Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - Past Northwest Track News

PAST NORTHWEST/WASHINGTON/OREGON
PROPOSED TRACK NEWS/RUMORS

Hunt for a Northwest SIte continues: Though an initial deal petered out last year, the recruiting effort to bring NASCAR to the Northwest is still humming right along. In fact, officials from International Speedway Corp. is looking to build a 75,000-seat NASCAR facility in the region, scouted sites in the Seattle area this week and had plans to stop in Oregon in the next several days before heading back east. “We’re still very interested in being in the Northwest,” said Grant Lynch, vice president of International Speedway. “There’s one big area of the country that doesn’t have a major racing facility. We have a big interest in figuring out if we can put one out here.” Drew Mahalic, the Oregon Sports Authority’s chief executive officer, said he had spoken with International Speedway officials as recently as last week “to just kind of stay in touch … as we continue to point out potential sites where (a track) could work.” International Speedway hopes to find a site, preferably between 700 and 900 acres, within 40 to 50 miles of a major Northwest metropolitan area, Grant said. The facility probably would be a seven-eighths-mile track with room for at least 75,000 spectators, at the start. Among the locations under consideration for a NASCAR track in Oregon are the former Reynolds Aluminum smelter in Troutdale — now a federal Superfund cleanup site — and a 500-acre swath of farmland in Scappoose.
In Scappoose, Port of St. Helens Executive Director Peter Williamson said he had spoken with International Speedway officials on Tuesday about the 500 acres available near the city’s airport. He said they have shown interest in the site but are concerned, as are residents, about traffic jams. Plans to alleviate those concerns include bringing in heavy-rail commuter trains, bus and boat shuttles and reconfiguring traffic lanes. After months of searching last year, International Speedway selected a site for the raceway in Marysville, Wash., north of Seattle. But in November, Marysville and Snohomish County officials halted negotiations, saying the deal was too big a risk for taxpayers.(Portland Tribune)(1-29-2005)
NASCAR negotiator for county joins Marysville [WA] staff The lead staff member for Snohomish County's [Washington] negotiations to bring a NASCAR track to the area quit this month to become Marysville's new public-works director. Paul Roberts, who worked for County Executive Aaron Reardon for less than year, also had served as Everett's planning director. Roberts led the county's discussions with International Speedway Corp., a racetrack developer that chose a site north of Marysville for the NASCAR track. Discussions with the corporation ended last month because of a disagreement over how much money the company should contribute to the project. Marysville Chief Administrative Officer Mary Swenson said she was pleased to have Roberts come to work for the city. He will oversee about 80 public-works employees in Marysville and help the city pursue economic-development opportunities, including development of the 850 acres formerly proposed for the racetrack.(Seattle Times), looks like no turning back for this former proposed site for the track.(12-19-2004)
Negotations end with ISC for Washington track: Local officials said they ended negotiations with Florida-based racetrack developer International Speedway Corp. today because the company wouldn't invest more money in the project. Since September, Snohomish County has been negotiating with ISC to bring a NASCAR racetrack to 850 acres of farmland between Marysville and Arlington. The corporation initially offered to invest $50 million in the $300 million project and asked the state Legislature to come up with a financing package to pay for the rest, plus about $75 million in needed transportation improvements. The project never even got to legislators. "They came in at $50 million, that was too low and we couldn't get above that," Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said this afternoon. In addition, he said he asked ISC for a guarantee the track could attract a coveted Nextel Cup race, and they wouldn't give him one. As NASCAR has grown in popularity, other states have offered track developers tax breaks and other financing packages to lure speedways. Loyal NASCAR fans will travel long distances to see a race and stay longer than the event lasts, proponents say. For some communities, the economic benefits have been immense. Proponents of a NASCAR track said the facility would be an economic boon for the county. A study early this year indicated the track would bring between $87.3 million and $121.8 million in new spending and tax revenue, and create more than 1,300 new jobs. But proponents feared the track would create traffic nightmares on race weekends and possible damage the environment.(Seattle Times), hey Oregon......ready? (11-23-2004)
Oregon may want back in: NASCAR supporters in northwest Oregon said they hoped the scuttling of the Marysville project might rekindle ISC interest in a site they had proposed months ago in Scappoose, Ore. Santiago said Speedway still regards Oregon as a possibility, but the Seattle area remains its first preference. Adam Rivas, mayor of Yelm, an 8,000-person town south of Seattle, said he had not heard from Speedway people in several months, but he's ready to hear a fresh proposal. "I would think the ball is in ISC's court," he said.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-24-2004)
Washington Track Funding in Question: When Snohomish County officials were first crafting a partnership proposal to lure a NASCAR speedway to Marysville [Washington], they assumed the company looking to locate here would make a bigger financial commitment to help build it. According to public records obtained by speedway opponents, county officials were convinced as recently as March that Florida-based International Speedway Corp. was "prepared to invest in the $150 million range." But when local officials pitched a financing package to a legislative committee in October, their proposal showed the company contributing $50 million and the public financing the rest of the speedway's $250 million price tag. Those same legislators, who will help decide during the next session what kind of public incentives the state might offer, met here last night to weigh testimony from racetrack opponents and supporters. Officials from Snohomish County and Marysville have also said the $50 million contribution is only a starting point and that they're negotiating with International Speedway over how to divide the costs. But neighbors fighting the racetrack contend the paltry first proposal was a thinly veiled attempt to make the company look good for sweetening the pot later. Efforts to reach International Speedway officials yesterday were unsuccessful. Current estimates put the speedway's price tag at $250 million. Another $68 million worth of traffic improvements -- most of which supporters say would be required with or without the speedway -- would also need to be funded. Legislators were scheduled to hear presentations from opponents, including Snohomish County Citizens Against the Racetrack, homeowners from the neighboring Berry Farm and Gleneagle subdivisions, and the Arlington Airport Pilot's Association. Supporters include Fans United for NASCAR, local economic development officials, the Tulalip Tribes and Snohomish County Labor Council.(more at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter)(11-12-2004)
Washington NASCAR track plans face more obstacles: A Marysville [WA] traffic study shows a NASCAR track may cost the state millions more than originally thought. The news has further enraged the anti-NASCAR groups in the area. Traffic was always gong to be the sticking point in the deal, not only on Interstate 5, but at several exit points through the entire corridor. The new estimates are bound to send the whole deal back to the bargaining table. While traffic congestion is expected and even encouraged on the racetrack, it’s not what Marysville residents want on their highways and side streets. Eyleen Shouman is convinced that many of the 75,000 race fans will use her neighborhood streets to get around the I-5 logjam. NASCAR fans would add a lot of cars to Marysville streets. "People are going to cut through this 25-mile an hour residential area to get to the track because it is a shortcut, and we will have the traffic right here on our streets,” she said. “That's inappropriate, we have kids who play on these streets." The city of Marysville released a traffic study this weekend showing the improvements needed to make the track viable. But the $85-million cost came in well above the original $50-million estimate. Most of the $85 million would fund projects needed in Snohomish county regardless of whether the track is built, and NASCAR supporters say the revenue stream would more than pay for the short term costs. But the Legislature would have to chip in $285 million while the International Speedway Corporation spends only $50 million. The $85 million also counts on thousands of race fans to utilize Park and Rides in the area and then take buses to the track. If they don't, the numbers in this study may still be too low. Of the $85 million needed for Snohomish County improvements, only $8 million is essential specifically for the proposed NASCAR track. The rest would eventually be built in the next decade or two.(KING 5 News site - need to register)(11-7-2004)
Residents blister plan for Washington track: Most of the people who showed up at a public meeting Thursday to talk about a proposed NASCAR racetrack in the north Marysville [Washington State] area didn't appear to be race fans. They didn't come to talk about a favorite driver or team, or review the Nextel Cup or Busch Series standings. They came to challenge information about International Speedway Corp.'s track proposal, from people they view as out of touch with their concerns about a racetrack in their rural neighborhood, and about possibly even losing their homes. About 70 people showed up at Shoultes Elementary School Thursday to listen to members of Snohomish County Citizens Against a Racetrack (SCAR) and Fans United for NASCAR (FUN) present their points of view. Each side was asked to make a presentation on the following issues:
* The impact of a racetrack on Berry Farm property values and taxes. The Berry Farm developments are south and west of the proposed track site.
