Nazareth oval hosts its final race
Nazarth's oval has hosted its final ever event.
Picture: ISC
Nazareth Speedway has hosted its final race and now faces an uncertain future.
The uniquely-shaped one-mile oval saw its final racing lap completed when Dan Wheldon won the IRL event. Track owner, the International Speedway Corporation, has moved both the IRL race and Busch series Nascar date to other tracks for 2005.
Track president Craig Rust admitted that difficulties with filling raceday grandstands to make the track profitable had caused its demise.
"While we've been able to do some great things at the speedway, we haven't been able to achieve the level of support that is necessary to grow our business," he said.
The future for Nazareth Speedway remains unclear, with no concrete announcement from ISC. Suggestions have ranged from using the facility for corporate events, private testing and even as a police training centre.
I think it'll be put on ice for a little bit. Then it will disappear.
Mario Andretti
After the IRL race, the circuits grandstands will be shipped off to the Watkins Glen road course, which has taken Nazareth's date on the IRL calendar.
However, the most likely scenario - at least in the long term - is that the land will be sold off for development.
The circuit has been synonymous with the Andretti family - Mario won the USAC race at his local track in 1969, while son Michael won the first CART race on the paved oval in 1987.
"There's a lot of history there," said Michael. "It's a shame to be losing it. Maybe when ISC took it over, it wasn't promoted the same way it was when Penske had the track. The market here is so good. We're an hour from New York and an hour from Philly.
"People in this area don't realize what they have in their back yard and what it could do for the local economy. It's frustrating for me, because I see other cities use their race tracks successfully."
His father sees a bleak future for the circuit he once had a part share in with Roger Penske and Danny Sullivan.
"Real estate here is valuable," says Mario. "If it's not going to be an income-producing venue, it's going to be plowed up and something else is going to be there. I can't see the facility carrying itself as a test and driving school site. I think it'll be put on ice for a little bit. Then it will disappear."
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