NASCAR For Sale?

[Dyson Mazda]

Could @NASCAR be sold and its track operators merged or even included in such a deal?

— While NASCAR said in a statement it's not for sale, recent developments have fueled speculation and it's been a major topic of discussion among motorsports execs.

https://twitter.com/A_S12/status/963052063008743424

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...epth/Main.aspx

Yeah I don't have a SBD subscription but summarizing from the NASCAR Reddit thread:
- This would involve the sale of NASCAR, SMI, and ISC as a single entity for $3-5B
- Comcast is rumored to be interested
- NASCAR kind of knows they are in a tough spot after their TV contract expires in 2022

I still don't know where IMSA, Road Atlanta, and Sebring ownership fits into this whole structure. However, I would guess that it was bought and is still solely owned by Jim France. No one is really positive what the NASCAR ownership structure actually looks like. There are a lot of rumors that certain members of the family named "Brian" have sold out.

Anyways, this would drastically shake up the Motorsports picture in the United States if it were to happen and as far as M&A deals go, it makes a lot of sense for all three entities in play at this point in time. NASCAR needs a shakeup and this would certainly be that.

[NaBUru38]

Comcast would buy Nascar? I think it might.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

, Road Atlanta,

This is my only concern.

For a series that 2 decades ago was quite possibly the most popular national series in the world to what it is today is sad. I'm over the sadness, but hope it doesn't drag my home track down with it.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

This is my only concern.

For a series that 2 decades ago was quite possibly the most popular national series in the world to what it is today is sad. I'm over the sadness, but hope it doesn't drag my home track down with it.

Whyyyyyyy does Road Atlanta keep having this concern? I mean, I get it, there are real estate possibilities, but still.... How many more years does Petit Le Mans have to be a world-class, relevant event to get immunity from this stuff like Sebring and Daytona do?

It would go a long way to losing my interest in the sport if Road Atlanta went away, despite Petit Le Mans being such a major event. And yes, when I saw "Nascar for Sale?" in thread titles, I immediately went right to this thought too. Road Atlanta should be above this concern at this point.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by RWill2073

Whyyyyyyy does Road Atlanta keep having this concern? I mean, I get it, there are real estate possibilities, but still.... How many more years does Petit Le Mans have to be a world-class, relevant event to get immunity from this stuff like Sebring and Daytona do?

It would go a long way to losing my interest in the sport if Road Atlanta went away, despite Petit Le Mans being such a major event. And yes, when I saw "Nascar for Sale?" in thread titles, I immediately went right to this thought too. Road Atlanta should be above this concern at this point.

Plenty of people with money have ruined plenty things at full strength. Case in point being the subject of this thread.


Sebring has nothing but orange groves and the 12 hrs. Daytona is beaches, bike week, the speedway, air brush t-shirts and beaches (yes, x2). There's many more factors at play around Flowery Branch and Braselton and I don't think we can compare to the other locations.

If someone needs to sell, anyone can buy. That's my concern. I can't fret over what I can't control and I don't see the next 5 to 10 an issue... after that? Riverside was very strong a one point. Sprawl eventually got it. Very few places on the planet are sprawling like the I-85 corridor. One can hope that it's foundations are solid enough...

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Plenty of people with money have ruined plenty things at full strength. Case in point being the subject of this thread.


Sebring has nothing but orange groves and the 12 hrs. Daytona is beaches, bike week, the speedway, air brush t-shirts and beaches (yes, x2). There's many more factors at play around Flowery Branch and Braselton and I don't think we can compare to the other locations.

If someone needs to sell, anyone can buy. That's my concern. I can't fret over what I can't control and I don't see the next 5 to 10 an issue... after that? Riverside was very strong a one point. Sprawl eventually got it. Very few places on the planet are sprawling like the I-85 corridor. One can hope that it's foundations are solid enough...

The only thing I can think of to really save it is the costs that would be involved in truly cleaning up. I'm sure some case can be made for the required clean-up costing more than the land is truly worth. To a point of course, but it doesn't seem like that is a short-term pressure. To last another 25 years? Maybe not so safe by then

[jjvincent]

Do any of you realize that Road Atlanta pretty much says busy all year. It's not just the Petit LeMans that keeps it going. Literally, if they only had they Petit, they would have been out of business many years ago. The business structure for racetracks in the US has improved greatly in the last 30 years. There was the gloom and doom where classic places were shut down but that was literally because the tracks sat dormant for 48 weeks per year. Thus, homes were built and the land just got too valuable. Today, these places stay busy 48 weeks per year, thus they create tax revenue along with all of those racers that need to eat and sleep.

People need to stop using the 1980 mindset. It's a PIA to tear down a racetrack plus the environmental issues that pop up (which all racetracks have) make it something nobody wants to touch.

I grew up in STL and our local track MAR was shut down in 1983 and it took about 30 years for them to finally start building on it. They even ran just the drag strip for another 20 just waiting for all of those homes to move in. Even at that, half the track is still there. Just like where I am today. Nazareth Speedway was shut down in 2004 but the only activity has been to move the stands to Watkins Glen. Other than that, it sits and is an eyesore. Why is this? Simple, lots of level farmland with no EPA issues. Why spend the money to try to demolish an old racetrack and then deal with all of the environmental surprises that lay underneath. Guess who owns the track? ISC. They bought it to shut it down and sell to a developer for $18M who was to put in a Wal Mart, 700 homes and expand the Brown Daub Dealership. None of that happened.

