NEWPORT, TN :: Newport Motor Speedway announced earlier this evening that the track would not be opening for the 2015 season, citing work needing to be done at the track.  The announcement said that touring series races would not be held at Newport, forcing the Southeast Super Truck Series to move two events.

Newport Motor Speedway, which is located in Newport, Tennessee, underwent a management change last season with Ed Surrett taking over as the track promoter.

“Track management has decided to forego a racing season in 2015 and will instead focus on a wide array of repairs and improvements to the aging facility,” a statement posted on the track’s Facebook page read.  “Last year, Ed tried very hard to make repairs, resulting in a short season that began in May. However despite the hard work, more needs to be done and it needs to occur when the weather is warm and dry compared to the cold winter months of the off-season, so the decision was made to spend this year making Newport Speedway better in preparation to a return to form and racing a full season in 2016.”

The Southeast Super Truck Series had two races scheduled to be run at Newport Motor Speedway – one on May 2nd and the other on July 4th.  Series president Jeff Myers told RACE22.com the two events would be made up elsewhere.  The Southeast Super Truck Series has already reached an agreement with Lonesome Pine Raceway in Coeburn, Virginia to host one of the two events.

“We will make one of them up at Lonesome Pine Raceway and we’ve made some other phone calls but I don’t want to tell that just yet because I don’t know what will come of that,” Myers said.  “Karen Tunnell at Lonesome Pine said she would work with us.”

Myers said he did not have a date set for the Lonesome Pine race yet because he was working on such short notice but should have an announcement coming shortly.

“I haven’t had time today to go over everything.  I just found out last night.  We’re going to make those dates up with the series.  It won’t be a problem.”

The statement from Newport Motor Speedway also said the track would not be available for practice.