The suit was filed in Boone Circuit Court by Dennis Sams. It seeks unspecified damages from Florence Speedway and its operators, Jerry and Joshua King.

Sams' attorney, Donald Nageleisen of Covington, said his client received 10 facial fractures after two people attacked him Aug. 14.

Nageleisen alleges the duo had roamed the parking lot after the race trying to instigate a fight. He claims track management ignored the situation because they were scared.

Nageleisen claims the track was reckless for not providing security for those who camped overnight in the parking lot. He said track operators should have known bonfires were set, and that illegal drinking and drug use was going on.

The track is closed through March, and King couldn't be reached for comment Monday. An attorney for the track, Philip Combs of Florence, didn't return a phone message.

Florence Speedway, a half-mile dirt track on 43 acres along U.S. 42 in Union, features stock car racing Saturday nights from March through October. It was built in the late 1950s and has been operated by Jerry King since 1984.

As more homes were built on U.S. 42 in the mid-1990s, Boone County officials began receiving noise complaints from neighbors. Track operators responded by altering schedules so races didn't run past midnight.

Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore said neighbors used to complain about the track but that he has received few, if any, complaints since taking office in January 1999.

Dianna Braden, who lives across the street from the track, said she enjoys being a neighbor.

"Sure, it gets busy on Saturdays during the summer, but five months out of the year it's totally empty."

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com