Kentucky Speedway filed suit Wednesday against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., alleging the companies have violated federal antitrust laws by illegally restricting the awarding of Nextel Cup races.

"We have alleged that NASCAR and ISC have violated the federal antitrust laws," said Stan Chesley, an attorney representing the Kentucky track. "In my opinion, the facts clearly support a conclusion that NASCAR and ISC have colluded to exclude competition in order to financially benefit themselves."

"By doing so, they have harmed not only Kentucky Speedway but also all stock car racing fans nationwide. Stock car racing is the most popular spectator sport in the United States, and we intend to do our best to see that fair play and fair racing is re-established," Chesley said.

As expected NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter didn't comment on the matter. I won't either except to say this type of suit traditionally are some of the hardest to win and it often hinges on those with the most money on the winning side. As lawyers shysters are often full of bluster in favor of their client this passage isn't surprising:

The speedway wants the court to require NASCAR to award the track a 2006 Cup date and implement a competitive bidding process "to permit full and fair competition for the right to host a Nextel Cup race," according to the lawsuit.

Assuming that is the end result just who would win such a bidding process? Chances are it wouldn't be the Kentucky Speedway due to the lack of financial resources.

And let me throw this wild card into the mix. With four US Senators sniffing around NASCAR in an attempt to force it into using Ethanol as it's racing fuel picture this scenario. Vice wasting time and resources on this lawsuit NASCAR and a few Senators retire to a smoke filled D.C. room and craft an anti-trust exemption - retroactive of course - similar to the one baseball enjoys in exchange for a switch to ethanol based fuel for NASCAR. It's totally mindless speculation on my part but with the influence NASCAR has it's not out of the ballpark (no pun intended) to suggest it.

While I'm on the subject of politicians I found this article on a "blog who shall remain nameless." (Nameless because of a dispute over comment and editorial policy and their sorry attempt to kiss my ass by offering me a position among their train wrecks called blogs [and no Josh its not you] )

The story details one of the problems that have arisen in sorting out the traffic problems associated with the proposed NASCAR track in Staten Island NY. One of the proposals offered by NASCAR is to charter unused Staten Island ferrys to shuttle some fans to the track site. A similar proposal has been made for the new track near Bremerton Washington. I have little doubt a problem exists, every track built in the last 20 years have had disputes over traffic and public access. This is only unique due to the possible use of ferrys in these two cases.

The question I have is why, if you're attempting to woo support against the track, do you issue statements so far from the truth they approach being classified as satire? A case in point is this bloviating buffoon, Staten Island Councilman Andrew Lanza.

"At this point, it's an absolute insult that, after all this time, they're going to suggest borrowing the Staten Island Ferry. No way!" said Councilman Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore).

"It just proves to me, this late in the game, that they are unwilling to meet the legitimate concerns of Staten Islanders when it comes to NASCAR," he added.

"Those ferries are to get people to and from work and not to get people from New Jersey to the races," chimed in Lanza. "We don't need them putting wear and tear on those boats when people depend on those boats for their livelihood."

Lets go through this one point at a time.

Just what is Lanza definition of "after all this time?" It has only been a few months (Less than six if memory serves) since NASCAR purchased the land. As planned the project isn't due for completion until 2010 He acts as though the first spade full of dirt has been turned over! Somewhere along the line Lanza has lost grasp of the time/space continuum. Or he's a bloviating buffoon who would be anti-NASCAR even if the fans were flown in via Skywalker's Sky Cycle.

Lanza claims NASCAR is "going to suggest borrowing the Staten Island Ferry." Well no. they are offering to "charter" the ferrys, the end result of that would be more revenue for the citizens of Staten Island. And I also bet a good chuck of overtime pay for the workers associated with operating the ferrys.

Lanza said the "ferries are to get people to and from work..." True enough, but just what percentage of people are working on a Saturday or Sunday as opposed to the normal work week? It's one hell of a lot less than he's implying. Lets go back to the description of the ferry proposal. It says any ferrys used would be charters of "out-of-service Staten Island ferryboats on race weekends."

The key here is found in the words of Councilman James Oddo, "The Staten Island Ferry people are going to have to make a judgment on that," he said. "If the Staten Island Ferry people say it's doable, that's an interesting twist." Exactly, and I suspect, as most city run operations, the ferry service is a cash drain on the city and they would jump at the chance to use equipment that otherwise sits idle and at the same time add to the financial bottom line.

As I indicated, every new track has the same problems with environmental concerns, public access, and finances some get worked out and some doom the proposed track to failure. To use lanza quotes as an example of a reasoned well thought out response to those concerns is disingenuous at best. At worst you risk being labeled a bloviating fool like Lanza. Or, just a "politician."

UPDATE: And to prove what a fool Lanza is the New York Daily News reports Lanza is now saying NASCAR is attempting to "hijack" the Staten Island ferrys. It also notes the idea originated with New Yorks Mayor Bloomberg. That's gotta hurt the NASCAR haters on the city council, they can't pin it's birth on NASCAR.

You just can't make this stuff up!

Cross Posted at Full Throttle