Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue is in attendance of the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway tonight. Prior to driver introductions the Governor was walking through the garage area on his way to the main stage and I  was fortunate enough for him to take a minute and explain how important it is to the city of Atlanta and to the State of Georgia, to keep two race dates here just south of Atlanta in Hampton, GA.

Mainly we need the fun twice a year!

Obviously it’s a huge kick to our economy and for fans to be around here … huge input and really to be able to have fun, to see these guys, the NASCAR players, the drivers still connect with the people, that’s important, but to do that and to help the economy too, we hope it keeps on two races are really very important to us. This is too good a race track … five million people willing to support this track overall, so we want to keep it.

So Governor Perdue is showing his support for Atlanta Motor Speedway and our local economy. We’ll have to wait and see what happens once the Kentucky Speedway antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is either dropped or settled. It is no rumor that track owner, Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., who owns multiple tracks on the Cup circuit, including Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, is considering moving a date in the future from one of his tracks to Kentucky. The track on the hot seat is Atlanta.

Governor Perdue has cast his vote.

Keep two races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.