LOUDON, N.H. – New Hampshire International Speedway owner Bob Bahre maintains his track is not for sale, but also says that could change.
“The track isn’t for sale, but my son (Gary) got sick a few years back and he would never want to run it alone, I can tell you that now,” Bob Bahre said.
“I’m going to be 80 next year. If I die tomorrow, he’d probably sell it before the funeral.”
Bahre, who maintains a residence in Paris Hill, was joking about the pre-funeral sale, but said he receives calls from interested buyers probably every six weeks or so.
Speedway Motorsports Inc. owner Bruton Smith has made little secret of his interest in the speedway, and International Speedway Corp. also has expressed its interest, should it be for sale, the Charlotte Observer has learned.
“For now, we’ll just keep going the way it is,” Bob Bahre said. “I feel pretty good. I get tired in the afternoons.
“The doctors told me about two years ago that I have a bad valve in my heart. I said, I got 65 cars in my garage and half of those have bad values and they’re still going good.’ The doctors thought I was going nuts.”
Asked if he would hang on to the track as long as his health permits, Bahre replied: “Absolutely. Again, someday, maybe five to 10 years, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
In 1996, North Wilkesboro Speedway was sold to Bahre and Smith. Each took one of the track’s Cup dates, Bahre adding a second date to New Hampshire and Smith to Texas.
“I think Bruton is a very decent person. I honestly do. I like the guy. He calls about every five to six weeks. He just wants us to know he’s still there if anything happens,” Bahre said.
“I have a lot of respect for Bruton. I think he has done a lot for racing. At once we didn’t get along. But now I call him a friend.”
Should Bahre sell, he said as long as NASCAR wanted to remain in the Northeast, he would make sure racing stayed there.
“We built the place, but it’s the fans that made it what it is,” he said. “We do everything we can to please our fans and we’re not going to pull the rug out from under them for a couple bucks.”
Notes
Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Reed Sorenson and David Stremme say they look forward to the addition of their new teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya.
Montoya, recently released from his Formula One ride, will drive Ganassi’s No.42 Dodge next season.
“When you look at what he’s done, he’s obviously one of the greatest drivers in the world,” Sorenson said. “These cars are quite a bit different than what he is used to racing. They are going to be twice as worse on everything – turning, braking, downforce.”
Stremme said Montoya will come with a “fresh outlook.”
“He’s had success in everything he’s ever been in,” Stremme said. “From a driver’s standpoint, I think I will learn a lot. The guy’s a champion and he’s had success.
“I think Reed and I will be able to help him along, as we both grew up around stock car racing.”
Veteran Bill Elliott said he is open to returning to Cup racing full-time next season, but it would have to be with a team with the resources to perform well.
Elliott has been most recently linked with an opening at Red Bull Racing, which will is field two Toyotas next season. Brian Vickers has been signed to drive one entry.
“I’ve enjoyed where I’m at. When I quit in 2003 I said I wanted to run 12 to 15 races and I’ve fallen short of that the past two years,” Elliott said. “I wouldn’t say yes or wouldn’t say no.
“It all depends on what opportunity becomes available. If the right situation became available, yeah, I would consider doing it. I left a real good deal (at Evernham Motorsports) to stop running full-time and I can not lose sight of that, either.”
Robert Yates Racing development driver Stephen Leicht will attempt to make the next two Nextel Cup races at Pocono (Pa.) and Indianapolis, driving the No.90 Ford.
At 19, Leicht would become the youngest driver to compete in the Allstate 400 should he make the field at Indy. Leicht tested at Indianapolis last week, posting the sixth-fastest time among drivers Wednesday.
Fellow RYR development driver Matt McCall will replace Leicht in the No.90 Busch car next weekend at Martinsville, Va.
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