LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Officials with the Kentucky Speedway announced some big changes Tuesday for the Sparta track in the hopes of averting a repeat of what was a disastrous start to its NASCAR Sprint Cup history.
Track owner Bruton Smith and state leaders announced millions of dollars worth of improvements including added land for parking, a professional service to oversee parking, new ramps, and more rest rooms.
That big and potentially dangerous mess on Interstate 71 July 9 was one of the biggest stories of the year in the Commonwealth. While some fans are happy about the investments and improvements, they're not ready to give the Kentucky Speedway the green light just yet.
It's the NASCAR nightmare race fans like Glenn Fish still can't shake.
"Eight hours to go a one hour drive," Fish remembered. "I mean we were 10 miles outside of the track, and we thought everything was great."
That was until Fish and his 7-year-old son Adam came to a dead stop. Thousands of fans trapped on I-71 feared they would run out of gas. Some dumped their cars. Ironically, only saving grace for Fish was "Cars." Not those in front of him on the road, but the movie in his portable DVD player. His son watched the two-hour movie four times.
"I think he would have gone insane in that car just sitting there without it," said Fish.
The father and son eventually made it to their first NASCAR race, but countless others didn't. That is why many fans are flying the caution flag at the new purchase of 143 acres across from the Kentucky Speedway for more parking.
"If the only improvement they make is to put a big parking lot right there at the exit," Fish said, "I'm going to have serious reservations about that."
Louisville NASCAR veteran Michael Helm has been to 25 cup races including the Speedway's inaugural Sprint Cup race. He knew to leave early, but he saw problems once inside.
"There was nobody ushering anyone and no one telling anybody where to go," said Helm.
Speedway Motorsports is also promising to hire parking experts. But fans like Glenn Fish believe adding other lots with shuttles 10 to 15 miles out are a must by getting cars off the interstate.
"Just keep the buses rolling and make it part of the ticket price," said Fish. "They have to do something like that."
Will Fish go back? Only after seeing the results of the next race.
"I'm going to wait to hear what you guys say about it," he said of WAVE 3's coverage of the next big race, "and then, I'll make my decision after that."
Helm believes the Kentucky Speedway will eventually get the hang of it and hopes fans will give it another go around the track.
Copyright 2011 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Bruton Smith
Glenn Fish
Adam Fish (Source: Glenn Fish)
Michael Helm
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WAVE, a Raycom Media Station. 