Nate Ryan

USA TODAY Sports

LOUDON, N.H. — Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith, a longtime critic of NASCAR, became the sanctioning body's biggest supporter Friday, blasting the recent formation of the Race Team Alliance.

"What I know about it, of course I don't like it," Smith said after Sprint Cup practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, which is one of eight SMI-owned tracks that play host to NASCAR's premier series. "I don't know anything about it that's good for what we do. I don't see anything that's going to be good for the sport. Nothing.

"What little bit I know about it right now, it seems it will damage the sport. If NASCAR needs us, we're there with NASCAR on the deal. We're there every day, every hour, if they need us."

Announced Monday, the RTA is comprised of nine teams that have aligned with the objective of saving costs. Smith, though, said it won't improve NASCAR and likely would hurt it, though he was vague when pressed about how.

"If you're NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports, show me one thing that's going to help the sport," Smith said. "I don't see anything I've heard or read about it."

RTA chairman Rob Kauffman has said the organization intends to pool its resources for better deals on insurance and travel costs.

"That doesn't sound too good, either," Smith said. "I don't know that man that said that. But he hasn't been with us long, has he?"

Smith pretended not to know anything about Kauffman, who is the most recent team owner in the RTA. Kauffman bought into into Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007 to help save the organization from financial ruin.

"Oh, that's good," Smith said with a smile. "I'm proud of him."

Smith often feuded with former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. about race scheduling and the sport's direction, and there was speculation that the RTA might view him as an ally, given his maverick streak and vast business holdings.

But Smith snuffed any such perception.

"Absolutely not," he said. "I'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with NASCAR on this one. I know (the RTA isn't) going to like it.

"I like this sport. I've been in it forever. We have a huge investment around $4 billion. I don't sit up at night worrying about it, but I do not like the people to damage the sport."

The RTA was formed six months ahead of the start of a new TV contract for NASCAR that is worth $8.2 billion over 10 years. The TV money is distributed in a three-way split, allocating 65% to tracks, 25% to teams and 10% to NASCAR. Team owners have grumbled about their share of the deal, but if the distribution is altered, track owners such as Smith stand to have their revenue reduced.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @nateryan