Smack: Penske move has Keselowski on fast track (cont'd)

3. Atlanta Motor Speedway is experiencing record ticket sales for its Sunday night race. But will one big weekend keep it viable as a two-race site?

Joe Menzer: Well, I'm glad to hear sales are going well. When I was down there for the spring race, the crowd was abysmal. But it seemed like all the promotion they were doing even leading up to that event was pointing toward this Labor Day weekend deal.

Labor of Love

"People are talking about it and getting excited, and you can just feel the momentum building," Ed Clark says of AMS' Labor Day weekend night race. "It's new, it's different, and we're looking at it like a new event, not like we've moved an event. This is like a new beginning."

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David Caraviello: First of all, glad to see Atlanta is having some success at the ticket office. They're good people, that's a good race track, and they deserve it. Monday, according to the track, was the best single day of ticket sales they've ever had. Nice to hear it. They've really promoted the heck out of this race in the city, which strangely is often a tough place for them to sell tickets. No shortage of billboards and radio ads. It all appears to be working.

Raygan Swan: I will admit my bias up front, Atlanta is my second favorite city, behind Indy, so they deserve both dates, absolutely! Way over Chicagoland or California, and it's a great area to sightsee and take in a race. I'm glad to see the ticket sales are up.

Joe Menzer: Um, you can't decide who gets to keep two dates based on your shopping experiences. So while Raygs is right about Atlanta deserving two dates over California (there is only one Cup race per year at the moment in Chicago), if Kentucky is ever to get a date it has to come from within the SMI family of tracks. That means Atlanta.

Raygan Swan: And I haven't been in a while but is the traffic better now with the highway improvements? And yes Joe, even though I shop like a champ in Chicago, Atlanta has the Coke museum and the CNN Center, both of which I love!

David Caraviello: I will admit, I liked Atlanta a lot more before they tore down Buckhead Village. But regardless, there's a lot of enthusiasm for this race, and it looks like they're going to have a nice crowd. The question -- can they sustain it, and carry it over into next spring? That's going to be key. Is this a permanent Atlanta rebirth, or just for one night?

Raygan Swan: I think that depends on the outcome of the race and the continuation of the questionable economy. Also, the weather will play a factor.

Joe Menzer: Guys, it's simple. If the lawsuit thing gets settled in Kentucky, one of Atlanta's dates will almost certainly end up there. And they can keep building on this Labor Day deal until it's their own tradition.

Raygan Swan: I hope it doesn't rain, but isn't Mark Aumann, the "Rain Man," going to cover this one?

Joe Menzer: Um, I think Aumann might be covering for us. But at least we made it through Bristol without a delay. As for AMS, they're better off selling out one race than putting half-full crowds in the stands for two.

David Caraviello: The track is trying to mitigate the effects of the economy somewhat by selling more tickets in the metro area. As far as the track holding on to two dates, looks like 2010 may be the make-or-break year. You'd have to think Bruton Smith will get that Kentucky situation settled before the 2011 schedule comes out. Oh, and by the way -- I like the two-day show. Everything on Saturday and Sunday. What a concept. Talk about doing something to help fans in this economy -- preventing folks from spending extra nights in hotel rooms is a good one. I'd like to see more tracks do that.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, but our Marriott points would take a hit. That would hurt. And where else do you see a Cup date coming from within the SMI family? I mean, he's still trying to get two dates for Las Vegas, too.

Raygan Swan: I can't wait until 2011. Kentucky needs a date now for my travel sake and the sake of my unborn child! Can someone pass that along to the powers that be?

Joe Menzer: That would be like a home game for you and me, Raygs. I'm all for it.

David Caraviello: Kentucky would be a home game for Joe? Did the Menzer clan relocate to Lexington?

Raygan Swan: Or Henderson?

David Caraviello: Or Stinking Creek?

Raygan Swan: Ha! Is that really a place?

Joe Menzer: Come on, man. You know I'm an Ohio guy. It's right down the road from Cincinnati, more or less. And I drive past the Stinking Creek Road exit on I-75 every time I drive to Ohio to see family. And I tell the same sorry joke that my kids don't think is funny.

David Caraviello: Oh, please go ahead ...

Joe Menzer: You know, like, "It sure smells around here." But it's all in the delivery. You say it right before they can see the signs up ahead.

David Caraviello: Sheesh. With lines like that, Joe will be first up to cover the inaugural race at Stinking Creek Speedway!

Raygan Swan: He's here all season, ladies and gentlemen!

The opinions expressed are those solely of the writer.