We all cry about the old tracks that have shut down but the reality is that we got a boatload more today. I can tell you that in 1985, we all thought all sportscar tracks were doomed. Boy, were we wrong about that prediction. Even ISC was wrong when they bought PPIR. That corridor was booming in CO with all of this real estate. So, ISC shut the track down and it sat. Finally a group bought it and opened it back up again. So that shutting the track down because of the I-25 corridor was exploding with growth back in 2005, never really panned out like ISC thought it was going to.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

Yeah I don't have a SBD subscription but summarizing from the NASCAR Reddit thread:
- This would involve the sale of NASCAR, SMI, and ISC as a single entity for $3-5B
- Comcast is rumored to be interested
- NASCAR kind of knows they are in a tough spot after their TV contract expires in 2022

I still don't know where IMSA, Road Atlanta, and Sebring ownership fits into this whole structure. However, I would guess that it was bought and is still solely owned by Jim France. No one is really positive what the NASCAR ownership structure actually looks like. There are a lot of rumors that certain members of the family named "Brian" have sold out.

Anyways, this would drastically shake up the Motorsports picture in the United States if it were to happen and as far as M&A deals go, it makes a lot of sense for all three entities in play at this point in time. NASCAR needs a shakeup and this would certainly be that.

IMSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nascar, which is a private corporation so we will never know its structure. That being said, I'm assuming a sale would include all parts of Nascar.

ISC is a publicly traded company where several members of the France family serve on the board. SMI is also a publicly traded company with no one from Nascar on the board. Neither of these companies could be part of a single sale. I think this would actually discourage a sale of Nascar.

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

This is my only concern.

For a series that 2 decades ago was quite possibly the most popular national series in the world to what it is today is sad. I'm over the sadness, but hope it doesn't drag my home track down with it.

As long as Road Atlanta stays part of the Nascar organization, I think all is well.

Originally Posted by RWill2073

Whyyyyyyy does Road Atlanta keep having this concern? I mean, I get it, there are real estate possibilities, but still.... How many more years does Petit Le Mans have to be a world-class, relevant event to get immunity from this stuff like Sebring and Daytona do?

It would go a long way to losing my interest in the sport if Road Atlanta went away, despite Petit Le Mans being such a major event. And yes, when I saw "Nascar for Sale?" in thread titles, I immediately went right to this thought too. Road Atlanta should be above this concern at this point.

Those two tracks are not being swallowed up by a growing metropolis. You can help by not moving here. Tell your friends too. It's not that I don't like you, we're just full.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

IMSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nascar, which is a private corporation so we will never know its structure. That being said, I'm assuming a sale would include all parts of Nascar.

ISC is a publicly traded company where several members of the France family serve on the board. SMI is also a publicly traded company with no one from Nascar on the board. Neither of these companies could be part of a single sale. I think this would actually discourage a sale of Nascar.



As long as Road Atlanta stays part of the Nascar organization, I think all is well.



Those two tracks are not being swallowed up by a growing metropolis. You can help by not moving here. Tell your friends too. It's not that I don't like you, we're just full.

Don't worry about me. I realized I had to move away when the one-paved-road town of Loganville had begun to get brutal rush hour traffic by the time I was in high school.

And I know it has more variables than Sebring and Daytona, but I hate the pins and needles feeling I get about Road Atlanta every time a potential sale is talked about. It's my home track, always will be no matter where I'm living, and I am sentimental to it. Plus it has one the best and biggest races of the year there and is picturesque. I would be heartbroken to see it gone.

[WolfsburgRS]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Those two tracks are not being swallowed up by a growing metropolis. You can help by not moving here. Tell your friends too. It's not that I don't like you, we're just full.

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

This is my only concern.

For a series that 2 decades ago was quite possibly the most popular national series in the world to what it is today is sad. I'm over the sadness, but hope it doesn't drag my home track down with it.

Post #3. Start of the gloom and doom.

[jjvincent]

Forget Barber. Then we will go back to the early GA days and finish off the year at Daytona. We start Saturday with a 2hr PC race from 8-10am. Then we have a 6 hour MTSC race from 12-6. After that, the WT race from 11pm to 9am. That way there's a boatload of racing, no sound ordinances, it'll most likely be warmer and lots of camping space. Everyone gets a treat to have the big race run mostly at night. Fans then can leave on Sunday and go home to be at work for Monday. The awards banquet can be held at the Motorsports Hall of Fame Of America Museum at the track.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Post #3. Start of the gloom and doom.

Not in the least bit, but I'm not getting any further into semantics.

