Kentucky Speedway Won’t Host Any 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Races

Sports is among the many industries that has taken it on the chin in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The postponements, cancellations, and crowd limitations have not been friends to the bottom line.

And NASCAR is no exception. Now, I'm gonna level with you; I don't know deeply technical terms regarding the sport and I won't pretend I do. But I DO know what it means when you have a difficult time finding sponsors.

A report at Frontstretch.com revealing Bob Leavine's sale of his No. 95 NASCAR Cup Series team, a family-owned enterprise, also quotes Leavine as saying that his team would be lucky to sell $50,000 worth of sponsorship by year's end.

$50,000.

A lot of money to you and me, yes, but chump change in the world of professional auto racing, where millions are needed, at least, if a team has any hopes of being competitive.

Leavine's belief that the bankruptcies filed by big companies (potential sponsors) obviously makes it a hard sell to convince them to jump on board with this kind of an investment. And, of course, that makes sense.

Again, it's a tough time for professional sports, across the board, and it just got tougher in Sparta, Kentucky.

Mark Simendinger, executive vice president and general manager of Kentucky Speedway, posted the following message Tuesday:

As the new NASCAR 2021 schedule has come to light, we are disappointed to share that Kentucky Speedway will not be hosting you in the Bluegrass State in 2021. Your support has meant the world to us and we would like to sincerely thank you for your support of our Speedway. 

The past two decades have been filled with memorable moments that will last a lifetime. Your dedication and passion is what motivated us to do our best every day. 

As we evolve our property into a multi-use facility, we will continue to keep you updated about our future plans.  

If you had purchased tickets to our 2020 NASCAR events, please visit our exchange form page for more information.  

It’s been an honor to serve you and hope to see you again soon. 

While the loss of races at the speedway is a stark reflection of what NASCAR has been through in 2020, what about the city of Sparta itself?

WLKY-Louisville spoke with its mayor, Sidney Gullion, who expressed his concerns about the town's economy in the coming year.

For a town of less than 300 citizens--according to the most recent estimates from the United States Census Bureau--those concerns are well-founded.

However, not letting any grass grow under their feet, the Gallatin County Judge Executive Ryan Morris indicates that plans are already underway for 2022.