* The effect of track noise on the community.
* The impact of the plan for widening 152nd Street.
* The overall impact of a racetrack on the quality of life for Berry Farm residents.
The crowd frequently applauded responses by Eyeleen Shouman and Ernie Fosse of SCAR to questions from the public. "The only way for this racetrack to not affect us and our quality of life is to never build it here," Fosse said. Some attendees questioned why FUN representatives didn't have more details of the actual plans, costs and effects. "The final layout is not completed," FUN member Gigi Burke said. "We're all still in a fact-finding mode." SCAR members also contend that the track, after construction, would create only about 40 to 50 permanent jobs. Fosse noted that an advance economic study predicted the track would bring in between $80 million and $120 million.(The Herald)(10-29-2004)
Hearing set on NASCAR proposal for Washington track: Local residents will have a chance to tell state legislators what they think about a proposed Snohomish County [Washington] NASCAR racetrack at a meeting next month. Lt. Gov. Brad Owen has scheduled a public work session in Marysville of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, a bipartisan committee of key legislators from the House and Senate. Florida racetrack developer International Speedway Corp. [ISC] has proposed a $300 million track near Marysville. An initial proposal by the company, Snohomish County and Marysville called for the Legislature to provide between $200 million and $250 million for the track, plus road improvements in the vicinity. At the meeting, the committee will hear presentations from two homeowners associations, an association of pilots from the Arlington Airport, Snohomish County Citizens Against a Racetrack, the Tulalip Tribes, Fans United for NASCAR and the Economic Development Council of Snohomish County. Proponents of the track say it would bring in needed jobs and money. Opponents fear it would be noisy and cause traffic congestion and environmental problems. The meeting will be from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 10 at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, 5611 108th St. N.E., Marysville.(Seattle Times)(10-21-2004)
Seattle / NYC Reps Attend Kansas: Officials involved with new track projects in Seattle and Staten Island, N.Y., attended this weekend's NASCAR event to see how Kansas Speedway became one of the gems of American motor sports. Built in 2001, the Kansas track sprang from 1,500 acres of farmland at the western edge of the metropolitan area. Now surrounding it is a sparkling retail and tourist center that is transforming low-income Wyandotte County into a thriving area. Seattle officials were also impressed with how property values and noise levels have been addressed here. Plus, there's the attention to detail that sets this speedway apart. Both new tracks are expected to be less than a mile in length. Kansas is a 11/2-mile track.(Indianapolis Star)(10-11-2004)
Washington State will need to pony up some $$ for Track: If the state wants a NASCAR speedway built in Snohomish County, it won't come cheaply. State legislators yesterday heard for the first time what it could take to get racetrack developer International Speedway Corp. (ISC) to build a 75,000-seat track on a site between Marysville and Arlington. Under a proposal jointly introduced by Snohomish County, the city of Marysville and ISC, the state and possibly the county would be asked to raise about $250 million through the sale of bonds to build the track, estimated to cost $300 million to build. The state would also foot the bill for road improvements around the track, including a possible new interchange on Interstate 5. No estimates have been made for the cost of those improvements. The $250 million in bonds would be repaid with tax revenue generated by the track. The land would be leased to ISC, local officials said during a 90-minute legislative-committee meeting.(Seattle Times)(10-8-2004)
Northwest race track site selected by ISC; UPDATE It's Official: International Speedway Corp.(ISC), a company that develops NASCAR tracks, is expected to announce Monday it has chosen a Snohomish County [Washington State] site for its newest track. ISC's effort to locate a track in the region began more than a year ago. The decision eliminates a site in Kitsap County and at least two near Portland that were vying for the track, a source said. A speedway has been coveted by the communities because of the income and jobs it is expected to bring, thanks to NASCAR's growing popularity. A site near Yelm, Thurston County, was removed from the list last week. Snohomish County and Marysville officials had been trying since April to lure International Speedway Corp. (ISC) to 600 acres of farmland between Marysville and Arlington, east of Interstate 5. An economic study indicated the proposed ¾-mile track, which would seat about 75,000 people, would generate between $87.3 million and $121.8 million in new revenue every year. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon yesterday said he couldn't confirm or deny that ISC's preferred site was in Snohomish County. He told a reporter that he could say more if a story on the decision could be held until Monday. He didn't give a reason for delaying the announcement, but said he would take the story to other media if The Seattle Times didn't agree to hold it. He later called the reporter to see if a story on the decision would be delayed. When told it would not, he then said ISC will be in Snohomish County on Monday to announce its decision. But he insisted he didn't know what the decision would be. "I feel good about it," he said of the impending announcement. "I think it's a positive sign that they're coming to Washington state." But after his telephone conversation with a reporter, Reardon inadvertently left his phone off the hook and could be heard telling other county officials in his office that he was only "playing dumb" and that he had told another official Marysville would be the site.(Seattle Times), plus columns at:
Daily Herald: County likely to get NASCAR track
Daily Herald: NASCAR clock ticking
Daily Herald: Reaction in Arlington ranges from 'Right on' to 'Who pays?'
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Statement on racetrack due Monday.(9-24-2004)
UPDATE: Snohomish County will be the site of NASCAR's Northwest track, officials confirmed this morning. Representatives of International Speedway Corp., which develops tracks for NASCAR, and county leaders announced as expected that property between Arlington and Marysville is ISC's preferred location for a 75,000-seat, 3/4-mile track. The decision eliminates competing sites in Kitsap County and in Portland. ISC representatives said they chose the Snohomish County site because of its proximity to Interstate 5 and the Arlington Airport. State and local leaders, meanwhile, have anticipated the potential economic benefits of a track, which a study by speedway proponents earlier this year predicted would bring jobs and generate between $87.3 million and $121.8 million in annual revenue. Officials said Monday the track could open in 2008. . Still to be hashed out, however, is what the state and county will offer ISC to secure the track in Washington. ISC is scheduled to make a presentation to the state's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee on Oct. 6. The company would have to buy the 600-acre site, which has 29 different owners. The Snohomish County Council would have to add some of the land to Marysville's urban-growth area, and then Marysville would likely annex the site. Monday's announcement included ISC's request to expand the site to 850 acres.(Seattle Times)(9-27-2004)
ISC Eliminates NW Sites from consideration: International Speedway Corp. has eliminated [both sites] Thurston County [Washington] from the field of possible sites for a 75,000-seat racetrack to serve NASCAR fans in the Northwest. The announcement was cheered by track foes in Yelm and Lacey. The news was a disappointment, though not a shock, to those leading a charge for a track in Thurston County. A formal proposal was made for a 1,400-plus-acre site in Yelm. A location off Interstate 5 in Lacey was possibly in the mix as late as a week ago. The 400-acre Lacey site likely was the most viable in Thurston County because of its proximity to I-5 and closer driving distance to Seattle. But it was smaller than the initial criteria outlined by ISC and the rezoning process with Lacey might have been too long in ISC's eyes. "For ISC, it was a question of location, location, location -- like all other real estate transactions," Mike Edwards, president-elect of the Economic Development Council of Thurston County, said. "They said from the onset that they wanted to be as close to Seattle as possible. They've eliminated Thurston County." ISC still is looking at a Marysville site in Snohomish County and undisclosed sites near Seattle and Portland, ISC spokesman David Talley said from Florida, where the company is headquartered. Talley said he is confident a Northwest track will come to be. "We are a growing sport that needs to enter new major markets to get our product in front of new eyes," Talley said. "The Pacific Northwest is underserved, and there are plenty of eyes." ISC wants to be as close as possible to as many of those eyes as possible -- making Seattle and Portland targets for one track to serve all of the Northwest. A site will be selected this fall. Track developers hope to open a track for races by 2008.(in part from The Olympian)(9-14-2004)
