DOES NASCAR HAVE A “GET OUT OF JAIL FREE” CARD?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about conflicts of interest in racing.
Here’s a quote from that article:
"Is it really proper for a sanctioning body to own race tracks? Yeah, I know that
NASCAR doesn’t technically own any race tracks, but the family that owns NASCAR owns most
of the International Speedway Corporation stock. And when NASCAR is in the business of
deciding which tracks get a race, whose tracks do you think get the most favorable
consideration? ISC is involved in building a few new tracks around the country, and you
don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that those new tracks will get first
dibs on any new Winston Cup races that NASCAR decides to add to the schedule."

Now, I won’t admit to having a crystal ball, or even being a rocket
scientist. But if what David Poole writes about in his That’s
Racin’ column is true, then it looks like I was right on track (no pun intended).

Poole says that NASCAR is just about ready to announce that new
tracks in Kansas City and Chicago will be awarded Winston Cup races next year, bringing
the schedule to 36 points-paying events. Guess what? International Speedway Corporation
either owns or has an interest in both of those tracks.

NASCAR and ISC both need to tread carefully here. Just this week, a suit was filed against
NASCAR accusing "NASCAR, a racing organization based in Daytona Beach, Fla., of
violating anti-trust laws, racketeering, fraud, interference with advantageous
relationships, conspiracy, breach of contract and breach of duty."

That’s pretty heavy stuff. I’m sure NASCAR and ISC both have lawyers
who get paid more in an hour than I get in a year to advise them on stuff like this. But
Microsoft does too…and Microsoft is about to be broken up by the government. If I
remember correctly, Microsoft’s mess stared with a few private lawsuits, and that got the
government’s attention (and believe me, nowadays, you don’t want to get the government’s
attention).

There are several other tracks being built around the country that
deserve a Winston Cup date just as much as ISC’s tracks do. Before NASCAR gives ISC
another date they at least need to give the appearance of considering those other tracks
for a coveted Winston Cup date. The last thing stock car racing needs is a lawsuit brought
on by our overzelous government anti-trust lawyers. It’s bad enough that the government
has all but banned a completely legal substance (tobacco) and the affect that will one day
have on NASCAR racing.  But can you imagine the government telling NASCAR it can’t
race at Richmond or Daytona?