Developers drop proposal for NASCAR track at Bremerton

OLYMPIA -- Sponsors of a proposed $368 million NASCAR racetrack near Bremerton abandoned their efforts today after encountering stiff opposition from local officials and resistance at the state Legislature.

Great Western Sports, a subsidiary of International Speedway Corp., announced the decision to drop the plan for the motorsports venue in Kitsap County.

ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago said his group hasn't taken Washington state completely off the table, but could not see a way to proceed this year.

"We still think Washington state is a significant opportunity for our company," Santiago said. He would not say whether officials would consider another location such as Lewis County or other Pacific Northwest locations.

Developers had touted the racetrack as a $4 billion boon to the state's economy, including thousands of jobs. But legislation to help finance the track has gone nowhere.

Great Western President Grant Lynch said in a statement that too many changes were being proposed.

"These additional changes to the legislation were unacceptable and would have had a significant negative impact on our financial model for the speedway development," he said.

"Therefore, we have decided to no longer pursue the speedway development at the current location."

He said the region has legions of staunch motorsports fans and added, "As a company, we still believe the Northwest represents a significant opportunity for a speedway development and we remain interested in the region."