Washington County seem to want a track there: A large majority of Kitsap County residents are comfortable with the idea of a NASCAR track in South Kitsap, according to a recent scientific survey by the county. The survey included several questions to gauge residents' feelings about a stock-car racing track, just as the race to attract it here nears the finish line. Kitsap County leaders along with state officials and representatives from Thurston and Snohomish counties have been wooing International Speedway Corp. in the name of economic development since November. ISC, based in Daytona, Fla., owns and operates a dozen tracks nationwide. A track could bring in $87 million to $122 million a year, according to a survey by a group of businessmen and economic development leaders, including Kitsap Economic Development Council Executive Director David Porter and Michael Gould of the Haselwood Auto Group. Kitsap County is one of four sites being considered for the track. Other sites under consideration are near Yelm in Thurston County, near Marysville in Snohomish County and a site in the vicinity of Portland, Ore. International Speedway Corp. is expected to make its decision by the end of this year and hopes to stage its first race in the Pacific Northwest by 2008. Some 38 percent of Kitsap County residents say they are "very comfortable" with what they know of the proposal, and another 34 percent are "somewhat comfortable." That means nearly three of every four county residents express a degree of comfort with the idea of a NASCAR track locating here. The most overwhelming regional support came from those who would be most keenly affected residents in South Kitsap, where the track would be located if Kitsap County were chosen. About 50 percent of residents surveyed there were "very comfortable" with the proposal; 25 percent were "somewhat comfortable." Young people age 18 to 34 also registered strong support for the track, while seniors and residents with high educational attainment expressed a lower level of comfort. The survey was based on a random sample of county residents reflecting the area's diversity, and has a margin of error of about 5 percent. The proposed track would be a 3/4-mile to 1-mile long oval and have a grandstand with about 75,000 seats.(The Sun)(8-11-2004)
NASCAR finds favor in Snohomish County: Snohomish County [Washington State] voters who favor building a NASCAR racetrack north of Marysville outnumber opponents by a 2-1 ratio, according to poll results released yesterday by a group that supports the idea. Sixty-four percent of county residents reached by telephone said they would support building an 80,000- seat speedway, compared with 29 percent against it, according to answers given after listening to arguments for and against the track. International Speedway Corp. is looking to settle on preferred sites for a new NASCAR track in the Northwest by the end of the year. Snohomish, Kitsap and Thurston counties are all courting the Florida company. Fans United for NASCAR, a pro-racetrack group led by Snohomish County business leaders that commissioned the poll, said those results should put in perspective the opposition that has cropped up in neighborhoods next to the county's proposed site. Snohomish County Citizens Against the Racetrack has been organized to battle the proposal. But those neighbors said they were heartened by the number of people who already oppose the track, given that no one knows what a speedway might cost taxpayers. The poll was conducted by Moore Information, a Portland-based public information group. Its margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)(7-22-2004)
NYC and NW Track Stuff: NASCAR racing within view of the Manhattan skyline is coming soon. An announcement is expected in August on final plans to build a racetrack in New York City. NASCAR chairman Brian France said last weekend that "significant progress" has been made in negotiations to build a new speedway in the nation's largest market. France wouldn't specify the location, but International Speedway officials have looked closely at Staten Island. The New York announcement may come before ISC completes a deal to build a track in the Seattle area. ISC officials are considering proposals from several groups in the Pacific Northwest.(Dallas Morning News)(7-16-2004)
Washignton making a run at the NW track: Developers may not choose a Northwest site for a NASCAR track until later this year, but Washington legislators already are considering what it would take to land the track. Community leaders in Snohomish, Thurston, Kitsap and Mason counties believe a track could diversify the region's economy, but it's state lawmakers — and a new governor — who ultimately will determine just how badly Washington wants an estimated $140 million track that seats 75,000. International Speedway Corp. (ISC) has begun its homework on Washington. The firm hired Preston Gates & Ellis to advise it on state business law, and Gogerty Stark Marriott, the Seattle firm whose principal, Bob Gogerty, managed Paul Allen's 1997 campaign to build Seahawks Stadium, to meet with political heavyweights. ISC also hired lobbyist Mark Greenberg, who represents NASCAR sponsor Anheuser-Busch. Since May, Greenberg and ISC representatives have visited gubernatorial candidates Ron Sims and Dino Rossi and are working to schedule a talk with Christine Gregoire. Because ISC hasn't named a preferred site or explicitly discussed what it wants from the state, some legislators aren't ready to talk about what they're willing to offer. Lawmakers may be wary of more big-budget bills related to economic development, since the state just passed a $3.2 billion package to convince Boeing to build its new jetliner, the 7E7, in Everett. Others, who opposed construction of Seahawks Stadium — which required $300 million in public funding — are suspicious that a racetrack deal could carry hidden expenses. Rep. Bob Sump, R-Republic, is a self-described "NASCAR nut," but he said he'll favor a track only if the financing makes sense for taxpayers. "I'm philosophically opposed to government getting involved to the extent they did [for the Seahawks Stadium], of financially subsidizing the project," Sump said. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, also opposes a track. A ranking minority member of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, she could help block track-related transportation improvements.
The opposition Snohomish County's very public pitch has roused major opposition from a group that calls itself SCAR (Snohomish County Citizens Against the Racetrack). John Graham, ISC's vice president of business affairs, says opposition doesn't necessarily discourage the firm from entering a community. "We don't ever expect for there to be unanimity," he said. Joe Corsiglia, a county commissioner in Columbia County, Ore., who is helping with the Scappoose proposal, said any location has drawbacks — ranging from community feedback to legislation and geography. "There are drawbacks everywhere," Corsiglia said. "But those things can be cured by money."(much more at the Seattle Times - way too much to post here), hey..if they don't want a track up there, how about...Kentucky? Nashville? Pikes Peak?(7-12-2004)
News on the Northwest track: from last week.....Although International Speedway Corporation refuses to get into specifics, the Daytona Beach-based company confirmed in the past month it has received several additional proposals in its bid to build a NASCAR-ready speedway in the Pacific Northwest. ISC director of corporate development Tom Valley said yesterday he hopes to announce a site for the proposed 80,000-seat, state-of-the-art speedway by early this fall. Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston counties are among those hoping to lure ISC and its million-dollar potential economic impact to their communities. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde as well as the Oregon Sports Authority also are expected to submit proposals for land in the Portland area. Valley estimated there are fewer than 10 sites being considered. "We want to be in a metropolitan area of either Portland or Seattle, so anything way out of town doesn't make sense right now," he said. ISC isn't ruling out resistance from groups at some locales. Valley said there are no frontrunners, reiterating, "It's an untapped market we're very excited about."(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)(7-9-2004)
Indian Tribe may try to build Portland track: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, shut out in their bid to finance a major league baseball stadium, might join the effort to build a NASCAR track in the Portland [Oregon] area. Brent Merrill, a spokesman and tribal member, said Thursday the Grand Ronde has spoken with officials of International Speedway Corp., the Florida-based company that is scouting sites in the Northwest for a 80,000-seat, mile or half-mile facility to host Nextel Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck and Indy Racing League events. "Everything is extremely preliminary and nothing has been finalized," Merrill said. "We need to determine the response of our tribal council to see if they would be interested." David Talley, a spokesman for ISC involved in the planning for a Northwest NASCAR facility, could not be reached for comment Thursday.(Oregonian)(6-16-2004)
