Dover Motorsports closing Memphis mp

http://www.dovermotorsports.com/track/press/article.php?dir=200910&id=3283

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE-Symbol: DVD) announced today that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010.

As previously announced, the Memphis facility had been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf Coast was unable to secure financing.

“This was a difficult decision for us, but one that ultimately was dictated by economics,” said Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports. “We greatly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Memphis employees and their efforts to make Memphis such a great destination for the racing community – from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies. For all concerned, including the Memphis community, it is truly sad to see Memphis Motorsports Park taken off the racing schedule. NASCAR has approved the realignment of our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events from Memphis Motorsports Park to our Nashville and Gateway facilities.”

The realigned events and dates are as follows:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Nashville Superspeedway
April 2, 2010
(together with NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 3, 2010)

NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gateway International Raceway
October 23, 2010

An ASA race scheduled for next weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park will still be held at the track.

Ticket refunds for 2010 events will be mailed out to fans in the next few weeks.

The Company is expected to release its earnings for the third quarter on Monday, November 2 and will disclose additional financial details relative to the closure of its Memphis facility shortly.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD) is a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate four tracks in three states, and present more than 400 motorsports events each year. This includes 14 major, national events which include races sanctioned by NASCAR and NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc. owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn., and Nashville Superspeedway near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com. This release may contain forward-looking statements based on management’s beliefs and assumptions. Such statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to vary materially. Please refer to the SEC filings of DVD for a discussion of such factors.

Sad to see our beloved tracks close down. Our local 1/8 mi. track (Kanawa Valley )just across the river in WVA. has closed early for the season and is ForSale and not opening for the 2010 season unless a new owner opens it up.

I hate that, Memphis was a killer track . I enjoyed racing there

What the hell!!!??? Thats a lot of property to just let grow fallow? I'll bet Gateway is next. The Corperate conglomerate is going to kill drag racing.