Boardman raceway moves forward
Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:06 PM PDT
BOARDMAN (AP) — Developers of the $100 million Oregon International Speedway plan to break ground for the project Thursday near Boardman just off of Interstate-84 at Oregon Motorsports Park.
They plan to open the Pacific Northwest’s first facility of its kind in the fall of 2008.
Park spokeswoman Susan Morgan said when it is completed the semiprivate project will offer a 6-mile road course with three connecting tracks with eight configurations. Developers are planning for seating for 80,000 people.
Developers also plan to build a separate 1-mile Kart course. The 700-acre complex is being billed as a destination resort designed to facilitate all types of racing.
Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a law this year allowing changes in the land use laws to permit the development.
Sponsors have talked about attracting NASCAR racing, something sponsors of a proposed similar project in Bremerton, Wash., have said they also hope to do.
The Oregonian newspaper earlier quoted a NASCAR spokesman, in Daytona Beach, Fla., Ramsey Poston, as saying the organization isn’t interested and prefers metropolitan areas.
In 2006 Morrow County votes approved an 8 percent tax on tickets, goods and services sold within a new 35-square-mile raceway district to cover expenses.
County leaders say the raceway will broaden the economic base of the area along the Columbia River.
Some have questioned the effect of traffic on the area if it draws the crowds developers expect and say the distance from a metropolitan area may limit spectators.
