If NASCAR ever returns to Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, it could be in the form of an Xfinity, Camping World Truck Series race weekend, according to a report by The Tennessean.
Tony Formosa, the track’s promoter, told Nashville’s Metro Board of Fair Commissioners Tuesday that Speedway Motorsports Inc. has expressed interest in the races but warned talks are “still very premature.”
“We haven’t even come close to reaching an (agreement),” Formosa told The Tennessean.
“I’d like to be the guy that brings NASCAR back to the Fairgrounds Speedway, obviously. I don’t want to be the guy that keeps NASCAR from coming back to Fairgrounds Speedway. I think that it would be good for our city and obviously good for our speedway.”
Formosa is in the first year of a five-year agreement to run the .596-mile track after beating Bristol Motor Speedway’s bid last year. Bristol is owned by SMI.
Fairgrounds Speedway last hosted a Cup race in 1984 and Xfinity and Truck Series races in 2000.
“We continue to see a lot of potential at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager at Bristol Motor Speedway in a statement to NBC Sports. “Now seems to be the right time for meaningful preservation of the great local short-track racing and modernization of the historic facility. We look forward to continuing conversations with the Formosas, the fair board and Metro on how we can all work together to bring NASCAR racing back to Nashville.”
Laura Womack, Executive Director of The Fairgrounds Nashville, provided NBC Sports the following statement.
“I can confirm that Mr. Formosa discussed briefly his interactions with SMI at our Tuesday Board meeting. What I cannot comment on is the full nature of those discussions as they are between Formosa Productions and SMI at this time. That said, we are aware of SMI’s interest in the speedway both from a racing perspective and facility upgrades this potential partnership could bring. We will participate more fully, along with Metro, in those discussions at the appropriate time.”
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The Tennessean reported Tuesday’s board meeting also addressed potential World of Outlaws events at the track, with the series visiting the track for two weeks in May. That would bring the total number of races held at the track to 11 annually.
Fair board commissioner Jason Bergeron shared concerns about the track hosting too many races.
“That’s the thing that’s given me pause a little bit is I don’t know where we are with Bristol,” Bergeron said according to the The Tennessean. “It’s suddenly a lot of weekends. I’m kind of just wondering about where we’re heading.”