Smith blasts NASCAR for ending season at Homestead

SPARTA, Ky. (AP) - Speedway Motorsports Inc. owner Bruton Smith isn't a fan of NASCAR's insistence on ending the season in South Florida.

Smith likened Homestead Miami Speedway to “North Cuba,” arguing it is not the “proper place” for the Sprint Cup series to end the Chase for the championship.

The longtime track owner says he'd prefer NASCAR to run its final Cup race at SMI-owned Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith said he expects IndyCar to end the 2011 season at the 1.5-mile oval next October.

Despite his protests, SMI did not make a formal request for NASCAR to add a second Las Vegas race to the 2011 schedule. Smith said it's because he doesn't believe it would make a difference.