Washington state lawmakers want NASCAR track

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- State lawmakers in Washington 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.