Airport board opposes track in Washington: The Arlington Airport Commission became the first public entity to officially oppose a proposal to build a NASCAR racetrack in north Marysville [Washington state], just south of the airport. The airport commission passed a resolution with a 6-1 vote at its regular meeting Tuesday night to oppose the track. "Unless the community of Arlington, tenants of the airport, Washington State Department of Transportation's Aviation Division and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) publicly support a change of our aviation role and a change in the land use compatibility section of the Airport Master Plan, the airport commission is opposed to siting of the NASCAR facility in the currently proposed location," the resolution reads. Officials with Marysville and Snohomish County have tried to reassure the aviation community in Arlington that any disruptions to normal airport operations would be minimal and temporary, if at all. In the resolution, the commission said it was convinced that building the racetrack nearby would change the role of the airport. That is a reference to fears many pilots there have that the track would change the mix of aircraft, chasing out the small recreational aircraft such as ultralights, gliders and slower antique planes as faster corporate jets crowd the air space, said Guy Kennedy, the commission's chairman. The commission also said the track would run counter to the airport's master plan, which requires local governments to enact zoning rules that restrict or avoid large concentrations of people near the flight lines. The International Speedway Corp. of Daytona Beach, Fla., is looking to build a 75,000-seat facility somewhere in Washington or Oregon, and the Marysville site is believed to have a good shot when compared to others in the Puget Sound and Portland areas. The zoning rules discourage the building of churches, hospitals and residential neighborhoods near the airport. A racetrack would mean a much bigger concentration of people, Kennedy said. Jim Scott, one of the founders of Arlington's ultralight park who now works for the state's aviation division, agreed. A racetrack "really does not fit the master plan" for the airport, he said.(Arlington Herald)(6-10-2004)
Meeting for proposed NASCAR Track in Wash. packs them in: A near-capacity, boisterous crowd of about 650 people jammed into the Marysville-Pilchuck High School auditorium Monday night in the first public meeting about a NASCAR racetrack proposed to be built in north Marysville [WA]. Supporters and critics showed up in full regalia: residents wearing bright red NASCAR jackets and logo-filled caps mixed uneasily with the red paper anti-NASCAR flags and protest signs of other residents. Both sides at times interrupted speakers with loud applause or boos. North Marysville is one of several sites International Speedway Corp. is considering in its plans to build a NASCAR track in the Northwest. City and county officials prepared a proposal for a 75,000-seat track on 600 acres near the Arlington Airport. Other potential sites include Monroe, near Olympia, in Kitsap County and near Portland, Ore. While the Marysville proposal has many supporters, it also has organized opposition. Some have joined Snohomish County Citizens Against a Racetrack, or SCAR. Critics say a NASCAR track would be costly to taxpayers, would create traffic and noise problems, would harm the environment and wouldn't be the economic boon predicted.(Daily Herald)(6-3-2004)
Northwest Track Study Done: A speedway hosting NASCAR's most popular races would create hundreds of jobs and inject $87 million a year in new money into the Snohomish County economy from just three weekends of racing a year, according to a much-anticipated study released Friday. In addition, construction of the track and 75,000-seat grandstand would pump another $140 million into the region's economy. The economic analysis further estimates that from groundbreaking through the first year of operation, nearly $20 million in new sales, property and business taxes would flow into city, county and state coffers. That's the conclusion of the Checkered Flag Task Force, a coalition of civic and business interests backing a racetrack. International Speedway Corp. is eyeing sites in Washington and Oregon for a Northwest track. The Checkered Flag report focuses broadly on what new money would come to the region if it happens. No prospective site is examined in the report.(the Herald)(5-24-2004)
News on the Oregon track: The Port of St. Helens has an option to purchase close to 500 acres of land near the Scappoose airport that could be suitable for a NASCAR racetrack. Port of St. Helens president Colleen DeShazer said an exploratory meeting attracted almost 400 people at Scappoose High School, "and it was 80 to 85 percent in favor of the track." DeShazer said there were obvious water, sewer and road issues involved before the port could make a serious bid to International Speedway Corporation, the company that is actively scouting sites for a 75,000- to 80,000-seat facility that would play host to NASCAR and Indy Racing League events and draw fans from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Canada. Drew Mahalic, chief executive officer of the Oregon Sports Authority, said the Port of St. Helens proposal could have merit. "It's a great piece of land, and it certainly has enough acreage (for ISC)," Mahalic said. "But we're still exploring multiple sites throughout the state, probably a half-dozen. We want to identify a site by the end of the summer that we can stand behind and present to ISC. We want to be able to tell them, 'This site will work,' and we're not there yet." A 600- to 750-acre site north of Marysville, Wash., could be the early front-runner for the NASCAR facility but Mahalic said, "I think it's still open. I don't think a site has been examined yet that ISC has said, 'This is where we want to be.' That hasn't happened yet."(Oregon Live)(5-11-2004)
More on the Northwest Track: Snohomish County, which is north of Seattle, became the first of four competing areas to submit a formal proposal for a track site in the Pacific Northwest. But International Speedway Corp. president Lesa France Kennedy says a specific location has not been locked in. "We're still interested in the entire Pacific Northwest area," Kennedy says. "We have different groups that have expressed interest out there. I have not been out there personally for a while, but we had some folks come out to visit Kansas Speedway last fall. That was exciting. We had a chance to show them some NASCAR racing out there and they seemed quite impressed." Of the other counties in the running for a new track, two others are in the Seattle area, and one is in the Portland area.(Foxsports/Sporting News)(4-19-2004)
Northwest Track / Washington Location down to two sites: Marysville and Snohomish County [Washington state] officials announced Tuesday that two Marysville-area sites are the front-runners in the race to land a NASCAR Auto Racing track. Officials made the announcement after a morning meeting with representatives from International Speedway Corp., the company that owns 12 of the nation's largest auto-racing facilities. The motor sports giant is looking to expand into the Pacific Northwest and has been eyeing locations in Washington and Oregon. Snohomish County's preferred location is at Marysville's northern edge, on 599 acres south of Highway 531 that is nearly divided by 51st Avenue NE. International Speedway wants to start racing in the Pacific Northwest by 2008. It's an untapped market, company officials say, because Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point, in Sonoma, Calif., is the closest track that hosts NASCAR's premium Nextel Cup races. During a news conference on Tuesday, county and Marysville leaders offered a few new details for what they've dubbed the Great Northwest Speedway, an 80,000-seat facility they would like to see built north of Marysville. The other site mentioned is southwest of Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, west of I-5 in the Lakewood area, on 618 acres south of 156th Street NE. But the land is designated for agriculture, which is one of the reasons why the other location is preferred. Another plus: The location east of I-5 could be expanded to up to 747 acres. Both of the proposed sites set aside 150 acres for the racetrack and parking for 20,000 cars. The announcement of the two preferred sites means a proposed location near Monroe is out of the running. But Marysville still faces competition from Kitsap and Thurston counties and Portland, Ore.'s Multnomah County. Public financing would help pay for infrastructure, but not the racetrack, local leaders said.(Herald)(4-14-2004)
Seattle Track story, with pictures and maps, pretty long article, see it at: Seattle Times: Marysville-Arlington area drives for a NASCAR track.(4-8-2004)
North West Track News: While a proposed [North West/Washington state] race track would bring new jobs and an economic boost to the region, plenty of factors still have to be worked out, South Sound state legislators say. Factors include a site where Florida-based International Speedway Corporation (ISC) would build a NASCAR-style auto track, infrastructure and potential tax incentives. State Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, is among those who have observed speedways in other areas. "I think the NASCAR race track will be a real economic boon for Southwest Washington," Alexander said. "They've shown me what an economic boon it has been to other states. It creates a number of jobs -- not just with the track, but also other businesses". Rep. Richard DeBolt, the House Republican Leader from Chehalis, would also love to see a track built in the area. "The thing that's appealing about this is its low impact," DeBolt said. "It creates a lot of jobs, and more interest in the area. It creates other business that pops up around the track, making a destination type of retail. I think it would be terrific for the area. It creates the jobs we need."
