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Few who saw Atlanta Motor Speedway in its Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets infancy would recognize the track today. A majestic Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets structure situated on 870 acres in Hampton, Ga., Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets just 25 miles south of Atlanta, today's Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the country's top sports, corporate, family and entertainment facilities.
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Check out tickets available for Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets March
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Kobalt Tools 500 Tickets
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Atlanta Motor Speedway |
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Sunday 3/7/2010 1:00 PM |
Morrow, GA |
But it's a far cry from the structure planned in 1958 by Walker Jackson, Lloyd Smith, Garland Bagley, Ralph Sceiano and Ike Supporter. Before construction of the proposed superspeedway had been completed, insufficient funds forced four of the founders to abandon ship. Dr. Warren Gremmel, Bill Boyd, Jack Black and Art Lester joined Bagley in the venture and spent $1.8 million to get the facility ready.
"The track wasn't ready to be used," recalled Furman Bisher, then sports editor of The Atlanta Journal and now The Atlanta Constitution's senior sports columnist. "Some of the lower seats were so low fans couldn't see over the retaining wall. The only bathroom facility in the infield was a three-hole outhouse. There was mud all over. You talk about Mudville. Casey would have been right at home."
When the 1.5-mile track, then called Atlanta International Raceway, finally made its debut on July 31, 1960, it became the seventh superspeedway,a paved facility of one mile or more, to play host to a Cup race. Only three of the original seven; Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and Lowe's (then Charlotte) Motor Speedway are still in operation.
But the Atlanta track's future was hazy in the 1960s and '70s, when it suffered several financial setbacks. The track was recognized under Chapter Ten bankruptcy proceedings in the 1970s and went through several general managers before settling down with Walt Nix, who served as general manager for much of the next two decades except for a brief period when NASCAR president Mike Helton was in charge.
Even through the financial difficulties, Atlanta had attracted the attention of key local figures and celebrities. While running for governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, an avid race fan and former ticket vendor at the track in the '60s, promised a barbecue dinner at the governor's mansion if he won. He kept that promise, then improved on it by inviting the racing community to another cookout in 1978; this time at the White House.
Despite the great racing and national attention, Atlanta International Raceway was still a meager facility struggling to get by.
"It was just the Weaver Grandstand and wooden bleachers on the backstretch," Former Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket manager Frances Goss recalled. "Fans would bring blankets and sit on the dirt bank." Bruton Smith changed all that when he purchased Atlanta International Raceway on October 23, 1990, and renamed the facility Atlanta Motor Speedway. A year later, the addition of the East Turn Grandstand expanded the seating capacity by 25,000, and the 30 suites that rimmed the top gave new meaning to the word "luxurious."
Under Smith's stewardship, Atlanta Motor Speedway not only has undergone massive expansion, but it has dramatically increased its menu, hosting everything from Busch Series, ARCA and Indy car racing to dog shows, concerts and business conventions.
In 1994, Tara Place, the nine-story building that houses 46 luxury condominiums, Tara Ballroom, the speedway office complex and more luxury suites opened, as did the adjacent Tara Clubhouse and its accompanying swimming pool and tennis courts. A year later, the Earnhardt Grandstand opened, and in 1997, the great transformation was completed. The Champions Grandstand was added, and the total of luxury suites was increased to 137. When the Champions Grandstand was built, the start/finish line was moved from the west to the east side of the track, and two doglegs were added to the frontstretch to form a 1.54-mile quad-oval, which replaced the original oval. New media facilities, garages and countless fan support buildings were added to what has become a modern motorsports palace. The only reminders of the track that used to be are the suite tower and the Weaver Grandstand, which are now situated on the backstretch.
"Bruton told me before he ever bought the track, 'I'd like to see what could be done with this place,'" Goss recalled. "He's made it. I never would have believed Atlanta Motor Speedway would look like it does today."
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Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets News
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Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets Ticket Specials Make Great Holiday Gifts
For race fans looking for holiday gifts or a great value, Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets has a number of affordable ticket specials for the Kobalt Tools 500 in MarcAmong the deals, Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets"s ticket specials make it possible for a parent and child to attend the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend of racing for just $97 dollars, an outstanding gift and valu
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Whelen Southern Modified Tour Event Added to Kobalt Tools 500 Schedule
Expanding racing activities for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets has added a NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race to follow Georgia Power Qualifying Night for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Friday, March The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour event will feature a 150-lap format on Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets"s quarter-mile "Thunder Rin"
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Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets Gives Fans a Chance to "Ask the GM"
For fans eager to pick the brain of a veteran of the racing industry, Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets"s newest online feature, "Ask the GM," will provide just this opportunity with Ed Clark, president and general manager of AM Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets recently added "Ask the GM" to the track"s official website, giving fans the opportunity to question and gain insight from Clar Upon visiting the "Ask the GM" webpage, fans can submit questions to Clar
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AMS Partners to Offer Hotel Rates as Low as $59 for 2010 Kobalt Tools 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets has again partnered with a number of area hotels to provided discounted room rates as low as $59 for fans attending the 2010 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend March 5 - Continuing a program that makes attending NASCAR race weekends at Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets more affordable, the Speedway"s current partner hotels feature room rates of no more than $120 and do not require a multi-night sta
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Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets Preparing to Host Accident Avoidance Workshops
Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets will play host to a series of Accident Avoidance Workshops in November and December, providing student drivers the opportunity to simulate emergency situations often overlooked in driver"s education courseThe Accident Avoidance Workshop is a two-part program designed to prepare student drivers to respond to emergency situation Each participant will attend a 150-minute classroom session, followed by a four and a half hour session of emergency driving simulation the following weeken
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Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets Reduces Prices for Kobalt Tools 500 in March
As Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets prepares for its 50th Anniversary celebration in 2010, the Speedway has announced tickets are on sale for the March 5-7 Kobalt Tools 500 weekenThe Kobalt Tools 500 will feature reduced pricing on a number of the Speedway"s seats, including the Petty, Winners, Champion and Upper Earnhardt Grandstands located along the track"s frontstretc
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