Nextel Cup coming to Gateway may be long shot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Though track officials say the St. Louis-area Gateway International Raceway in Illinois has a shot a hosting a Nextel Cup race, insiders consider that shot a long one.

Over the years, the 1.25-mile oval, infield road course and quarter-mile drag strip has lured CART, the IRL, the Craftsman Truck series, the Busch series and NHRA drag racing.

Matt Strelo, vice president and general manager of Gateway in Madison, Ill., points to the track's assets. The numbers show St. Louis fans watch the races on television and about 50,000 showed up for last Saturday's Busch race, which seems to indicate Gateway would be able to sell its existing 70,000 or so seats for a Nextel Cup race.

But the track has its detractors. Hampered by limited parking, outdated infrastructure and the construction of newer facilities, Gateway has lost the top open-wheel series and has been left with the trucks, NHRA and Busch series as its top acts.

Kenny Wallace, a veteran NASCAR driver, said he would like nothing better than to see the track host a Nextel Cup race. But the St. Louis native said the track -- limited in expansion possibilities by the Mississippi River to the west -- would need a drastic makeover.

"My opinion is that first, the track is too big," said Wallace. "They should cut it in half. You need more room and use all of that as parking. You can't expect to shuttle people in for a Nextel Cup race. They landlocked themselves in."