{Sparta, Kentucky}...Governor Steve Beshear toured the Kentucky Motor Speedway in Sparta Monday to view new infrastructure improvements designed to ease traffic problems that marred the track's debut race of NASCAR's top series last year when traffic backed up as much as 15 miles. The state contracted $3.7 million for road improvements to expand Kentucky 35 and Interstate 71, and Speedway general manager Mark Simendinger estimates the track has spent $8 million to $10 million focused on parking an additional 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles. The track's signature event, the Quaker State 400, is set for June 30th. More than 100,000 attended last year's Quaker State 400, but Speedway Motor Sports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith estimates nearly 50,000 fans never made it.