"In talking with ISC, from their standpoint the Northwest is a very attractive option," Alexander said. "They like Washington, and they want to be somewhere midpoint between Vancouver, B.C., and Portland. They recognize we have almost three million people between B.C. and Portland, and that this area is a good supporter of NASCAR racing," the representative added. "Having top support from the governor down would be helpful." During a Feb. 27 meeting in Olympia, ISC officials estimated the economic impact of a track would be $227 million during construction and an annual impact of $221 million once the track opened. ISC wants to select a site by the end of 2004, and Alexander noted tax packages have been brought up by ISC officials. Alexander said sites closest to I-5 are considered most attractive to ISC, which means sites such as Hawks Prairie in Lacey, the Maytown area in south Thurston County and the Winlock area in Lewis County. Yelm has also been mentioned as a possible site.(The Olympian)(3-31-2004)
More on possible Washington state track: State lawmakers are hoping to clear the way for construction of an 80,000-seat track aimed at attracting NASCAR events. "It's an economic win for the state of Washington," Lt. Gov. Brad Owen told the Senate Economic Development Committee on Friday. "We can wait and lose the opportunity, or we can continue to move forward in showing we have the best ground, the best crowds and the greatest opportunity." International Speedway Corp., which owns Daytona International Speedway and 11 other tracks that host NASCAR events, is scouting 500- to 1,000-acre sites in Washington and Oregon for a $200 million-plus facility to stage Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series races. Indy Racing League events also could be considered. Earlier this month, a delegation of state officials, including Owen and Sen. Tim Sheldon, attended the Daytona 500 at the invitation of ISC officials. Both NASCAR and ISC are controlled by family of Bill France, who founded the stock car sanctioning body in 1948 and built the Daytona track in 1959. A track in the Pacific Northwest would generate an estimated $227 million through construction contracts and $221 million in operations in the first year alone, said John Graham, vice president of Daytona Beach, Fla.-based ISC. Such racetracks also lead to construction of hotels, restaurants and other businesses, he said. Construction of a track and other amenities would take about two years, Graham said. He also estimated that it would create 2,200 jobs in the construction industry. ISC has been eyeing the Pacific Northwest for several years. The nearest NASCAR events are held at Infineon Raceway in northern California, and ISC's nearest track is California Speedway near Los Angeles. Graham said ISC would model a facility in the Northwest after Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., a 11/2-mile oval that opened in 2000.(ThatsRacin.com/AP)(2-28-2003)
News on the possible Oregon track: For years, restaurant owner Richard Cappotto and others in and around Boardman, OR have pinned their hopes of an economic boom on a $300 million racetrack that theoretically would draw hundreds of thousands of fans of car racing each year. But Cappotto admits to having doubts about whether the Boardman speedway ever will become a reality for the eastern Oregon community of 3,100. “They’ve been talking about this project since 2000. It’s now 2004. It has overcome every legal hurdle, but we still haven’t seen any movement,” the 60-year-old business owner said. That could change. The developer of the project, a Portland-based company called Racing Unlimited, said that it will make an announcement soon that will dispel those doubts. “We’re lining up investors and getting our financing together,” company president John Booze said. “We’re anxious to get started. We just want to make sure everything is set before we make the big announcement.” Booze said that construction could begin as soon as six months from now on the project, which gained final state land-use approval in December after a nearly three-year legal process. Besides a two-mile asphalt track, the speedway would include grandstands with seating for 145,000 people, a gift shop, a gas station, a multipurpose arena, video arcades and 20,000 camping and RV spaces. The Morrow County site along Interstate 84 actually is an ideal place for the raceway because of the area’s dry climate, and its central location would lure race fans from throughout the Northwest, Booze said. Once the speedway is up and running, estimates are that it would create 100 full-time jobs at the racetrack and 1,200 part-time jobs, port officials said. A state economist, Dallas Fridley, said the racetrack would bring a fair amount of new businesses activity to an area that largely is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Not everyone in Boardman is looking forward to that kind of change. Kelly Doherty, a local rancher who lives about three miles from the speedway site, said the racetrack will be a noisy neighbor that will harm the rural character of the surrounding area. Ron McKinnis, who is the speedway project coordinator for the Port of Morrow, said Doherty is speaking for only a small number of people in town.(Statesman Journal/AP)(2-27-2004)
And News on the possible Washington track: While the idea of building a major auto racing track in Western Washington is gaining steam, having a state-of-the-art facility does not guarantee that top NASCAR drivers will be there, South Sound racing promoters warn. Fred Brownfield, who promotes races at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma and Butch Behn, owner/promoter of South Sound Speedway near Rochester, both cautioned that many things would need to be accomplished before NASCAR's premier Nextel Cup Series races in the Northwest. Both reacted to reports that several South Sound sites are under consideration, along with areas north of Seattle, for construction of a major NASCAR track. International Speedway Corp. has looked at sites in Western Washington that could be suitable for a track that would seat up to 80,000 fans and hold two two to three major race events each year.(The Olympian)
AND South Sound is in the running for a NASCAR racetrack that would seat up to 80,000 people and more than double annual tourism spending in Thurston County [Washington State]. Supporters envision a raceway that could host up to three major stock car and truck races a year while being available for concerts, field events such as soccer and other social gatherings when not used for racing. International Speedway Corp., which builds and owns several major tracks nationwide, began looking into potential Thurston County track sites last year. Included are sites in the areas of Hawks Prairie, Tenino's South Sound Speedway and Yelm. Snohomish and Pierce counties also are competing for a track. ISC, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., is hunting for up to 1,000 acres that are easily accessible from Interstate 5, said Dennis Matson, former executive director of the Economic Development Council of Thurston County. Matson worked on the project before retiring at the start of 2004. ISC representatives will present their plans in a state Senate hearing room on Friday [Feb 27th]. State legislators have not worked out a financial deal with ISC. State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, said NASCAR officials would be satisfied if the Legislature addressed financial support during its next regular session in January.(The Olympian)(2-27-2004)
Article about the Northwest track:
NASCAR is coming, but where is question: International Speedway Corp. wants to build a racetrack in the Northwest and hold a Nextel Cup race within four years from the Oregonian.(2-20-2004)
Washington Racetrack delegation to visit Florida: International Speedway, a Daytona Beach, Fla., track developer that is considering building a track for NASCAR and other motor races in Washington, has invited representatives from the state [Washington] and Snohomish and Kitsap counties to visit its headquarters during the week of the Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 15. The offer has been accepted. A similar delegation traveled to the Kansas Speedway last fall. David Talley, an International Speedway spokesman, said the company is looking at fewer than 20 sites in Washington and Oregon. Snohomish County leaders have promoted land near Monroe and between Arlington and Marysville to the company over the past three months, as well as a site near Darrington.(Seattle Times)(2-5-2004)
Track to Portland? NASCAR, billed as America's fastest-growing sport, could race into the Northwest. Portland and Seattle are vying for a track, but the lack of an immediate viable site and funding could handicap the City of Roses, some say. Still, local boosters plan to pursue the venture because of its revenue potential. A track in the Portland area that could accommodate as many as 80,000 NASCAR fans, many of whom travel long distances and camp out for days in advance, could inject millions of dollars into the region's economy. "The economic impact of it would be undeniably good. It would bring a sporting event here that's been incredibly successful in the East and Southeast, so we're committed to investigate whether there's a fit for it in our state," Oregon Sports Authority chief executive officer Drew Mahalic said.(Portland Tribune)(1-28-2004)
Northwest Track News: Siting a NASCAR race track in Oregon will be extremely difficult to accomplish. Daytona, Fla.-based International Speedway Corp.--the largest operator of stock car tracks in the country--has scouted sites in Washington and Oregon looking for 500 to 1,000 acres on which to build a raceway. In Oregon or Southwest Washington, though, such a project faces several obstacles. The region's urban growth boundary poses one hurdle. Another is the lack of available land. A third is the desire of International Speedway to develop public-private partnerships, which would be a tough sell considering the state of Oregon's economy. The company wants to finance such a project via tax-increment financing, which would help fund the track through extra taxes generated by its operations. While common in other states, the state of Oregon has no provision for tax-increment financing, though individual cities do.(Portland Business Journal)
