[JTD]

WOW!

Bob Bahre has sold his the Loudon racetrack for $340 million in cash to Bruton Smith and his Speedway Motorsports, Inc. The sale was just announced at a Texas news conference which has not yet ended.

Smith said he "will make changes" at the big track and may add more seats. He said fans should "get their tickets early" for next year's racing.

When asked about the possibility of moving one of the track's two NASCAR races to Las Vegas in a future year, Smith said, "We're into this thing (for) just one week. Right now we have no plans to move anything."

He said there had been no promise to Bahre that at least one race would remain in New Hampshire.

The deal was agreed upon last week when Smith came to New Hampshire. It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008.