Former Kentucky Speedway owners opt to abandon lawsuit against NASCAR

Former track owners abandon NASCAR lawsuit

SPARTA, Ky. — The former owners of Kentucky Speedway are done fighting with NASCAR.

The group announced Friday that it will not exercise any remaining legal options in its four-year battle against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp.

Last week a federal appeals court rejected claims by the former owners that NASCAR and ISC violated federal antitrust laws by working with other tracks to keep the 1.5-mile tri-oval in northern Kentucky from getting a coveted Sprint Cup race.

Former owner Jerry Carroll said while his group still believes in the merits of the case, it was time to move on.

The owners sold the track to Speedway Motorsports Inc., last year. SMI owner Bruton Smith said he’s hopeful that with the case resolved he can bring a Cup race to the track in 2011.