If you know who P.T. Barnum was, you know who Bruton Smith is. A master of the show and pretty good at slight of hand. Texas Hold ‘em would most likely be his game. He won’t blink. His latest acquisition, NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY is an example of the master at his craft. Just a decade ago, Bruton and Bob Bahre seemed to be mortal enemies. Each purchased a half interest in historic North Wilksboro Speedway only to take its valued race dates away and leave the once popular short track to the weeds. They said that short tracks had no future in NASCAR. The show demanded bigger stadiums with modern amenities such as luxury suites for catering the kind of high rollers it took to sponsor teams and events of the day. Bob Bahre, to his credit tried to secure SMI’s interest in North Wilksboro. Bruton was not selling. Now, SMI has purchased another track for a staggering $340 MILLION. and with it, 2 more race dates that may or may not stay at the 1 mile oval in New Hampshire. Rumors speculate that at least one date will move to Las Vegas. LVMS is another SMI track among it’s portfolio of boring 1.5 mile tracks.
I get side tracked easily, sorry. The real point of my story is the smooth way Bruton has taken the advantage in his fight to build a drag racing facility within the property of LOWES MOTOR SPEEDWAY. Cabarrus county leaders forced a halt to the construction of the drag strip which already has a date on the ‘08 NHRA POWERADE TOUR. The showdown was on. Bruton quickly announced that he might close the current LMS site and construct a new, bigger facility on a site outside Cabarrus county. That got their attention. Suddenly, the county boys are spending a lot of time and promising a lot of taxpayer money to make nice with the Titan of SMI. they want to name a road ‘Bruton Smith Boulavard’. it cost very little to rename a road. Not good enough. According to ‘the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER’, the tally may well exceed $70 MILLION in other ‘incentives’ to keep the current facility in Concord. That is a pile of cash on the table to see the next card.
The lesson here is clear for all to see. Don’t play poker with O. Bruton Smith unless you have a lot to gamble and a strong gut for the loss.
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