Lt. Gov. backs plan for NASCAR track in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a popular Democrat who has made economic development his central issue, says he will champion a $368 million NASCAR racetrack, probably on the Kitsap Peninsula west of Seattle.

The price tag has risen $23 million since last year, but the developers have also agreed to pick up a larger share of the total cost and to absorb any cost overruns.

Owen, who represented the Bremerton-Shelton area in the state Legislature before moving to the lieutenant governor's office, said Thursday that he and Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, will lead the charge for legislation to authorize the speedway.

The draft plan doesn't specify a site, but Florida-based Great Western Sports has been working with local officials on a site near the Bremerton National Airport. The project would include seats for 83,500 fans.

"This track should be built," Owen said in a statement. "It's important to the state's economy and would provide thousands of local jobs. A NASCAR track would be like bringing two Super Bowls to the state of Washington every year."

He said the bill would authorize a public speedway authority to oversee development and financing. The sponsors would invest at least $180 million of the total cost and absorb cost overruns. The state's share would be covered by bond sales repaid by sales taxes and admission taxes generated by the facility.

Owen said the plan wouldn't create new taxes for the general public and wouldn't affect the state's bond-debt capacity.

If the Kitsap site didn't work out for some reason, the legislation would also clear the way for another location, he said.

Backers estimate the project would boost the state economy by nearly $4 billion over 30 years, creating construction jobs for 5,600 people, Owen said.

Owen, chairman of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, said he has studied the proposal for months and has heard from thousands of people.

"I have become convinced that a NASCAR speedway will be a great asset to the state and an enormous economic benefit to whichever community is fortunate enough to be its host," he said. "I look at this is as a sound investment that will add significantly to our state's economy for many, many years."

The proposal, though, has generated little enthusiasm in the Legislature, where lawmakers also are being asked to authorize spending for other sports venues, including a new arena for the Seattle SuperSonics and Seattle Storm basketball teams.

Simpson said he thinks the racetrack proposal has the potential to generate more economic benefit in the state than the Sonics arena.

"I look at them as two entirely different proposals," Simpson said in an interview. "The Sonics are already here. The economic benefit produced by NASCAR is new money that would not otherwise would be here."

In a recent survey by The News Tribune of Tacoma, the nine state lawmakers who represent the peninsula were either opposed to the plan or highly skeptical. Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, called it "only a maybe."

Great Western Sports vice president Grant Lynch said he's been working with lobbyists and has met with 70 to 80 individuals in Olympia over the past six months.

No one stepped forward to sponsor a racetrack bill in the 2006 session. But the track got a boost last spring when the Democratic congressmen from the area, Adam Smith and Norm Dicks, spoke in favor.

"We're working hard with the local delegation," Lynch said. "With some of the changes and further commitments, we're hoping to get more on board."

Lynch said the project is backed by more than 300 businesses in the region. "There's a tremendous amount of support through the region, just not from the representatives and senators right now," Lynch said.

Kitsap County residents are evenly divided over the track, according to a poll commissioned by the county in September. Another survey, conducted the same month for the sponsors, showed 54 percent support when neighboring Mason and Pierce county voters were added to the mix.