Sanctioning bodies band together against Kentucky lawsuit
The Automobile Competition Committee for the United States has asked to file a legal brief in support of NASCAR and ISC because the case involves how sanctioning bodies determine the tracks that get races.
The association is made up of NASCAR, the Indy Racing League, the International Motor Sports Association, the National Hot Rod Association, Champ Car, the United States Auto Club, the Sports Car Club of America and the France-family controlled Grand American Road Racing Association.
"Kentucky Speedway asks the Court to substitute a jury's judgment for the considered judgment of the sanctioning body responsible to the sport and its fans…," the association writes in its brief. "If tracks could overturn sanctioning decisions merely by convincing a local jury that they 'deserved' to host a race, courts would be endlessly embroiled in settling such disputes."
Kentucky Speedway has asked for the France family to sell off either its sanctioning body NASCAR (which it owns as a private company) or track-operator ISC (which it owns the majority of voting publicly-traded stock). It also has asked for NASCAR to develop objective factors to determine which tracks get races.
NASCAR and ISC deny the speedway's claims that they conspire to keep non-ISC tracks, such as Kentucky Speedway, from obtaining Nextel Cup races.
"Kentucky Speedway threatens longstanding practices that many ACCUS members deem essential," the association argues in its legal brief. "And by challenging NASCAR's 'points' system, Kentucky Speedway calls into question sanctioning bodies' traditional freedom to structure an entertaining series for fans that builds excitement, not merely in individual races, but throughout the racing season." Scenedaily.com