SMI wants one of ISC’s dates

It looked like love at first sight for Bruton Smith. Not so much for California Speedway president Gillian Zucker. Smith, the eccentric 80-year-old billionaire whose company owns Las Vegas Motor Speedway, was holding court with the media on Friday and bad-mouthing Zucker's track in the process.

Zucker happened to walk into the room around that time and was told of Smith's remarks. Having never met the owner of the Fontana track's biggest competitor, she waded into the horde of media and introduced herself to Smith.

The next 10 minutes were bizarrely funny and a little uncomfortable, but certainly memorable.

Smith began what he termed as "negotiations" with Zucker in front of about 20 media members. With his arm around the 37-year-old Zucker, he whispered softly in her ear, stroked her left cheek with his knuckles and brushed her hair back, occasionally rubbing her shoulder.

"Are you in a negotiating mood?" Smith asked gently.

A reporter had suggested to Smith moments earlier that perhaps International Speedway Corp., which employs Zucker, would sell one of its two NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race dates to Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Currently, SMI's Las Vegas track only has one Cup race per year.

Smith has made it known he wants two.

"He said something about your interest in selling," said Smith, with his arm around Zucker.

"Absolutely not," answered Zucker, her arm around Smith's waist. "Why would we be selling something that's growing?" More at DailyBulletin.com