After fighting for nearly a decade to earn a spot on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule, Kentucky Speedway is set to host its first Sprint Cup series race, the inaugural Quaker State 400 on July 9th. The first race however is not being held without controversy among the fans that will be filling the stands.
The Speedway has held other NASCAR races including Nationwide and Camping World Truck series races, but the first Sprint Cup series race is expected to pack the stands. But among those fans are growing legions of dissenters who are complaining about the Speedway’s decision to discount tickets after fans had purchased them at face value.
According to the track’s website fans who have yet to purchase tickets can buy $40 seats to the Nationwide race. Some fans paid $65 for the very same seats. In addition the track is offering a discount code that will allow fans to buy tickets for $20 and on the Speedway’s Facebook page, Truck series tickets are being offered at a75% discount.
All the discounts have fans that purchased season tickets as well as single race tickets ahead of time demanding refunds.
Track officials meanwhile defend their policy by saying that last minute discounts are common everywhere.
"It happens all the time," Kentucky Speedway spokesman Tim Bray told WAVE TV."It's like the last minute sale at Macy's. Got to get rid of the inventory."
That explanation doesn’t sit well with those fans that already purchased tickets however.
"I want my money back," said Cindy Ezell, a Speedway season ticket holder. "I don't think I should be penalized ‘cause I jumped on and bought the season tickets. It's not the way to treat a NASCAR fan."
The ticket controversy comes after outrage from fans that learned the Speedway will have a ‘no cooler’ policy on race day, something that is allowed at most NASCAR venues. According to Bray, the Speedway won’t have time to check every cooler for alcohol, something that the State of Kentucky bans from sporting events.
"I will not attend another Kentucky Speedway race if they are going to do their fans this way," Ezell said. "It's just not fair."
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