France: 'I Prefer the Race Stay in Charlotte'

ESPN reports

CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR chairman Brian France is not in favor of moving a Sprint Cup race from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Las Vegas.

Late last week, Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith said there was a 70 percent chance he would seek to move the October Chase race from CMS to his 1.5-mile track in Sin City.

That would leave the hub of NASCAR with only one point race, the Coca-Cola 600 in May, and the All-Star race held the week before.

France said during a Saturday state-of-union address at CMS there have been no discussions with Smith or SMI, but his preference is to "make the events where they are more successful.''

"We have gotten a long way with our position in motorsports because we've had historically important events, like this weekend, that happen every year that people can count on,'' France said.

"That said, for one reason or another, a certain market is not performing as well, it may be a better opportunity. We've seen that in the last five, six years or longer. We'll take a look at it. My preference would be to keep the event here in Charlotte.''