Sunday, May 07, 2000
Five Questions With: Jerry Carroll
By
Jerry Carroll, chairman and co-owner of the new Kentucky Speedway, is just 40 days from seeing his vision become reality. The 11/2-mile track, located in Sparta, Ky., about 40 miles southwest of Cincinnati) will feature a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race on its opening weekend of June 16-17.
Carroll and four other investors are sinking $153 million into the track — $100 million on the facility itself and $53 million on road construction. Carroll announced his venture Jan. 8, 1998, and construction began seven months later.
Today, the facility is nearly 90 percent complete and has encountered no major construction problems. The track, which will sit in a “bowl” carved out of rolling farmland, will host three major race weekends this year and eventually hopes to land a NASCAR Winston Cup race.
This week, Carroll answered five questions from Enquirer auto racing reporter Tom Groeschen.
1. You have three race weekends scheduled this year with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series, ARCA stock cars, and the Indy Racing League feature. What other events will be coming to the track?
We'll have a couple of concerts this year. There's Metallica on July 8th, and another one we're working on, maybe for October. Our goal for next year is to build on the NASCAR theme and pick up a Busch race, and then hopefully Winston Cup beyond that. We could have ASA (American Speed Association) races. We might put in a dirt oval for things like World of Outlaws. Our original plan showed a drag race track, but right now we don't plan to do it. Drag racing is very popular, but you can only take on so many things.
2. Getting a Winston Cup race has been your goal from the start. What is your target date for getting a Winston race?
We'll see what happens for 2002 or 2003. We never expected one before that. We don't know what NASCAR will do. All I can tell you is we're going to put on a great show and let the track speak for itself. It will be very fan-friendly and driver friendly, it's in a beautiful setting, and we think people will come back.
3. You have talked of making this a unique facility. What makes Kentucky Speedway different from other major tracks in the country?
The entire enviroment makes it different. We built the track into a rolling hillside and it will have a bowl effect, where you walk down into your seat. At most tracks, it's a flat piece of ground and the stands rise up into the sky. We have a terrific RV area that sits up on the hillside. We have lighting and garages and a sound system second to none. We'll eventually have a swimming pool in the infield, for the drivers and their families. No other track has that.
4. Who is your favorite NASCAR driver?
My favorite driver as a personality, without question, was Darrell Waltrip. Of course he's now a consultant of ours and he's near the end of his career, but he was the Jeff Gordon of his time. As far as the best driver now, I'm extremely impressed with Gordon. He and Dale Earnhardt, those guys are better than most.
5. Your first major concert at the Speedway features Metallica, Korn, and Kid Rock. Your favorite among those bands?
My favorite out of that group would be Frank Sinatra. But really, I'm for anybody that can bring 70,000 people into a place like those guys. Did you know we've already sold 35,000 tickets for that? You take all those groups and I don't think I've heard one song, but I'll be there for it.
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