New Hampshire International Speedway sold

Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., agreed to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob and Gary Bahre for $340 million in cash, NASCAR announced Friday.
The deal is expected to be completed by early next year and then the track is expected to be renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
For now, the two NASCAR Nextel Cup dates at the track will remain. It hosted the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 in July and the Sylvania 300 this September, but nothing is guaranteed beyond next year as to whether one or both of those races will be moved.
NHIS is the host to the lone NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series, and Craftsman Truck Series events held in the six-state New England region.
"While we don't have any details about SMI's plans for NHIS, all sanctions for 2008 have been signed and finalized," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. "As a result, there will be no location changes to the 2008 schedule that was released last month. This is important to the fans, competitors, broadcast partners and sponsors who have already made plans for the 2008 races.
"Looking beyond 2008, NASCAR will continue to consider requests by any track operator, including SMI, to relocate race dates. Under NASCAR's "realignment" plan, we have worked with track owners to relocate race dates to meet the needs of our growing national fan base. Ultimately, any change must meet NASCAR's objectives and serve our fans."
Most experts expect one Nextel Cup race, likely the first race in the "Chase," to eventually shift to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
SMI has a strong roster of racetracks. The group also owns and operates Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway, and the Texas Motor Speedway.