(By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service)
Posted: Thursday,March 31st, 2011
In what is a growing philosophical division between International Speedway Corporation and Speedway Motorsports properties, Kansas Speedway joined the ranks of ISC tracks that will hold Sprint Cup qualifying for at least one of its events on Saturday.
According to track president Pat Warren, the move is appropriate in an economic climate where gas prices are approaching $4 per gallon.
“We feel that moving Sprint Cup qualifying from Friday to Saturday will allow fans to be more involved in the entire weekend’s festivities while easing some travel and lodging concerns,” Warren said. “Our fans will be able to see Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series qualifying in addition, to the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 truck series event on the same day.”
KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 04: A general view of race action during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods at the Kansas Speedway on October 4, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
For its June race weekend, Kansas has scheduled both truck and Cup qualifying for the morning of Saturday, June 4, with the truck race to follow. Qualifying for the Oct. 9 Cup race will remain on Friday.
Kansas is the fourth of 12 ISC Cup tracks to move qualifying for at least one of its Cup events on Saturday, joining Phoenix, Martinsville and Michigan. Independently owned Pocono Raceway and Dover International Speedway also will hold Saturday qualifying.
Talladega Superspeedway, an ISC property, and family-owned Indianapolis Motor Speedway already hold qualifying sessions on Saturday.
Whether qualifying is held on Friday or Saturday, top speeds in Friday’s practice sessions determine the order in which Cup drivers take time trials, from slowest to fastest.
Marcus Smith, president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, which owns eight Cup tracks, told Sporting News he is committed to keeping Friday a meaningful part of the weekend experience and, as such, did not plan to institute Saturday qualifying.
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