ShareThisBruton Smith talks first and thinks later -- when he thinks at all.
During a recent interview prior to a race he said one of the reasons NASCAR is having trouble selling corporate tickets is because "They're afraid that Obama might shoot them or something."
Of course the man has made a career out of uttering inflammatory remarks, which, if he was a regular Joe, would probably come back to haunt him.
But the owner of Lowe's Motor Speedway and several other tracks is a billionaire, so when he says something ridiculous it's considered "cute" or "eccentric."
I must say, however, I agree with him that the final race of the Sprint Cup season should not be at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
"Why would you have the last race of the year in some god-forsaken area that is north of Cuba?" Smith asked.
I've never thought of the Miami area as being god-forsaken. And technically, all NASCAR events held in the United States are north of Cuba. But I can think of a much better place for the Sprint Cup Series to stage its grand finale.
If the series really wanted to make a splash, put the final race of the season where it started -- Daytona International Speedway.
It makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, the Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of stock car racing, considered the circuit's biggest event even though it's the first event of the season.
If you end the Sprint Cup campaign at Daytona -- in the Championship 500 -- then drivers cap off the year at NASCAR's most storied track (and in warm weather).
This would mean the July 4 Pepsi 400 would be no more, at least not in Daytona.
So give Homestead-Miami that date and re-brand the race.
I know, I know, it upsets the traditionalists, but when was the last time NASCAR let tradition stand in its way?
For that matter, when was the last time Smith let tradition stand in his way?
Remember, this is the same guy whose company, Speedway Motorsports, owns eight tracks and hosts 11 Cup events. He was instrumental in removing North Wilkesboro from the Cup circuit after buying a half interest in the track and threatened to close Lowe's Motor Speedway unless he was allowed to build a drag strip.
But I'm guessing if there was a move afoot to move the last race of the season to Daytona Smith would oppose that, too.
He wants it in either Atlanta or Las Vegas, which just happen to be tracks he owns.
Daytona is owned by International Speedway Corporation, by the way.
Ultimately, this is a battle Smith is going to lose and he knows it.
NASCAR officials like Homestead-Miami, as do most of the drivers, and I imagine the folks in Daytona are perfectly happy to host the opener as well as the sport's mid-season classic.
Bruton Smith simply likes to hear himself talk and likes it even better when other people hear him talk.
Still, the idea of having the last race of the season at Daytona is one I've thought about for years and would love to see come to fruition.
But if a billionaire can't get NASCAR to seriously listen to what he has to say, what chance do I have?
(Contact Scott Adamson at adamsons@independentmail.com.)
(Scott Adamson writes for the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C.)
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