeedway.com/newsline/news.aspx?newsID=1038

[adam]

The track is offering the fans a choice of being able to go to another SMI track this year of to go to Kentucky next year.

http://kentuckyspeedway.com/newsline/news.aspx?newsID=1038

That is rediculous, they should be refunded. What a poor decision by the track.

[sparkie1260]

For anyone on Facebook, "like" Kentucky Speedway and see what they have said and how people have responded. My understanding is that they have adjusted their page so that no one can make an original post on their page; however, people can comment on their posts...it's very interesting reading. There are some really awful experiences that people tell about.

[Rowdy]

The track is offering the fans a choice of being able to go to another SMI track this year of to go to Kentucky next year.

http://kentuckyspeedway.com/newsline/news.aspx?newsID=1038

That is rediculous, they should be refunded. What a poor decision by the track.

If you thought Bruton Smith was actually going to give the people their money back, you're badly mistaken. I hope somebody sues him for everything he owns. Most of the people who were turned away probably can't afford to go to another SMI track.

[adam]

The track is offering the fans a choice of being able to go to another SMI track this year of to go to Kentucky next year.

http://kentuckyspeedway.com/newsline/news.aspx?newsID=1038

That is rediculous, they should be refunded. What a poor decision by the track.

If you thought Bruton Smith was actually going to give the people their money back, you're badly mistaken. I hope somebody sues him for everything he owns. Most of the people who were turned away probably can't afford to go to another SMI track.

Yep, I expect maybe a class action lawsuit.

[RainesFan]

I hope somebody sues him for everything he owns.

Really?  A family of 4 would be out, what $1000 if they traveled and missed work?  That is deserving of millions and millions of dollars?  They might get actual damages, but they're not going to hit the lottery.  Perhaps the teams that missed the race should also sue because they scheduled the race during a time of year known for rainfall.

They are offering tickets for next year or another event.  That is the closest option to making it whole.  I do believe that a refund might be in order (but  Smith wants them back so they can pay for parking, buy concessions and souveniours and maybe recoup some revenue).  And, truthfully, where does the blame lay?  This isn't SMI's first event and traffic at other SMI venues is....tolerable.