Gavin Lawrence/Getty ImagesKentucky Speedway, which opened in 2000 at a cost of $147 million, has been seeking a Sprint Cup race date.”There will be a lot of speculation about it. If someone writes a certain track is losing a race, I’m going to hear from that track and get calls from its fans. People are very touchy about their race track.”No track wants to lose a Cup date. A Cup race is worth millions of dollars in revenue. But some realignment moves are likely now for 2011 with Kentucky probably getting a Cup race and Kansas Speedway possibly getting a second annual Cup race.The last big hurdle between Kentucky and a future Cup race was cleared last week. The original Kentucky Speedway owners dropped their lawsuit against NASCAR. Former Kentucky Speedway chairman Jerry Carroll made the announcement.”I have informed our attorneys we will not pursue any remaining appeals in the case,” Carroll said in a news release. “While we still believe in the merits of the case, it is time to accept the decision of the courts and move on.”Moving on means Christmas came early for Smith, who purchased Kentucky Speedway for $78 million in 2008 with hopes of bringing a Cup race to the Sparta facility.NASCAR officials made it clear all along that no Cup date would come as long as litigation was pending. The lawsuit claimed antitrust violations in the connections between NASCAR plus sister company International Speedway Corp. — which owns multiple tracks — and the way Cup dates are awarded.Smith thought he could persuade Carroll and the previous ownership group to drop the suit long ago, but Carroll was determined to play it out.The likely final outcome became obvious Dec. 11 when a federal appeals court affirmed a lower court’s summary judgment in favor of NASCAR and ISC.Lesa France Kennedy, president of ISC, felt vindicated, which she expressed in a statement when the decision was announced: “This confirms NASCAR, much like other sport properties such as the NFL, MLB and the NBA, has the right to host its events when and where it decides is best for the sport and its fans.”So Carroll gave up the fight. Now he’ll try to help Smith get the Cup race for the 1.5-mile oval, which Carroll’s statement made clear: “I appreciate the continuing opportunity to assist and consult with Bruton Smith and [Kentucky] Gov. Steve Beshear to realize our shared dream of bringing a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race to Kentucky.”It’s coming, but the next big move is up to Smith. NASCAR isn’t adding Cup dates. The 36 Cup races, plus two all-star event weekends, is too many already.So Smith has two choices to get a Cup race in Kentucky — move a Cup race from one of his Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks or purchase a Cup date from another company.As always, Smith has a plan.”I’m going to call NASCAR,” Smith said. “I’ll say, ‘I bet you have a date somewhere you don’t like that you want to give to us.’ NASCAR has never given me a date. Maybe it’s my turn.”Smith knows better. And when Smith says NASCAR, he really means ISC, which owns 12 tracks that play host to 19 Cup events.