HAMPTON, Ga.,None — Atlanta Motor Speedway opened in 1960 and every year, for the last 50 years, it has hosted two of the elite NASCAR races. That all changes in 2011.
Track officials confirmed to Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein that Atlanta Motor Speedway is losing the March NASCAR Sprint Cup race starting in 2011.
AMS officials were expected to announce they are keeping the Labor Day race at a news conference scheduled for noon.
NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said last week changes to the 2011 schedule would be impactful, Wednesday that rang true for race fans in Atlanta.
"Atlanta Motor speedway has provided top-quality racing entertainment to spectators from across the nation and around the world for 50 years," said speedway president, Ed Clark. "While our schedule will change, our commitment to the racing fans who have been the heart and soul of Atlanta Motor Speedway through these years will be stronger than ever. Our entire staff will be even more driven to produce the top annual sporting event in Georgia for many years to come."
Speedway Motorsports INC, which owns and operates Atlanta Speedway and eight other tracks, is losing one Atlanta race, but gaining a race at their Kentucky track.
Kentucky Speedway has hosted Nationwide races and truck races, but never before a Sprint Cup race. Las Vegas Motor Speedway, another SMI property, was rumored to pick up a second Sprint Cup race in 2011.
Losing a Sprint Cup Race at AMS will cost Hampton and the surrounding areas millions, if not billions, of dollars in economic impact.
An independent study on the economic impact of sports by the Atlanta Sports Council in 2000 found the speedway accounted for more than half of metro Atlanta's revenue derived from sports. At that time, the speedway brought in more than $2 billion to the region, more than the Hawks, Braves and Falcons combined.
According to Hampton city officials, February's NASCAR Sprint cup race generated $165 million dollars for the local economy.
The official 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule is expected to be released on Tuesday.
WSBTV