AND Business and governmental leaders in Snohomish County [Washington] are accelerating their efforts to attract a race track. "It would be a huge deal," county Councilman Jeff Sax said. "I think the economics of it are the most intriguing part. We don't have any other business like it." International Speedway Corp. of Daytona Beach, Fla., has made no secret that it wants to build a track in Washington or Oregon. As the Puget Sound area represents the nation's 12th-largest television market, it's an attractive place to expand. In Snohomish County, officials have suggested two sites for such a track development, which needs at least 500 acres: Monroe, already home to the Evergreen Speedway, and a rural area between Marysville and the Arlington airport. Earlier, Darrington also made a pitch to the racing company. ISC has told county officials that the track facility, which would accommodate 70,000 to 80,000 people, could generate annual revenue of $87 million and another $58 million a year in state and local taxes. A Seattle firm is preparing a study on the larger economic impact that a new NASCAR track would have specifically for the Puget Sound region. But reports on other areas with large race tracks look promising. What is clear is that the potential benefits are hard to ignore, which is why a statewide task force has formed to work with International Speedway Corp. In addition to the Snohomish County sites, the company is considering Kitsap and Thurston counties for its new track. ISC initially approached King County, but finding a suitable swath of undeveloped land there seemed to be an obstacle. Even after ISC chooses a location for the new track, issues remain. The track could cost more than $200 million, which means the Legislature probably will eventually have to decide the state's role in helping to finance it.(in part from a very long column at the Herald)(1-19-2004)
Another Washington state track site? Kitsap County [Washington] has been pegged as one of several potential Pacific Northwest sites for a new racetrack for NASCAR. Representatives from International Speedway Corp. contacted David Porter, executive director of the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council, more than a month ago about the possibility of locating here. Snohomish and Thurston counties also have been mentioned as sites, along with several places in Oregon. Porter, Port of Bremerton Commissioner Cheryl Kincer, County Commissioner Jan Angel and other county officials took a trip with Snohomish County officials to Kansas City, Kan., in October to view the ISC-owned Kansas Speedway. The track and surrounding tourist facilities are examples of how a facility in the Puget Sound area could be built. ISC plans to build a 1-mile, $150 million speedway with seating for 70,000 to 80,0000 on 1,000 acres somewhere in the Northwest in the near future. ISC hired Seattle law firm Preston, Gates and Ellis to advise it on state business practices. Porter emphasized that discussions are preliminary, and said because of a confidentiality agreement with ISC, he couldn't elaborate on details, like potential sites.(The Sun)(11-19-2003)
A 3rd Washington State track site? Another Snohomish County [WA] site heads into the NASCAR pits. Marysville and Arlington city officials acknowledged meeting with Snohomish County Economic Development Council representatives recently about the county's overtures to the International Speedway Corp. to build a NASCAR racetrack in the area. That would be the third site county officials have pitched to the racing company. In October, Monroe Mayor Donnetta Walser, county Councilman Jeff Sax and Michael Cade of the Economic Development Council flew to an International Speedway racetrack in Kansas City to talk with company officials about the possibility of opening a track in Monroe. Before that, city officials in Darrington had hoped to lure racetrack officials to visit a potential site there. Some residents were excited, but others opposed the idea. Speedway officials have never confirmed looking at specific sites other than a general interest in opening a big track somewhere in Washington or Oregon.(The Herald)(11-13-2003)
More on the North West tracks: Two Snohomish County cities, Monroe and Darrington [Wash], are considering joining the race for a NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack. Local officials recently flew to Kansas City, Kan.,to meet International Speedway Corp. officials at one of its racetracks, the Kansas Speedway. The Daytona Beach, Fla., corporation, one of the nation’s leading motorsports promoters including NASCAR, is looking to build a “major sports facility” in the Northwest to add to the 13 others it runs around the country, ISC spokesman David Talley said. “We’re in the very, very preliminary stages of trying to make something happen,” Talley said. ISC is scouting racetrack locations in Washington as well as Oregon, he said. The possibility of an 85,000-seat, 1-mile NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack would be a “very large opportunity” for the area. According to promotional materials International Speedway Corp. provided to Darrington officials, the track could cost $150 million to build, employ 2,200 people, generate $87 million in annual revenues, and another $58 million in state and local taxes.(see full story at Daily Herald)(11-6-2003)
Another Washington City wants a racetrack: Another Snohomish County city is having race track wishes and NASCAR dreams -- Monroe, WA. Monroe Mayor Donnetta Walser and two Snohomish County officials flew to Kansas City, Kan., a little more than a week ago to meet International Speedway Corp. officials at one of its racetracks, the Kansas Speedway. The Daytona Beach, Fla., corporation, one of the nation's leading motorsports promoters including NASCAR, is looking to build a "major sports facility" in the Northwest to add to the 13 others it runs around the country, ISC spokesman David Talley said. The nearest ISC racetrack to Snohomish County is California Speedway, near San Bernardino, CA. "We're in the very, very preliminary stages of trying to make something happen," Talley said. ISC is scouting racetrack locations in Washington as well as Oregon, he said. He could not comment on which locations, and said there is no specific timetable. Monroe is not the only Snohomish County city with a heightened interest in the search for a speedway location. Darrington city officials were set to meet with speedway representatives as part of a regional visit late last month, but on the day of the meeting Darrington leaders were notified that the visit was off. This time, instead of speedway officials visiting the county, local leaders went to them in Kansas. The possibility of an 85,000-seat, 1-mile NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack would be a "very large opportunity" for the area, he said. Mickey Beadle, president of International Productions Inc., which operates the Evergreen Speedway at the fairgrounds in Monroe, said he's eager to find out just how serious talk of a racetrack is. The Evergreen Speedway, which is entering into its 50th year of racing, is a 5/8-mile track and at its biggest events has held crowds of about 15,000. Beadle said International Speedway Corp. is probably shopping around for the best deal. According to promotional materials International Speedway Corp. provided to Darrington officials, the track could cost $150 million to build, employ 2,200 people, generate $87 million in annual revenues, and another $58 million in state and local taxes.(Herald)(10-16-2003)
NASCAR wants no connection to Oregon track: Don't link NASCAR with plans to build a $500 million speedway near Boardman. In a tersely-worded letter, NASCAR President Michael Helton warned Racing Unlimited, developer of the proposed project, not to connect his organization with the raceway. A copy of the letter also was faxed to the Tri-City Herald newsroom. It mentioned a recent story that labeled the project a "NASCAR-style speedway." "Unfortunately, that article incorrectly leaves the impression that NASCAR is affiliated in some capacity with your organization and the speedway proposal," Helton wrote to Racing Unlimited. "At this stage, it is critical that any interested parties understand that NASCAR has no affiliation with your company's proposal. ... and that NASCAR has made no commitments of any kind with respect to races at the track." Stelian Onufrei, spokesman for Racing Unlimited, said his group never has tried to insinuate that it was somehow sanctioned by NASCAR. "We have not made any statements affiliating us with NASCAR," Onufrei said. "We are not in negotiations with them and we did not make those statements." Onufrei said newspaper reports such as the one describing the project as a "NASCAR-style" speedway are to blame for the problem. Plans for the raceway call for a 1.95-mile oval track with seating for up to 145,000 fans. Also included are: a drag strip; office space; a gift shop; a 2,500-square-foot arcade; 5,000 camping sites; a 3,500-space recreational vehicle park; several restaurants; and parking for 43,500 vehicles. The speedway would be built on 2,700 acres the Port of Morrow owns about five miles west of Boardman and south of Interstate 84.(Tri City Herald)(10-8-2003)
NASCAR/ISC Looking at the Pacific Northwest to build a track: International Speedway Corp., an entity of NASCAR, is studying the idea of building a $150 million racetrack at one of three sites in the state. One of the possible sites is in the tiny town of Darrington in north Snohomish County. It's believed that ISC representatives will meet today with Snohomish County officials to discuss the location. Other sites have not been revealed. "There is truth in that we are looking at the Pacific Northwest," ISC spokesman David Talley said. "We're always looking for ways to grow motor sports, and we think the Northwest is desirable. There's a lot of fan interest in that area. It's untapped and under-served." Talley, who would not confirm the meeting or identify any of the state's sites, added, "It's still very early in the process. We haven't landed on a location. We hope to land on something at some point, but as of right now it's in the early stages." The track, which would be built and operated by the ISC, could generate $87 million in annual revenue and create 2,200 jobs, according to the company's estimates. Another $58 million would be raised annually in state and local taxes. The plan is for a 75,000-seat track, which could be a high-speed 1.5-mile oval or perhaps a cheaper three-quarter-mile oval. A smaller oval would not only take less land, it would make for slower, more competitive races that are more popular with fans.(Seattle Times and another column at the Herald)(9-18-2003)
