NASCAR keeps saying no. Kentucky Speedway keeps saying, well, why not?

        The speedway said it will keep fighting for a Winston Cup date, although NASCAR officials offer little hope. Kentucky's relentless optimism recently prompted the Charlotte Observer to wonder:

        “What part of "no' don't you understand?”

        NASCAR president Mike Helton told the Enquirer on June 13 Kentucky probably would not get a Winston Cup date in 2003. The timing of Helton's remarks, just before Kentucky's featured Busch weekend, irked speedway chairman Jerry Carroll.

        “They know they've got to grow,” Carroll said. “They say the schedule is full, but I don't think it is. If they can get enough purse, I think they'll go anywhere.”

        The speedway broke ground in July 1998, proclaiming a Winston Cup race its ultimate goal. Track publicists dubbed it, “The $152 million gamble,” referring to the speedway's price tag.

        There were two crowds of 60,000-plus (for Craftsman Trucks and the IRL) in the inaugural 2000 season. Crowds topped 70,000 for Busch races in 2001 and '02, respectively.

        A crowd of 40,000 is expected for the next race, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race July 13. That would double the average Truck crowd.

        Great numbers.

        But all anyone asks about is Winston Cup.

        “It's frustrating, I'm not going to lie to you,” speedway general manager Mark Cassis said. “When Mike Helton says it's not going to happen ... that's tough.”

        Cassis said the track is confident NASCAR will move some Cup races from its Southeastern corridor (the Carolinas, Virginia, etal) to new markets. Right now, 19 of the series' 36 races are in the Southeast.

        “The problem here is not the facility,” Cassis said. “We've proved we can hold events. Right now, we're just going to go with a plan that it's going to happen in 2004.”

        NASCAR apparently feels otherwise. The same week Helton's comments appeared in the Enquirer, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter told the Louisville Courier-Journal he's not optimistic Kentucky ever will receive a Cup date.

        “I think the people there knew when they built the facility that getting a Winston Cup date was not likely,” Hunter said.

        NASCAR said its schedule is virtually maximized with 36 Cup dates annually, and that Kentucky is too close to Cup venues such as Michigan; Indianapolis; Bristol, Tenn.; and Talladega, Ala.

        Some NASCAR insiders think Kentucky could get a Cup date, but only if Carroll sells the track to International Speedway Corporation. ISC, led by NASCAR's founding Bill France family, owns 11 Winston Cup venues. Cassis said ISC has not approached Kentucky about a sale.

        “It's frustrating, but it's not the end-all,” Cassis said. “Any way we can make it happen, we'll try.”

        NASCAR NIGHT: The popular “NASCAR Night” returns to Lawrenceburg Speedway tonight. NASCAR greats Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough are scheduled to appear, along with Winston Cup drivers Jimmy Spencer and Jeff Green.

        The event — 700 WLW Day at the Races — features a celebrity race (3:45p.m.) including Boomer Esiason, Cris Collinsworth and Bob Huggins. Cup drivers will sign autographs and participate in a Race of Champions at 8p.m.

        The card also includes Pro Stocks/Modifieds racing. Gates open at 2p.m. For information call (812) 539-4700 or visit www.lawrenceburgspeedway.com.

        LOCAL SCENE: Cincinnati driver B.J. Zacharias drove for the fourth-place team in the GT Class at the Six Hours of the Glen race last Sunday at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

        Zacharias' three-man team finished 11th overall, driving a Porsche 911 GT3R. Zacharias is driving this weekend in the American LeMans Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, about 60 miles north of Columbus.

       E-mail Tom Groeschen at tgroeschen@enquirer.com

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