CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2007--Speedway
Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:TRK) has agreed to purchase New Hampshire
International Speedway from Bob and Gary Bahre for $340 million in
cash. The agreement was announced today by O. Bruton Smith, founder,
chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. The
acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008.
To align with other SMI-owned speedway brands, the track will be
renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway following completion of the
acquisition.
The speedway, which opened in 1990 and hosts two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Series events each year, is located about one hour north of Boston in
Loudon, N.H. According to the latest census numbers, the population
within 200 miles of the speedway is more than 18 million people. The
venue is easily accessible via Interstate highways from all metro
areas in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.
Located on approximately 1,100 acres, the multi-use complex is the
largest sports facility in New England and features a 1.058-mile oval
speedway, with chair-back seating for 92,000 spectators, and a
1.6-mile road course.
The speedway hosts the only NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch
Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events held in the six-state
New England region. Both NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races regularly sell
out and exceed the NFL Super Bowl in attendance.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our company to grow our
business as we continue to invest in this sport and the motorsports
industry," said Smith.
Smith added that he has offered Bob Bahre the opportunity to
remain associated as a consultant with the track that he built.
In addition to the major NASCAR races, the track hosts several
regional professional racing series, including the NASCAR Grand
National Division, NASCAR Busch East Series and the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour. Amateur series events complete the schedule with SCCA
sports cars, motorcycles, World Karting Association go-karts and
racing schools.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway will join a strong portfolio of SMI
facilities. The company also owns and operates Atlanta Motor Speedway,
Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., Infineon Raceway in Sonoma,
Calif.; Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord,
N.C.; and Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Texas.
With this acquisition, the company will own race tracks in the
West, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest, including four of the
nation's top-10 metropolitan markets.
The breakdown includes: the sixth-largest market (Infineon/San
Francisco); the fifth-largest market (Texas/Dallas-Ft. Worth); the
seventh-largest market (New Hampshire/Boston); the ninth-largest
market (Atlanta); the 25th-largest market (Lowe's/Charlotte); the
41st-largest market (Las Vegas); and the 92nd-largest market
(Bristol/Tri-Cities).
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. will promote 13 NASCAR-sanctioned
Sprint (formerly NEXTEL) Cup races in 2008 and nine NASCAR-sanctioned
Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series events. Combined seating for the
seven SMI facilities will exceed 850,000 permanent seats.
About Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. is a leading promoter, marketer and
sponsor of motorsports activities in the United States. The company
owns and operates Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway,
Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and
Texas Motor Speedway. The company also provides souvenir merchandising
services through its SMI Properties subsidiary; provides radio
programming, production and distribution through its Performance
Racing Network subsidiary; develops electronic and media promotional
programming and distributes wholesale and retail racing apparel
through The Source International subsidiary; and manufactures and
distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its
600 Racing subsidiary. It also co-owns Motorsports Authentics, a joint
venture with International Speedway Corporation formed in August, 2005
to produce, market and sell licensed motorsports merchandise.
This news release contains forward-looking statements,
particularly statements with regard to the Company's future operations
and financial results. There are many factors that affect future
events and trends of the Company's business including, but not limited
to, consumer and corporate spending sentiment; air travel;
governmental regulations; military actions; national or local
catastrophic events; the success of and weather surrounding NASCAR,
IRL, NHRA and other racing events; our relationship with NASCAR and
other sanctioning bodies; the success of expense reduction efforts;
capital projects; expansion; economic conditions; stock repurchases;
financing needs; insurance; litigation; taxes; oil and gas activities
and associated profitability; geopolitical situations in foreign
countries; and other factors outside of management control. These
factors and other factors, including those contained in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results or events to differ materially from management's views
and expectations. Inclusion of any information or statement in this
news release does not necessarily imply that such information or
statement is material. The Company does not undertake any obligation
to release publicly revised or updated forward-looking information,
and such information included in this news release is based on
information currently available and may not be reliable after this
date.
CONTACT: Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Jerry Gappens, 704-455-3209
or
Lauri Wilks, 704-455-3239
SOURCE: Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
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