Bye Bye Portland: Dan Obrist hadn't heard the rumor of Portland Speedway's rebirth, but he has something to say about the race track. "I'm tearing it down," says Obrist, a star stock car driver at the speedway who also owns a Portland recycling and demolition company. "Pulling out the walls, digging up the dirt. Just signed the contract yesterday (Tuesday). "And as soon as I pull the first board, I'll drop the first tear." For 77 years, Portland Speedway featured stock cars on either a dirt track or paved half-mile oval, then two years of Outlaw cars on another dirt oval in 2000 and 2001. With the prospect of mixed-use development on the property and speedway operators unable to make improvements because of their short-term lease, racing ceased there in 2002.(Portland Tribune)(8-1-2003)
Oregon Track News: A state board has rejected an appeal aimed at blocking the construction of a Nascar-style speedway near Boardman, in north-central Oregon. The project can proceed after it gets approval by the Morrow County Court for an exception that would allow urban development on land approved for industrial use, the state Land Use Board of Appeals said Tuesday. The $500 million raceway would seat 45,000 people and include a 1.95-mile oval track, a drag strip and possibly a dirt track. It also would have office space, a gift shop, a 2,500-square-foot arcade, 5,000 tent camping sites, a 3,500-space RV park, several restaurants and parking for 43,500 vehicles. The speedway complex is proposed about five miles west of Boardman on land owned by the Port of Morrow south of Interstate 84. The board also said the county must review its approval of the racetrack developer's plans to build a motel next to the speedway to house race team members. Supporters of the project must provide evidence that the motel will contribute to its success or make plans to build it within Boardman's urban growth boundary. The appeal was filed by Boardman-area rancher Kelly Doherty on behalf of a group of people who live near the site of the proposed speedway. Doherty has the right to appeal the ruling. A market study commissioned by the developer indicates that the speedway could draw more than 100,000 fans to Nascar-type events, although critics have expressed doubt about those numbers. California-based Racing Unlimited, which proposed the project, has fallen behind on its legal defense payments to the Port of Morrow. The Port has pledged it will keep working to build the project even if Racing Unlimited can't come up with the money to complete it.(The Oregonian)(3-13-2003)
Oregon Proposed Track News: Time and money are two things California businessman Stelian Onufrei seems to lack lately. Port of Morrow officials said they've had a hard time reaching him recently. He owes the port $115, 549 for costs incurred by the land use application and appeal. After hearings on the appeal Feb. 13, a decision is expected in mid-March, said Gary Neal, port manager. The port filed the appeal on behalf of Oregon Motor Speedway. Neal stopped short of saying the deal with Onufrei is off. So far, Onufrei has paid the port $133,000. But port commissioners are concerned because he hasn't made a payment since August. Neal said the port will continue to aggressively pursue the land use application for the speedway, just south of Interstate 84, near Boardman. The port's land use application proposes a 145,000-seat, $500 million speedway. The plan, which is scaled back from its original version, includes a 1.95-mile oval track and calls for a drag strip and a possible dirt track; seating for 145,000; a medical station with 10 beds; 15,000 square feet of office space; a gift shop; a 100,000-square-foot multipurpose recreational facility; a 2,500-square-foot arcade; 5,000 tent sites; up to 250 hotel rooms; a recreational vehicle park with 3,500 spaces; a couple of restaurants and 43,500 parking spaces.(Full story and quotes at the Tri-City Herald)(1-21-2003)
Oregon Proposed Racetrack told to stop using NASCAR's name: NASCAR president Mike Helton told Stelian Onufrei and Csaba Daniel Koszorus, the Boardman [OR] track's developers, and the Port of Morrow to stop using NASCAR's name in referring to the project. "It incorrectly indicates you are building a $500 million superspeedway for NASCAR auto racing," Helton wrote in a letter dated July 24. "NASCAR has not been contacted by your organization, committed to, or even suggested that it would sanction any NASCAR event at your track. We want it to be very clear that NASCAR has no commitments of any kind with respect to sanctioning races at your track." Gary Neale, Port of Morrow manager, said the letter did not come as a surprise. "There never has been an implication NASCAR is involved in the project," he said. "Theirs is the premier type of event the developers would someday like to see at the track." However, the main page of Racing Unlimited's Web site (www.racingunlimited.net) shows a field of Winston Cup cars heading into a corner as part of the main illustration. It also lists Winston Cup, Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Grand National on the opening page.(Oregon Live)(8-9-2002)
Oregon Racetrack being challenged: A Morrow County rancher opposed to a proposed auto racing track near Boardman has filed an appeal to stop the project. Kelly Doherty filed the appeal Tuesday with the state Land Use Board of Appeals. The land-use board could rule this year. The Oregon Speedway is a $500 million project proposed for construction on 1,100 acres of land owned by the Port of Morrow. A land-use zoning change to accommodate the track was passed by the Morrow County Court in June. Promoters with Racing Unlimited Inc., of Buena Park, Calif., say they want to build the track to host professional racing, including NASCAR races. NASCAR, however, has made it clear it is not involved in the racetrack. Doherty filed the appeal of the county's land-use decision after repeatedly protesting the track's location at public meetings. She said it could cause, among other problems, a decline in the livability of the area by bringing increased noise and crowds.(Oregon Live).(8-2-2002)
Planned Oregon Track in Trouble: see full story at Oregon Live: Troubles follow raceway project.(7-2-2002)
Bruton says not involved in Oregon track: Motor sports mogul Bruton Smith was quick to dispel rampant rumors that he may be connected to a proposed "superspeedway" in rural Boardman, Ore. Northwest racing insiders have suggested that Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns million-dollar speedways in Charlotte, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Atlanta, was financially backing a track in Oregon with plans to bring a big NASCAR race there. "I have absolutely no involvement with any proposed speedway in Oregon, nor do I have any desire to be involved with one in the future," Smith told the P-I yesterday, calling the idea that he was behind the project, "ridiculous."(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)(6-6-2002)
Oregon Track News: Developers of a NASCAR-style racetrack say they have a $500 million commitment to build it near Boardman. OR and could begin construction late this summer. Stelian Onufrei provided Port of Morrow commissioners with proof of financing during an executive session Friday. Onufrei is principal dealmaker for Racing Unlimited, the Nevada corporation proposing to build the raceway on 1,100 acres. The raceway will accommodate 160,000 seats with a 1.95-mile oval track and a half-mile inside track.(Tacoma News)(2-26-2002)
Oregon Track News: The developer of a proposed multipurpose superspeedway near Boardman, OR remain enthusiastic, even though projected costs have rocketed to $400 million and some commercial-retail portions of the project have been scuttled. "We are still just as pumped as a year and a half ago," said Stelian Onufrei, 36, of Racing Unlimited Inc., of La Mirada, Calif., the developer. "If we had any kind of hesitation a year and a half ago, we definitely don't have it today." The motorsports complex is being proposed for a site five miles west of Boardman between Interstate 84 and the Boardman Airport. Its centerpiece would be a 1.95-mile asphalt tri-oval -- a triangle with rounded corners -- and seating for about 145,000.(at least it is not another 1.5 d-shaped oval). He is the land-use consultant for the Boardman-based Port of Morrow, which owns the 1,350 to 1,400 acres of sand and sagebrush where the speedway is supposed to be built.(Oregonian). And see the website for the track: Racing Unlimited. Shame they couldn't work together to keep Portland Speedway operational or expand there(1-26-2002)
Portland Speedway to close? Portland Speedway will not reopen for the 2002 season, and one of the nation's oldest stock car tracks probably is closed for good. Craig Armstrong, president of Western Speedways, which operates the 77-year-old track, said last-ditch efforts to keep the twin ovals open failed Wednesday. Armstrong said one other potential operator has an interest in running the track, but would be faced with the same financial limitations Armstrong's company couldn't overcome. The track's lease is a year-to-year, with the owners able to cancel it for any reason with less than six months notice, making it almost impossible to borrow money to improve track facilities. Armstrong had a Tuesday deadline to decide whether to pursue or give up his August race dates with the World of Outlaws, the fast-growing open-wheel series that was the centerpiece of his decision two years ago to convert the track from pavement to a clay surface.(The Oregonian)(1-19-2002)
