Here We Go Again: Smith Talks Moving Fall Race to Vegas

Bruton Smith's long-running battle with Cabarrus County is turning into something like a border war, and the Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO is talking about moving the battlefield from Concord to Sin City.

Smith told WBTV on Monday that it's a "70/30" bet that he will move the fall Bank of America 500 race from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which he also owns.

That would leave CMS with just two NASCAR race weekends instead of the three it currently has.

"I know you're not gonna cut this one out, but I've been having some strong conversations about one of these events being moved," Smith told WBTV's Paul Cameron in an exclusive interview. "And Las Vegas is a great place - it's the entertainment capital of the world - and they want another event." 

Smith says he's flown out to Vegas several times to talk about moving a Sprint Cup race to his track there. "They've made me offers to move one," Smith said. "But you can't just move the race though, doesn't NASCAR have to move it?" Cameron asked. "I know they would approve this," Smith responded. "And say the October race... Las Vegas. You're gonna get a lot of phone calls about this - I'm gonna predict that."

Smith says the idea of moving to Vegas is not just a fishing expedition. "I've made two trips out to Vegas and it costs money to go out there. I know all the powers out there," he told WBTV. "I have a lot of friends in Las Vegas - I have businesses out there, I have six businesses in Las Vegas." But what is this really about? 

It's about what it's always been about: money.

Smith and Cabarrus County officials have warred sporadically for several years now over money Smith says he is owed for improvements to roads surrounding the speedway.

Smith says he initially kept the track there after an $80 million deal was presented to him, $60 million from Cabarrus County and another $20 million from the state. Smith says the county still hasn't come through with their end of the deal. 

Smith said he could make more on moving the race to Las Vegas.

"Yes, yes, yes. Oh yes," he said. "Plus, we're discussing a ten-year contract for a lot of money every year." 

It's not like he hasn't threatened to move out of Cabarrus County altogether. That happened a couple of years ago, when the county came up with the incentive package to keep the track in place.

This is the latest salvo from Smith, to up the pressure on the local government in order to get what he says he was promised. 

Smith also has a love affair with Las Vegas, having convinced NASCAR to move its annual awards banquet from New York City to the desert city.

Smith said there was no timeline on the deal as yet, just that it was being worked on as if there were.

"Oh, now there you're pinning me down. I don't know how soon, that's just, it's something that's been in the stages now for at least a year. When the game is over, it'll be money, money, money. Money will move it," Smith said. "I'd say [the chances] are about 70/30."