According to a press release October 30th 2009 the parent company of Memphis Motorsports Park has decided to close the park and assign the schedule Nascar and ASA event’s to other tracks. As of the time of this article NHRA has not said where it will be moving the Drag Races but I expect them to release the change soon. The track is owned by Dover Motorsports Inc. who also owns Gateway in St. Louis, Nashville Superspeedway and Dover International. Memphis was in the process of being sold to Gulf Coast Entertainment Company but the deal fell through after Gulf Coast could not secure financing according to Dover Motorsports Inc. Rumors have the selling price at around 10 million dollars, if anyones interested. Dover Motorsports has expressed that the track is for sale but will closed until sold. Refunds of tickets are availible for the 2010 events will be mailed out to fans in the next few weeks.
I think I am safe in saying this decission to close until sold is based strictly on money. The Company is expected to release it’s Third Quarter Earnings on November 2nd as well as details relative to closure of Memphis. Reports in 2004 stated that the facility grossed 20 plus million and also produced an extra 50 plus million dollars for Millington and Memphis. It is safe to say that losing 70 million dollars in revenue will stagger any community. NHRA Driver John Force was quoted as saying “he expects Memphis to return better than ever”. Lets hope so.
Memphis Motorsports Park host Nascar Nationwide Series, Nascar Craftsman Truck Series, NHRA, ASA as well as Pinks by The Speed Channel, Pass Time by The Speed Channel and dozen of local and regional events. It will be deeply missed.
Submitted by Clayton Williams