Oregon Track News: The talk is that the green flag is already waving for the proposed NASCAR speedway in Boardman, OR. "It still has to run through the local Congress, but as far as everyone around here is concerned, it's a go," one declared. "I've heard rumor that the city fathers have said it's a done D," he added. But over at the Port of Morrow, Gary Neal, port manager, is waving a flag of his own. A bright yellow caution flag. Neal said that while it's true that all the interested parties are at the starting line, so far, Stelian Onufrei has failed to pay his entry fee. Onufrei is spokesman for Raceway Unlimited Inc., the Nevada-licensed corporation that's proposing to build a $450 million, 160,000-seat raceway complex adjacent to Boardman's airport. So far, the port has paid out approximately $50,000 to $60,000 in planning fees and legal expenses, Neal said. And "Onufrei has paid very little." In May, Onufrei had paid only pocket change of about $3,500. The port had billed him for an additional $15,000. The speedway complex, which would play host to the NASCAR races, seeks to incorporate a 1.95-mile oval track, a half-mile inside track, 200,000 square feet of commercial space, 300,000 square feet of retail space, two restaurants, a six-screen movie theater, 500 hotel rooms, a 3,500-unit recreational vehicle park and corporate offices. Onufrei has returned from a three-month trip to Europe, where he reportedly sought financial support. He has previously maintained that gathering the money was just a matter of time. Shortly after announcing the project last fall, Onufrei said: "We have a bank committed to us at this point. Things are progressing at a very fast pace." However, he failed to show proof of bond last November as he said he would. And he didn't return phone or pager calls Thursday and Friday.(Herald-Oregon)(8-13-2001)
Oregon News: The first round of paperwork needed to rezone property for a proposed $350 million speedway project in Eastern Oregon is expected to be filed by Friday, June 1. A spokeswoman for the Port of Morrow said the project "is still on target, but a bit behind schedule." The port had hoped to have the rezoning request into the Morrow County in a couple weeks. It seeks to have the property, south of Interstate 84 and west of Boardman, rezoned from airport-industrial to a mix of industrial and commercial. If approved, California developer Stelian Onufrei hopes to begin work on the combination racetrack, motel complex and retail center by the end of the year(Oregon Live)(3-30-2001)
More Oregon Track New: On Feb 14th, there was a meeting at the Port of Morrow’s Riverfront Center in Bpardman, Oregon with more than 300 people interested in learning more about the proposed speedway near Boardman. Racing Unlimited Inc., a Nevada-based company created solely for this project is looking to build a motorsports complex and is expecting to break ground in August or September(2001). The track will sustain many types of races, hopefully including Nascar and Winston Cup-type races. They explained that they are in negotiations with NASCAR for racing contracts, but the organization will have to inspect the facilities before making promises. He added that Winston Cup races are earned, not contracted. The plan is to have six to eight big events a year, with anywhere from 120,000 to 160,000 fans, and 20 to 30 mid-to-small events annually. The promoters estimate the smaller events would draw between 50,000 and 70,000 fans. Racing Unlimited showed schematics and discussed plans for a 1.5 mile track, 4,100 foot drag race strip, media center and sky box, 100-foot tall grandstands, and parking for 1,500 RVs, with amenities. Plans also include an emergency services building, commercial gas station, 300,000-square-foot retail center, a commercial building, six-screen cinema, fast food restaurant, an 8,000 square foot restaurant, three hotels, 24-lane bowling alley and outdoor mall. The entire $400 million complex is planned for 1,100 acres of Port of Morrow land south of the Interstate 84, near the Boardman airport. They said the project will take 36 months from start to finish, but is pushing for 24 months(see more at EO Now)(2-27-2001)
Oregon Track News: After crashing in their attempt to put a NASCAR-style speedway in Crook County, developers from California are speeding toward Morrow County. Racing Unlimited of La Miranda, CA, has a commitment from the Boardman-based Port of Morrow to reserve 1,100 acres of sagebrush and sand near the Columbia River for a motor sports track. See full story by the AP at the Channel 6000 site(8-6-2000)
More Oregon News: The investors who wanted to build a $350 million racetrack complex in Prineville(OR) have found another high desert town to race in. The Port of Morrow, an inland river port near the Columbia River town of Boardman, signed a deal with the racing company earlier this month that will bring the 2-mile track, hotels, offices, RV park and retail facilities to 1,100 acres near the Morrow County Airport. The racing company, Racing Unlimited, will own the land when it starts construction, said Gary Neal, general manager of the Port of Morrow. The track complex is expected to take two to three years to build. The proposed track complex will seat 180,000 and have 3,500 RV spaces(The Bend Bulletin)(7-30-2000)
Oregon Track News: Port commissioners voted to allow Racing Unlimited, Inc., to begin construction of a trilateral track on property bordering the Boardman(OR) airport, about four miles southwest of the I-84 Boardman exit. The 1,100-acre complex will have an estimated 200,000 square feet of commercial space and 300,000 square feet in retail, with an emergency services facility, two restaurants, a six-story corporate office, a six-screen move theater, three hotels with 500 rooms, a 3,500-unit recreational vehicle park with full services, condominiums, a lube and oil operation, and a commercial gas station in the plans. Semi-trucks, dragsters, Indy cars, light duty trucks, moto-cross and motorcycle racing are a few of the race classes to be held on Boardman’s proposed half-mile track. The company is also talking about a training school for drivers. Boardman was not the first site looked at for the complex. Raceway Unlimited and the city of Prineville worked for six months on a deal, but it fell through(East Oregonian)(7-27-2000)
Oregon Track voted down: Crook County officials rejected a proposal Wednesday to build a 160,000-seat racetrack complex near Prineville(OR). The county court voted 3-0 to inform proponents of the racetrack that the county would not donate 1,100 acres of land for the project. Stelian Onufrei, a founder of the company interested in building the track, said Wednesday his company will pursue another Central Oregon location for its track, though he would not specify where(Bend Bulletin)(6-30-2000)
Oregon - can't meet? UPDATE: The Crook County Court wants to meet in closed session Monday to discuss a real estate deal with developers of a proposed race track in Prineville(Oregon). But state officials say a closed meeting might violate Oregon’s public meetings law(Bend Bulletin)(6-14-2000)
UPDATE: The Crook County Court on Wednesday told developers of a proposed 160,000-seat racing complex that they won’t make any deal to sell county land for the track unless the developers agree to share proceeds with the county and pay for sewer and road improvements. The court voted to send Racing Unlimited a letter outlining six reasons the county can’t agree to sell about 1,100 acres for $1. The Nevada corporation wants the land so it can develop what it calls a first-class racing venue complete with hotels, an RV park, retail space, corporate offices and a medical building(Bend Bulletin)(6-16-2000)
Oregon Track News: A proposal that would bring a 160,000-seat racetrack to Prineville drew mixed reaction Wednesday from a crowd of about 170 people. Crook County residents were concerned about noise, traffic and sewer and water system capacity as representatives addressed the public. They took an interest in Prineville as the site for the track in March. Other residents attending Wednesday’s public hearing before the Crook County Court were supportive of the track idea and want the county to pursue it. See full story at the Bend Bulletin(6-10-2000)
Oregon Track Story: Call it a potential financial "godsend" or, if you're cynical, call it the "Pipedream 500." But it couldn't have been proposed in a needier spot: a $350 million speedway complex, featuring a 2-mile, NASCAR-style oval track and seating for 100,000, on a 650-acre site north of the Prineville Airport, in economically troubled Crook County. But less than a month after news of the proposal became public, unresolved questions in the minds of Crook County officials could spell doom for the project, despite strong support from many Prineville residents and city leaders. Instead, the speedway, which would have been the first of its kind in the Northwest, may go to one of two other undisclosed locations - one possibly in the Seattle area. See the full story at the Bend(6-4-2000)
Washington Track? A second developer has emerged with plans to build a motorsports complex in the Northwest. Brett Stephen, who runs an aircraft interior manufacturing business in the Seattle area, said he has been researching the feasibility of building a large paved oval in the George, WA, area. Stephen said his plans closely follow those of an Arizona businessman and his backers from Las Vegas, who are talking to Prineville and Crook County officials about building a track in Central Oregon. Stephen said land acquisition costs near George is about $3.5million. The Prineville site might be available for a token dollar(Oregon Live)(5-20-2000)
Oregon Track? UPDATE: in part from a story at the The Bend Bulletin(OR) site: The Prineville City Council on Tuesday expressed cautious interest in a proposal that would bring a 100,000-seat auto racetrack to Prineville, Oregon(150 mikes SE of Portland). Principals in a Nevada racing company sent a “letter of commitment” to the council this week outlining plans for a 2-mile race track, grandstands to accommodate 100,000 people, a business park, RV park and other developments for 660 acres of land near the Prineville Airport. The proposed Prineville Speedway would offer a venue for Nascar and Winston Cup stock car racing as well as other types of racing, including semi truck, light duty truck, Indy car and dragster racing, developers said(Bend Bulletin)(5-11-2000)
UPDATE: another story at The Oregonian: Motorsports complex in works for Prineville(5-16-2000)

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