Powell should throw the speedway's hat into the IRL's 2002 ring today. Plea for a date in March, April or October, about the only ones that have a chance of drawing more than the 20,000 or so that attended each of the past two IRL events at the speedway. Do it before the start of this season, which consists of 13 races, including first-time visits to six new tracks. It will be the IRL's best season ever. Its first visit to Kentucky Speedway last year produced packed stands, and near-capacity crowds will likely be seen at some of this year's new venues, such as Kansas City, Kan., Chicago and Nashville.
Big crowds breed big crowds.
I took him to task for saying that. I was pretty harsh. I must apologize to Reif. He was close to hitting a bull's eye. Actually, the speedway just hasn't been open-wheel minded.