[WolfsburgRS]

Originally Posted by jjvincent

Just for me, there have been 3X the amount of tracks open as compared to the ones that have closed. Certain ones I honestly thought they would have been gone because they were POS facilities yet have turned their act around:

1. Nelson Ledges
2. Summit Point (how this place survived is a testament of someone knowing what to do because it was a dump in the 70's and the major celebration was they finally repaved it 8 months ago. It literally became the gold standard of the worst racetrack for at least 30 years).
3. Blackhawk Farms
4. Hallet
5. Grattan
6. Waterford Hills

In the end, if Road Atlanta can't survive, it's their own fault.

Hey now! Us mid atlantic types love our summit point. yeah its still a little....dated...but it has its charms

[mountainstar]

Nascar for sale? Why not? The organization has been flat line with growth for years, time to pop chute and cash out for a few billion.

[JHamilton]

Where's Loganville? I understand, I grew up on dirt road in Stone Mountain.

I feel the same way. I work for one of the larger developers near Road Atlanta but they grew up there and seem to understand it's importance. Either way, I'm first to chain myself to a bulldozer if needed. I'll save you a spot.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Where's Loganville? I understand, I grew up on dirt road in Stone Mountain.

I feel the same way. I work for one of the larger developers near Road Atlanta but they grew up there and seem to understand it's importance. Either way, I'm first to chain myself to a bulldozer if needed. I'll save you a spot.

It's almost in Between, maxie!

I'll be there. Don't ask me to chain myself to a tree, but I'll chain myself to road Atlanta.

[fieldodreams79]

Whatever the asking price for NASCAR, it's too much and I don't think any smart investor will buy it right now. It's probably worth a third of what it was 10 years ago, unless you can allocate some value in the Monster Energy Girls.

[broadrun96]

Thanks but hopefully none of that at Road Atlanta. That would price the groups who do use the track right out the door. Plus there is VERY little room outside of the track walls and work areas that they could buy. Believe the property edge is within feet of the walls from 2 out to 7 so no expansion there. There has been off track construction behind 8 for other events that was just completed recently to use the extra space they had. And the track runs in a shoe string budget as it is.

And ISC has spent a TON of money in the last couple of years around the track and they have a list of things to improve that's years long already.

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Thanks but hopefully none of that at Road Atlanta. That would price the groups who do use the track right out the door. Plus there is VERY little room outside of the track walls and work areas that they could buy. Believe the property edge is within feet of the walls from 2 out to 7 so no expansion there. There has been off track construction behind 8 for other events that was just completed recently to use the extra space they had. And the track runs in a shoe string budget as it is.

And ISC has spent a TON of money in the last couple of years around the track and they have a list of things to improve that's years long already.

Here's the current property record for Road Atlanta. When you go to the site then click on maps and it'll give you the property line.
https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Ap...=15028B000011A

[broadrun96]

Except the owners have said multiple times they can not work beyond the walls there as they do not own the land there. And there are restrictions in that area as well due to noise and watershed concerns. Just going by statements made by track officials and discussions I have been lucky enough to be a part of being at the track early with officials and actually asking questions about why things are the way they are. And have requested a few things they have said are in the works. The area outside of 8 has storage and equipment within it, and one of the garages full of old signage and advertising.

[jjvincent]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Except the owners have said multiple times they can not work beyond the walls there as they do not own the land there. And there are restrictions in that area as well due to noise and watershed concerns. Just going by statements made by track officials and discussions I have been lucky enough to be a part of being at the track early with officials and actually asking questions about why things are the way they are. And have requested a few things they have said are in the works. The area outside of 8 has storage and equipment within it, and one of the garages full of old signage and advertising.

According to the official property lines, they can. So, who do you believe, the officials or what the official property lines say? If it was me, I'd believe what is on the deed, not what officials have been feeding people.

Thanks but hopefully none of that at Road Atlanta. That would price the groups who do use the track right out the door.

What events do they run at Road Atlanta would be chased out of there because of a clubhouse and town homes? Right now, NJMP and VIR hold similar events yet both have clubhouses and town homes.

What you need to look at is COTA, They figured they could crank out high prices for rental. It took about 1 year for COTA to figure out that an F1 track does not mean, F1 prices for all. They tried and found themselves sitting around with nobody using the facility. In the end, don't mistake having a better facility to mean bigger prices and the lower level guys going away. There's too much competition out there. The market dictates the price. Even a big place like Daytona still runs anything they can find.

[broadrun96]

The fact that you believe that is a 100 percent accurate statement of property lines means you have never dealt with Georgia online deed maps. I have, and even in the current tax record and deed maps lines are WAY off and have to be resubmitted constantly. I have to request surveys weekly to determine ownership boundaries. Plus they may not be able to build on that land as part of a covenant on their deed. I have no way of knowing that information and neither do you without requesting a legal copy of it through a record request, usually with a justification for such request.

As for VIR, that track has used the condo and allowed living space on the track to fund themselves. Road Atlanta would not be allowed rezoning as they have enough trouble with the county and new residents already. I know a few people who own there and it's NOT cheap at all and rates have gone through the roof. There was an early attempt to offer deals to those who moved in to Chateu Elan country club similar deals for track access and it was laughed at by most.

COTA is supported by millions from the state of Texas still. Check back in 10 years on that one, but apparently they are concerned about their rental future. But I've only read a few things as I find the track completely distasteful and repulsive with 100k 'camping spots'