THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 15, 1996 TAG: 9604150146
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB ZELLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The three men who control the fate of North Wilkesboro Speedway were conspicuous in their presence in the garage Sunday morning before the First Union 400.
NASCAR President Bill France and speedway co-owners Bruton Smith and Bob Bahre were all hanging around the back of the NASCAR trailer. And when they weren't answer reporters' questions, they were chatting, sometimes among themselves.
There was even a moment when Smith and Bahre, involved in something of a feud over NASCAR's oldest track, spoke. The brief conversation appeared to be cordial. It was the first time they've spoken since Daytona in February.
The one thing that was evident in all of this is that the Holly Farms 400 will run here on Sept. 29.
``We've got it on our schedule,'' France said.
``As far as I'm concerned, sure,'' said Smith. ``It's on the NASCAR schedule.''
Said Bahre: ``If Mr. Smith says there's going to be one here, there probably will be . . . I can't take one out without him taking one out. We've both got to agree. Of course you've got to remember that Bill France has the say.''
But France did little to clarify the murky situation, at least publicly.
``I don't like to ever forecast way out in front because it's so hard to make predictions,'' France said.
Will NASCAR go to Texas this year?
``Here today, I have no plans to go to Texas in 1996,'' France said. But he added: ``I never say never to anything. I would imagine someday we'll be in Texas.''
As for the conflict between Smith and Bahre: ``They're both over 21 and they're both successful businessmen in their own right, so I'm sure that they'll resolve any differences they have.''
Smith said he's made five offers to Bahre for his half of Wilkesboro.
``He's made us an offer to buy our half, but our half is not for sale, no matter what he pays us,'' Bahre said. ``We're not trying to be tough. We just bought it to have the date and we're not going to see it.''
Bahre said he would like to have the fall North Wilkesboro race in New Hampshire, ``but if we can't, we can't. Tickets go on sale a week from Monday'' for the fall North Wilkesboro race. ``If the tickets are sold, the race will be here.''
How long will the impasse continue? ``That's a guessing game,'' said Smith.
Can it be resolved in 1997?
``If we don't,'' said Bahre, ``it probably won't be resolved until 2010. I don't know, we're ready to resolve it now. But, hell, if (the races) stay here forever, it's not going to bother us. We've got $8 million tied up, but it's not the end of the world. It's got to get settled some day, but if it doesn't, it doesn't.''
But fans of North Wilkesboro probably should not get their hopes up for a Winston Cup future here beyond this fall.
When asked if he was concerned about losing North Wilkesboro as a NASCAR tradition, France said: ``North Wilkesboro has been an important part of NASCAR. But . . . Riverside was important to the series at that time.
``That track went away and we were able to move on.
``There are no guarantees that any track is going to remain on the schedule.'' by CNB