Last year, Tyler Reddick really shook things up on the track. In a heart-pounding overtime dash, he went three-wide and snatched a win at Kansas Speedway, cruising past the first playoff round of the NASCAR Cup Series for the very first time. The crowd was all cheers, soaking up every bit of the thrill. But there’s a bit of a letdown in the air, something the fans in Kansas were promised but haven’t seen yet.

Way back in ’09, the big talk was all about this expensive hotel that was supposed to pop up right next to the Speedway. “Two years tops,” they said. Well, it’s been more than a decade, and all we’ve got is a whole lot of nothing. Instead of breaking ground, it seems like the folks in charge have been more keen on breaking the bank with fines. But will 2024 be the year they finally make good on their promise?

A 200-room hotel was to be constructed by 2014 beside the NASCAR track

A 200-room inn was supposed to be up by 2014 right next to the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. Penn Entertainment was to construct it, but fast forward to today, and there’s no hotel in sight. Instead, they’ve been shelling out a whopping $13 million in fines for dragging their feet for a decade.

The deal was sweetened with STAR bonds, a nifty financial trick from the local bigwigs, to get shovels in the ground for all sorts of projects. The clock started ticking the moment the casino’s lights went on, with a two-year window to get cracking on the hotel. They missed the mark, and Kansas Entertainment LLC has been coughing up 1% of the casino’s yearly gaming dough as a fine.

Penn’s been keeping an eye on the lay of the land, scoping out how packed other hotels are and what’s new on the block, always mumbling about “weighing options” for this elusive hotel. Jeff Morris, vice president for public affairs and government relations, spun a yarn about taking stock of the current hotel scene and their cozy deals with nearby digs.

Now, in 2024, it looks like building the hotel is still on the “maybe someday” list, with Kansas Speedway LLC seemingly cool about continuing to pay fines. Wyandotte County’s Administrator, David Johnson, clarified that this wasn’t just a decade-long drama; those fines will keep flowing until the first brick is laid.

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So, while fans might have dreamed of bunking down close to the action, it seems that dream’s parked in the garage for now. But hey, at least the races keep us on the edge of our seats, right? Just like Tyler Reddick’s jaw-dropping win last year.

Tyler Reddick won in overtime at Kansas Speedway last year

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Last year, Tyler Reddick really spiced things up at the NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway, snatching a win just in the nick of time. Imagine how stressful the situation would have been- with the race in overtime, and Tyler Reddick still not in the lead but hanging back in fifth.

But well, did he have a trick up his sleeve! Reddick zoomed right past the cars ahead, even though they were on fresher tires, and just like that, he was breathing down the necks of the front runners. Then, in a move that had everyone on the edge of their seats, he pulled off this daring three-wide pass around Erik Jones and Joey Logano. We’re talking just as they were rounding the bend to the final lap. And from there Reddick stole the lead in those last two laps and raced straight to victory lane.

It was Tyler’s second big win with the No. 45 team at 23XI Racing, and get this, his first-ever victory at Kansas Speedway after trying his luck nine times. And Denny Hamlin, who’s kind of the big cheese for Tyler’s car, had to tip his hat to Tyler, settling for second even though he pretty much had the race in his pocket until those final moments.

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So, now we’re all biting our nails, waiting for May 5th to roll around. This time around as well, can Tyler Reddick dazzle everyone again and defend his title at Kansas Speedway? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?