Kentucky state police say Speedway hasn’t paid for security (Update)
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| Kentucky Speedway |
The Kentucky Speedway on Friday paid a long overdue bill of nearly $300,000 to Kentucky State Police for providing security on the track’s grounds during four major race weeks in 2012 and 2013.
Speedway Motorsports, which owns the track in Gallatin County, sent a check for $299,125.86 by express mail from its corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, said State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer.
The payment was received one day after The Courier-Journal reported that the state police had been pressing the track since last August for the payment.
“We’re glad the issue is resolved. We’re glad to have the money and will certainly put it to good use," Brewer said Saturday.
A person who answered the phone at Kentucky Speedway offices Saturday referred questions to General Manager Mark Simendinger who could not be reached at his office phone number.
For several years the track has had agreements with the state police to provide security during major events, and the track made timely payments under those agreements through 2011.
But records obtained by The Courier-Journal through the Kentucky Open Records Act showed that the track had not paid invoices sent to it by the state police for security provided in 2012 and 2013 during races surrounding the NASCAR Sprint Cup’s Quaker State 400 in June and races that include a Nationwide Series race in September.
The records included emails from state police officials beginning last August which asked for payment for security provided at the 2013 Quaker State 400, and informed the track that state police records showed no payments for the 2012 races. Records also included a Dec. 27 letter that requested payment for security provided at all four races by Jan. 15. Brewer said the track did not reply that letter or return later phone messages he personally left at the track until Friday. Courier Journal
02/27/14 The Kentucky State Police has been pressing the Kentucky Speedway for months to pay nearly $300,000 for security provided by troopers during four major races in 2012 and 2013. Records obtained by The Courier-Journal through the Kentucky Open Records Act show that since at least last July, the agency has sent emails and letters requesting reimbursement for security provided during big race days at the track in June and September of each year. A Dec. 27 letter to the Speedway put the overdue tab at $299,125.86 and requested payment in full by Jan. 15.
"I never heard back from that," State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer said in an interview this week. "And I have called the speedway twice in the last 10 days and can't get anybody to return my call." Mark Simendinger, general manager of the speedway, did not return numerous phone messages left Wednesday with his assistant and on his voice mail seeking comment. A phone message and email sent to corporate offices of Speedway Motorsports in Charlotte, N.C., also were not returned Wednesday. Invoices show the State Police assigned more than 100 troopers to the speedway security contract during the June race days, and about 50 to the smaller September races. Most worked 13 or 14 hours for each race. [Kentucky Governor] Beshear's spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said late Wednesday that he "has not discussed this issue with the Kentucky Speedway, but has asked his staff to look into it." Louisville Courier-Journal