Tom Compton, NHRA President, appeared a bit overwhelmed by
the hundreds of media attending the recent Speedway Motorsports Inc.,
announcement concerning the construction of a state of the art drag racing
facility in Concord, North Carolina which will host it's first event, The
Carolinas Nationals, on the weekend of September 11th through the 14th.
Compton's laid back style stood out in contrast to the high
energy, high profile manner of SMI Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith. Even
following the announcement, Compton relaxed under the weight of two or three
reporters while Smith looked more like the Ring Master at a three ring circus.
Yet, if was Compton who had to face the fire first as the
presentation moved into a traditional NASCAR-style question and answer session.
Half a year after announcing the proposed sale of NHRA assets to HD Partners,
Compton didn't have a decisive answer to the question of when the sale would
close.