NASCAR race depends on Kansas casino proposal

KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- As reported by the Kansas City Star: "Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corporation, should have the votes to bring a second NASCAR Sprint Cup race to Kansas City.

"All she needs now is for the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission to approve a $700 million hotel and casino plan proposed by Kansas Speedway and The Cordish Company.

"Kennedy told the commission on Wednesday at Kansas City Kansas Community College that if it selects the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino over three other casino proposals for Wyandotte County, she would ask the NASCAR Board of Directors for a second Sprint Cup weekend at Kansas Speedway.

"...From the day the track opened in 2001, Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger never hid his desire to secure a second Sprint Cup date to go with the annual fall weekend and the Indy Racing League weekend earlier in the year.

"Kansas failed to secure a second date in 2004-05 when NASCAR last realigned its schedule.

"...The Kansas Gaming and Racing Commission is expected to make its decision in late September — possibly during the Sprint Cup weekend on Sept. 27-28 at Kansas Speedway. If it selects the Kansas Speedway/Cordish plan, the hotel/casino likely would open in late 2010 or 2011, so the earliest the track could have two Sprint Cup races would be 2010, but more likely 2011..."