Bruton Smith must be smiling right now. Anytime the billionaire businessman can get people talking he's happy and if that talk helps make rumor reality, he's smiling even harder.

Smith is a master of the spoken word. It takes him all of about five minutes to send an unsuspecting writer off onto a wild goose chase. At this moment in time, Smith wants two things – a Sprint Cup date in Kentucky and a second date at his drag racing facility in Concord, N.C.  Those are facts. Anything else is conjecture, rumor, wishful thinking...you name it and Smith will use it to achieve his goal.

Smith has spent the last six months telling anyone who will listen how he “would” have a date in Kentucky in 2010. Now he won't. NASCAR never received a “formal” request for a date. Barring a miracle, Smith won't get a Cup date in 2010 in Kentucky, even though NASCAR is not opposed to being in the market.

The NHRA may be in a similar position. Smith wants a second date at the zMax Dragway. The NHRA would probably love to be in the Charlotte market a second time. At this time, only Las Vegas and Pomona host two events on the NHRA schedule.  So, the rumors abound. Smith will get a date. A Midwestern track will lose a date. The NHRA will expand to 25 races a year. 

Somewhere there is truth, but for the most part, it's all wishful thinking, unless you happen to be Bruton Smith; then it's all part of a grand plan.