(Source: Business Wire)

Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:DVD) today reported its results for the
third quarter ended September 30, 2009.
The Company promoted five major events over four weekends in the third
quarter of 2009 compared with seven major events in the third quarter of
2008. The NHRA event at Memphis Motorsports Park which was held in the
third quarter of 2008 will be held in the fourth quarter of 2009. Also,
the Indy Racing League event at the Nashville Superspeedway that was
promoted during the third quarter of 2008 was not held in 2009.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2009 revenues were $31,144,000
compared with $39,791,000 in the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in
revenues is due to promoting two fewer events in 2009 compared to 2008,
lower attendance resulting in reduced admissions revenue and
event-related revenue and to reduced corporate sponsorships.
The Company's NASCAR Fall race weekend in Dover saw lower attendance,
sponsorships and corporate spending as a result of weak macroeconomic
conditions and less than optimal weather.
Operating and marketing expenses were $19,159,000 in the third quarter
of 2009 as compared to $24,083,000 in the third quarter of 2008. The
decrease is primarily related to the change in our motorsports event
calendar discussed above, as well as from lower expenses for most major
events held during the quarter.
General and administrative expenses of $3,062,000 in the third quarter
of 2009 were down slightly from $3,131,000 for the same quarter last
year.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,606,000 in the third
quarter of 2009 compared to $1,773,000 for the comparable 2008 period.
The decrease resulted primarily from the cessation of depreciation
expense at our Memphis track which was classified as held-for-sale and a
reduction in our depreciable asset base resulting from an impairment
charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008, partially offset by
depreciation on assets placed in service since September of 2008 related
to our Monster Makeover project at Dover International Speedway.
As previously reported on October 30, 2009, the Company announced that
it is ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it
will not promote any events in Memphis in 2010. The Memphis facility had
been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf
Coast was unable to secure financing. Because the sale of our Memphis
facility was not completed, the Company concluded in the third quarter
that it was necessary to review the carrying value of the long-lived
assets of its Memphis facility for impairment. As a result of this
review, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $7,478,000
to write down the carrying value of the Memphis facility to fair value.
Net interest expense was a negative $244,000 for the third quarter of
2009 compared to $947,000 in the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in
expense was primarily due to the reversal of $1,011,000 of accrued
interest associated with certain unrecognized income tax benefits that
are no longer required. Additionally, both average borrowings and
interest rates were lower during the third quarter of 2009 than during
the third quarter of 2008.
Earnings before income taxes were $83,000 in the third quarter of 2009
compared with $9,857,000 in the comparable quarter of the prior year.
The current years' results include the aforementioned non-cash
impairment charge of $7,478,000. The Company's financial results are
shown on an adjusted basis on the accompanying schedule -- "Reconciliation of GAAP (Loss) Earnings to Adjusted (Loss) Earnings".
On an adjusted basis, income before income taxes for the third quarter
of 2009 was $7,561,000 compared with $9,857,000 for the third quarter of
last year.
The income tax provision for the third quarter of 2009 is the result of
the mix of taxable income and losses within our various subsidiaries.
Certain subsidiaries had state taxable income which resulted in state
income tax expense; however, other subsidiaries with state tax losses
have no state income tax benefits based upon the valuation allowances
that we have recorded in connection with state net operating loss
carryforwards. Excluding the effect of the impairment charge, the
effective income tax rate was 42.6% in the third quarter of 2009
compared to 52.3% in the 2008 period.
Net (loss) earnings for the third quarter of 2009 were $(524,000) or
$(.01) per diluted share compared to $4,699,000 or $.13 per diluted
share for the same period last year.
On an adjusted basis, net earnings were $4,337,000 or $.12 per diluted
share in the third quarter of 2009 compared with $4,699,000 or $.13 per
diluted share for the same period last year.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, revenues were $66,847,000
compared with $81,718,000 in the prior year. The Company promoted 12
major events in the first nine months of 2009 compared to 14 major
events in the comparable 2008 period.
Net (loss) earnings were $(1,324,000) or $(.04) per diluted share for
the first nine months of 2009 compared with $6,398,000 of $0.18 per
diluted share in the comparable period last year. On an adjusted basis,
net earnings were $3,537,000 or $.09 per diluted share for the first
nine months of 2009 compared with $6,398,000 or $.18 per diluted share
in the comparable 2008 period.
Cash provided by operations for the first nine months of 2009 was
$6,350,000 compared with $10,906,000 in the prior year. Capital
spending, primarily associated with the Monster Makeover project at
Dover International Speedway, was $1,896,000 during the first nine
months of 2009.
This release contains or may contain forward-looking statements based on
management's beliefs and assumptions. Such statements are subject to
various risks and uncertainties which could cause results to vary
materially. Please refer to the Company's SEC filings for a discussion
of such factors.
Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE:DVD) is a leading promoter
of motorsports events in the United States. DVD subsidiaries operate
three tracks in three states, and present several hundred motorsports
events each year. For 2009, 14 major, national events were held,
including races sanctioned by NASCAR and NHRA. Dover Motorsports, Inc.
owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del., Gateway
International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo., and Nashville Superspeedway
near Nashville, Tenn. For further information log on to www.DoverMotorsports.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on
management's beliefs and assumptions. Such statements are subject to
various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to vary
materially. Please refer to the SEC filings of DVD for a discussion of
such factors.
DOVER MOTORSPORTS, INC.