NASCAR eyes Denver

Denver still is a potential market for NASCAR despite the closing of Pikes Peak International Raceway, according to Lenny Santiago, senior investment relations analyst for International Speedway Corporation. PPIR had held Craftsman Truck and Busch Series races in the past, but Rocky Mountain Speedway Corporation, a subsidiary of ISC, purchased the assets of PPIR last month and the track has been closed.

ISC owns 11 tracks, including superspeedways in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Talladega, Ala.

"Denver is definitely a very important market for us," Santiago said Monday. "ISC tried to do some projects there many, many years ago, but it still remains a priority in our forward growth. Right now, we have our (Nextel Cup) projects out near Seattle and Staten Island (N.Y.). Over the long term, we believe there is a potential in the Denver market for some NASCAR racing, whether it be Cup or Busch. We would definitely explore that opportunity.

"I'm just looking at something here for our TV stats for the Nextel Cup through the year, and the Denver market is up over double digits in terms of households in and ratings." Rocky Mountain News