Bahre still proud of his baby

THIS IS "Papa" Bahre's week to feel proud.

For the first time since he built his superspeedway in Loudon in 1990 on the grounds that once housed Bryar Motorsports Park, founder Bob Bahre will watch from high above the track in his family's luxury box as a spectator. Of course, a spectator who is $340 million richer since that sale to Speedway Motorsports Inc., but Bahre admits he is richer for many more reasons than money.

"I'm kinda proud we built it ourselves," said Bahre. "It wasn't a big corporation and when it was built it was the first one in 20 years. It wasn't easy ... We didn't have any dates for a couple years and then it went along and worked out right ... For the kind of money we got for it we had to do something right."

Yesterday he was back at the speedway offices as he is on most days to offer advice and serve as a sounding board to the new general manager Jerry Gappens. Bahre and Gappens enjoyed lunch just down Route 106 at the Eggshell restaurant.

"They're doing a good job without me to be honest with you," said the 81-year-old Bahre. "We talk a little bit everyday and (Gappens) is a bright man. He's been in racing for years. He's no dope ... They don't really need me. Sometimes you think you're needed, but you really aren't. All our people are still here. Things are going along very well."

The speedway is close to its 27th consecutive sellout for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Lenox Tools 301.

"I don't feel sad but I do miss it some," said Bahre. "Gary (Bahre's son and past speedway president) always told me, Dad, if anything happens to you I wouldn't want to run it alone.' So I figured it was better to sell it while I'm around and sell it with (Gary), you know what I mean. I'm not a kid, 81. You pick up the paper every day there's a lot of guys goin' in the ground at 70. You never know when the good Lord wants you to work at the race track up in the sky."

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch races during the Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350 auto race at Infineon Raceway Sunday, June 22, 2008, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP)

If 81 is long life (and Bahre doesn't necessarily feel old at all. Remember, he still works every day) he attributes that long life to hard work.

"I'm not really going to retire," he continued. "I'm going to take it a little easier. You don't have quite as many worries.

"But we built this place, Gary and my brother Dick and I, so we want this place to do well. You don't want to just say, you got your money, to hell with it.' That's why I want to be here some and help if I can.

"I've always tried to do my best on every single thing I did," he said. "I've always tried to have a decent reputation as being fair and right. This makes you feel to good to know that you did something right."

Bahre and his family still own land across New England and lease that land to Hannaford and Shaw's supermarkets as well as five banks. They have a palatial estate on Alton Bay along with a historic home in Paris, Maine. Bob remains an avid antique car collector. Bahre said the family's land acquisition and property development will likely continue.

"I'm going to take it easier, but I'm not going to quit," he said.

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch races during the Sprint Cup Toyota/Save Mart 350 auto race at Infineon Raceway Sunday, June 22, 2008, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP)

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Back to his track, Bahre said new chairman Bruton Smith would be "crazy" to take a date away from New Hampshire in order to move it to Las Vegas or Kentucky.

"I don't think one will ever go from here. I really don't," said Bahre. "You don't want to say (Smith) is stupid because he's a brilliant billionaire ... But he wouldn't be thinking too good if he turned around and took one out of here. He could but it wouldn't be a good business move, let's put it that way."

For Bahre the venture has gone full circle and now he returns as a fan, the people he served all along.

"It's been a big business but a nice friendly business," added Bahre of his time running the largest sports facility in the region. "The fans are number one. They made it. We built it. Without the fans you don't have anything. It wasn't just us.

"We thought the world of the fans and we did every damn thing we could to please them," said Bahre. "They're the one who made it ... I'm not going to be sad. I'll be happy to see the thing continue to go right. I want to see it continue to grow. We're very proud of it even though we don't own it."

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Notes: The revival of the very popular Race Fever will be held in downtown Concord tomorrow night starting at 5. Nationwide Series rookie Joey Logano and Scott Wimmer are among those expected to be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans ... Modified and Camping World East qualifying gets underway at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon tomorrow at 3 p.m. (with practices earlier in the day). Cup qualifying is Friday at 3:10 p.m. ... Fans can participate in a track walk on NHMS Saturday evening to benefit Speedway Children's Charities. Register at foundation.nascar.com or at NHMS outside turn 2 on Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ... Cup points leader Kyle Busch is entered in the Modified race Saturday at 1 p.m. at NHMS and that night he will race a Pro Stock in the Pro All-Stars Series (PASS) 200 at All-Star Speedway in Epping. Cup rookie Regan Smith is also in the PASS race. Autographs at 8:30 p.m. and the race is set for 9 p.m. ... Limited tickets are still available for Sunday's $7 million Lenox Tools 301. Visit www.nhms.com or call 783-4931.