Biffle wants supporters in Washington to speak

If driver Greg Biffle is right and supporters of a Seattle-area track in Washington state need to speak up louder than opponents of the proposal, then those supporters will have to be more than loud. They might have to get downright mean to match the rhetoric thrown about recently by some of Washington state's most influential lawmakers.

Biffle made the trip to the area on Feb. 22 along with NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, two of the sport's greatest drivers who have evolved since their driving days into two of its greatest ambassadors.

Larry Seaquist

Seaquist opposes ISC deal, not sport

Washington state Rep. Larry Seaquist was a guest on Sirius NASCAR radio to explain his recent comments regarding the building of a racetrack in his state.

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The most pointed, derogatory comment made by a Washington legislator was attributed to State House representative Larry Seaquist, a Democrat who made it clear that he does not want NASCAR and its fans in his beloved home state.

"These people are not the kind of people you would want living next to you," he told a Fox television news station there. "They'd be the ones with the junky cars in their front yard and would try to slip around the law."

Frank Chopp, another Democrat who is the powerful State House Speaker, was asked about Petty's visit and added: "You mean the guy who got picked up for DUI? He's not a member of the House last time I checked."

Biffle, a native of Vancouver, Wash., said he heard those comments and initially could do little more than shake his head in disbelief at the level of ignorance that he believes they portray.

"They're just uneducated about NASCAR," Biffle said. "They're not uneducated folks, but a lot of them are uneducated about NASCAR."

He said he particularly found Chopp's inaccurate reference to Petty offensive.

"The guy [meaning Petty] won't even let his cars run in the Budweiser Shootout," Biffle said. "The guy won't even let [alcohol-related sponsors] put a decal on his car. So can you believe that? I was thoroughly embarrassed. If that gives you any indication, well, you know."

Biffle said he still thinks that enough support can be drummed up to make the proposed $368 million racetrack become a reality. International Speedway Corporation's current proposal calls for Washington taxpayers to ante up for about half the facility's cost, with ISC contributing roughly $180 million. Cost overruns also would be paid by ISC under this proposal. The state's share would be paid through bonds, which ISC contends would be more than covered by sales taxes paid by visiting out-of-state fans.

The biggest hurdle NASCAR faces is changing the perception of the sport being perpetuated by opponents such as Seaquist and Chopp, according to Biffle. He said that because they have been so vocal in denouncing the proposal, they have thus far drowned out the racetrack's supporters. (Continued)