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Prep Roundup
Columnists Brian Meadows Brad NormanMembersLocal Connection› Iredell County Young Athletes Association› South Iredell Athletics Association › SHS athletics › WIHS athletics › NIHS athletics › SIHS athletics › LNHS athletics Syndicate RSSAP NASCAR NASCAR Features A look at this year's schedule A look at this year's drivers Differences between stock car and open-wheel racing NASCAR Research & Development Petty Enterprises splitter testing Aerodynamic testing in Concord's wind tunnel Top 10 moments in Daytona history Site StatisticsThis page has been viewed 801128 timesPage rendered in 0.5027 seconds Total Stories: 2136 Total Comments: 34 Most Recent Entry: 08/15/2008 01:53 pm Most Recent Comment on: 04/17/2008 11:54 pm Most Recent Visitor on: 05/23/2012 12:11 am |
• Racing
2007 Oct-05
Is compromise possible?By Eric C. Deines Concord officials say City Council’s decision to block a world-class drag strip planned for Lowe’s Motor Speedway was not an absolute rejection of the $60 million project. Rather, it was a move to give the city some leverage as to what kind of drag strip is built. The new zoning does not allow drag strips, which would give the city the ability to place certain conditions on a drag strip — such as noise mitigation or racing schedules — if one was proposed and approved. Noise was the main concern voiced by residents who publicly opposed the project. “Any day now, when the request for the drag strip would come in ... it would have been grandfathered in,” said Councilman Jim Ramseur. “By taking that action, all we did was put ourselves in the driver’s seat. We are proud of these facilities in the city and we want to keep them here.” Monday’s City Council 6-0 decision was met with the extreme displeasure of Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, who said he would spend $350 million to move Lowe’s Motor Speedway elsewhere in the Charlotte region and reportedly has staff scouting locations for a new speedway. Smith was not hopeful about meeting with city officials to discuss the concerns of both sides, and said he feared what City Council would limit next. “I would not know where to begin,” Smith said. “I wonder what they’ll do next. That’s the part that worries us. I have a responsibility to grow this company.” Doug Stafford, a Cabarrus hotel developer who left the Speedway in 2005 after 13 years as its executive vice president, said a drag strip was discussed in his days with organization. “I don’t know how serious it was, but the upper management had been (talking),” Stafford said. He said he didn’t worry so much that Smith would move the speedway, but that it may put one of the speedway’s big three NASCAR events in danger, which could be damaging to Concord’s strong tourism industry. “Bruton’s very emotional about his business. He’s very aggressive,” Stafford said. “If he becomes disillusioned ... he may move events to other existing facilities. We are the only speedway on the NASCAR circuit with three Nextel events.” Stafford also said he believed a compromise could be met between the speedway, the city and residents. “I think, frankly, there is some common ground that can be reached to give people some assurance that their quality of life will not be affected,” Stafford said. Residents who spoke out against the drag strip on Monday said Smith is missing the point and that they still favor the drag strip — just with limitations. “Not one of the speedway representatives came up to us and said, ‘How can we work this out?’” said Rosemary Ruiz, a resident of River Ridge, one of the communities that sits within a mile of the speedway. Other residents say the city has made a mistake in not approving the drag strip. Lenny Melton, a Salisbury resident who restores automobiles, said the entire drag racing community was already getting excited about the drag strip, with a major NHRA event in the planning stages. “I have customers from all over the country talking about it,” he said, adding that some had already planned vacations for an event next year. “Everyone was so excited because Bristol, Va., is the closest place.” The opposition of neighbors and compromise conditions draws some comparisons to the county jail project in downtown Concord, a part of which was granted a rezoning by the city and given buffering and other conditions. Alex Porter, who led the downtown residents in the jail opposition and is challenging Ramseur in the upcoming election, said he heard definite similarities at Monday’s hearing, but declined to comment on council’s decision. “For me to say something is a little out of line,” Porter said. “I’m not privy to things I’m sure they have heard.” Concord Mayor Scott Padgett said he wants to personally meet with Smith on the issue. “I would think a good starting point would be for Mr. Smith and myself to sit down,” Padgett said. “I’m sorry there was no middle ground (in Monday’s vote). Now, that’s what has to be found — that middle ground.” But Smith, who said noise at the drag strip would be only for 100 seconds per event, said he didn’t know what could be accomplished at such a meeting. “They all knew about this back in August,” Smith said. “Maybe we have worn out our welcome.” Bookmarkz |
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