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LOWE'S LOWDOWN; Off-track business arguably eclipses the Coca-Cola 600.
Byline: AL PEARCE
The show is usually the main thing, and the Coca-Cola 600 certainly had its highlights, but three off-track stories dominated the talk at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The first was Humpy Wheeler's "retirement'' after 33 years as the track's president and general manager and the president of Speedway Motorsports Inc. His May 21 announcement led many to assume that he and SMI boss Bruton Smith had had an irreparable falling-out.
"The suddenness is not my idea,'' said Wheeler, a vibrant 69. "I'd have liked to have stayed, maybe part-time [to orchestrate the track's 50th anniversary next year]. But it's time to go, and I'm not looking forward to it.''
Neither man would offer details behind the abrupt departure. Smith skipped Wheeler's going-away moment, instead sending his son, Marcus, undoubtedly a candidate to succeed one of racing's best promoters.
The next day, Bruton Smith announced plans to buy the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. And despite NASCAR's repeated denials, he prattled on about scoring a Cup date next year.
"I don't see any scenario for a race in Kentucky in 2009,'' said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.
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Source: HighBeam Research, LOWE'S LOWDOWN; Off-track business arguably eclipses the Coca-Cola...