Demise of St. Louis track won't add events to Superspeedway

Dover Motorsports has canceled next year’s NASCAR races at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., after closing the company’s Memphis track last year, but Nashville Superspeedway remains on the 2011 schedule.

“It’s tough to see a sister track not be on the schedule next year, but it will have no impact on our operation,” Cliff Hawks, vice-president and general manager of Nashville Superspeedway, said in response to the Dover announcement.

When Dover closed its Memphis track the Superspeedway inherited its NASCAR Camping World Series race. However, Hawks said his track would receive none the three lost Gateway events – two Nationwide Series races and a truck race.

“We already have our schedule planned for 2011 – two Nationwide Series races and two Camping World Series races,” he said. “The only thing that we haven’t finalized is our hope that we can run two doubleheader weekends next year. Earlier this season ran a Nationwide/truck series doubleheader and the response was very positive. We’re got our fingers crossed that we can run two such doubleheaders next season.”

Consolidating next year’s four races into two weekends would reduce the track’s expenses but it also would condense the amount of exposure it receives. Attention would be focused on the Gladeville facility for only two weekends a year.

Gateway International Speedway will proceed with its 2010 schedule that includes an Oct. 23 Nationwide race in which Danica Patrick is scheduled to participate. But without any NASCAR events next year, the track’s fate is sealed.

“Economics dictate that we evaluate all of our options for this facility, including its possible sale,” said Denis McGlynn, Dover Motorsports president and CEO.

The Superspeedway concludes is 10th season with an Aug. 7 truck race, and Hawks remains optimistic about its future despite the struggles throughout the sport.

“We’re in talks with some potential sponsors for 2011 and beyond, including one possible five-year agreement,” he said. “I remain very positive about our track’s future.”