About LipscombNashville Superspeedway current challenge for Hawks
The deafening roar of engines. The smell of oil and burning rubber. The sight of cars driving at lightning-fast speeds.
It's all beautiful music to the senses of Cliff Hawks, vice president and general manager of Nashville Superspeedway, who guided the development of the project from its beginning to its opening last year.
Hawks is pleased with the end result -- a 50,000-seat, $125 million facility, which is privately funded by Dover Downs Entertainment of Dover, Del., situated on 3,000 acres in Gladeville, Tenn., just east of Nashville. The 1.33 "D"-shaped oval track, featuring 14-degree banking in the turns, is conducive to a variety of racing. This season, Nashville Superspeedway will host two NASCAR races (Pepsi 300 and Nashville 300), Federated Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Firestone Indy 200 Indy Racing League, as well as races from the ARCA RE/MAX, NASCAR Hills Bros and Infiniti Pro series. In addition to the races, Hawks is working to add concerts to some of the race events.
"We have a great facility here. Our goal is that the ticketholder gets a tremendous amount of value for their money. I love the production of the show," said Hawks, a 1991 history graduate from Humboldt, Tenn.
Hawks said his vision for the Superspeedway is to host a NASCAR Winston Cup event, add a dirt track, add a short track and build a drag strip.
Hawks has been on a very interesting -- and challenging -- journey from the time he graduated from Lipscomb in 1991 until he joined the Superspeedway front office in June 2000.
When he left Lipscomb, Hawks said he did not know what he wanted to do for a career.
"So I majored in something I enjoyed and did well at -- history," he said.
Hawks soon had the opportunity to work in Phil Bredesen's Nashville mayorial campaign. When Bredesen was elected mayor, Hawks went to work for his administration.
"I had many opportunities in his office. Bredesen gives you as much rope as you want and sees how you can handle it," said Hawks.
"One of my jobs was to manage the morgue, which is not some people's idea of an ideal job. But, it was a great opportunity to learn management skills. I made many contacts while I was there. Then, I was named associate director of economic development in his office."
Next, Hawks was hired as executive director of the Nashville Sports Authority when ground was being broken for Adelphia Colesium, the home of NFL's Tennessee Titans. He led the effort to sell PSLs (personal seat licenses). After his first season with the Titans, Hawks was approached by Dover Downs Entertainment about marketing the Nashville Superspeedway. He wanted a bigger challenge and "they gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and made me vice president and general manager," he said. "They knew that I had to grow, but that I also had a lot to offer."
"I love the challenge of growing something from the ground up. I love the promotions side of it ... seeing something start at ground zero and then to be there on opening day. Hearing the fans. Being a part of the excitement. It's something I'll never forget."
Hawks did not have an easy assignment with the Superspeedway. He said the biggest challenge was to take the facility "to the people."
"This sport and this type facility cannot be downtown. It was my job to paint the picture before it was even built. I had to convince people that it was going to happen and would be a very state-of-the-art facility," he said.
Hawks said he has always kept an open mind about the opportunities that have come his way.
"I've just taken the job at hand and worked hard. If you trust that God has a plan for you, it'll be okay," he said.
Nashville Superspeedway current challenge for Hawks
--Kimberly E. Chaudoin
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| Cliff Hawks (''91), vice president and general manager, has been instrumental in the development of the Nashville Superspeedway. --Amber R. Stacey |
It's all beautiful music to the senses of Cliff Hawks, vice president and general manager of Nashville Superspeedway, who guided the development of the project from its beginning to its opening last year.
Hawks is pleased with the end result -- a 50,000-seat, $125 million facility, which is privately funded by Dover Downs Entertainment of Dover, Del., situated on 3,000 acres in Gladeville, Tenn., just east of Nashville. The 1.33 "D"-shaped oval track, featuring 14-degree banking in the turns, is conducive to a variety of racing. This season, Nashville Superspeedway will host two NASCAR races (Pepsi 300 and Nashville 300), Federated Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Firestone Indy 200 Indy Racing League, as well as races from the ARCA RE/MAX, NASCAR Hills Bros and Infiniti Pro series. In addition to the races, Hawks is working to add concerts to some of the race events.
"We have a great facility here. Our goal is that the ticketholder gets a tremendous amount of value for their money. I love the production of the show," said Hawks, a 1991 history graduate from Humboldt, Tenn.
Hawks said his vision for the Superspeedway is to host a NASCAR Winston Cup event, add a dirt track, add a short track and build a drag strip.
Hawks has been on a very interesting -- and challenging -- journey from the time he graduated from Lipscomb in 1991 until he joined the Superspeedway front office in June 2000.
When he left Lipscomb, Hawks said he did not know what he wanted to do for a career.
"So I majored in something I enjoyed and did well at -- history," he said.
Hawks soon had the opportunity to work in Phil Bredesen's Nashville mayorial campaign. When Bredesen was elected mayor, Hawks went to work for his administration.
"I had many opportunities in his office. Bredesen gives you as much rope as you want and sees how you can handle it," said Hawks.
"One of my jobs was to manage the morgue, which is not some people's idea of an ideal job. But, it was a great opportunity to learn management skills. I made many contacts while I was there. Then, I was named associate director of economic development in his office."
Next, Hawks was hired as executive director of the Nashville Sports Authority when ground was being broken for Adelphia Colesium, the home of NFL's Tennessee Titans. He led the effort to sell PSLs (personal seat licenses). After his first season with the Titans, Hawks was approached by Dover Downs Entertainment about marketing the Nashville Superspeedway. He wanted a bigger challenge and "they gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and made me vice president and general manager," he said. "They knew that I had to grow, but that I also had a lot to offer."
"I love the challenge of growing something from the ground up. I love the promotions side of it ... seeing something start at ground zero and then to be there on opening day. Hearing the fans. Being a part of the excitement. It's something I'll never forget."
Hawks did not have an easy assignment with the Superspeedway. He said the biggest challenge was to take the facility "to the people."
"This sport and this type facility cannot be downtown. It was my job to paint the picture before it was even built. I had to convince people that it was going to happen and would be a very state-of-the-art facility," he said.
Hawks said he has always kept an open mind about the opportunities that have come his way.
"I've just taken the job at hand and worked hard. If you trust that God has a plan for you, it'll be okay," he said.
