Concord is jerking Bruton Smith around

[FS Myron]

The city of Concord NC is jerking Bruton Smith around and trying to prevent him from adding a drag strip to the complex at Charlotte Motorspeedway. Smith's response is that he is going to move his operation elsewhere. Do you think Smith should go through with it or is the city right and a drag strip will make too much noise?

[James J.]

The issue I have (as I understand the situation) is that the area is zoned for motorsports complex, and they knew of the plans for the drag strip and were reportedly enthusiastic about them.  Yet they then went and made a change to the zoning.  How can you change the zone when an existing complex is there on the same property and that complex not be affected by the re-zoning? 

Yeah, I think they're jerking him around.  I hope it's all just posturing by both parties, but if they continue with it I'd support Bruton in moving the venue.  It would be a shame as I think that speedway is one of the best tracks on the circuit.

No, I don't feel sorry for the residents in that area.  If you don't like occasional noise from a facility then my advice is to not buy/rent next to a rail road, airport, industrial area..... or race track.  I know I research a potential area that I'm considering for residency.  I look at schools, law enforcement, fire department location, power lines, and even what commercial/retail or industrial property is nearby that may affect me.  Odor, traffic, and all around quality of life in the area play a role in my selection of a home.  Noise in the area is right up there with the other potential issues.

[Chris]

I agree 100% Sunkist...
But I don't think it's posturing by Smith.  IMO If he can't build his drag strip,.. he WILL build a new race track someone nearby. Then I bet he sells the track to one (or some combination of local teams) who need a place to 'test' and they can go and run all they want and nothing NASCAR can do about it.
Be a great idea all the way around.

When he sells it all he has to do is put in a "no competition" clause so no one can compete and try and run races against his 'new' track for 15 or so years and he's good to go.
Most all the other tracks he owns have grad strips,.. so it's only natural he would want to put one in Charlotte.
He's a huge drag racing fan,.. and there is NOT a stop in the area... so IMO I think the NHRA would drop one in there.

[James J.]

Oh, I agree that if Bruton is pushed he will do as he threatens.  And I can see Penske being a track buyer.  Or maybe Bruton just rents it out for the testing.

If the stories are true, Bruton just might end up buying the NHRA and guarantee himself a stop at his Charlotte area track.

Just think about that sentence.  What a different world he lives in. 

[KurtBuschFan]

Funny how people will fight so hard to keep a track away but then they'll just deal with a train when it comes by at all hours of the night.  I don't see why they're making such a big fuss about it.  There's always noise from the track, and unless they've lived there since before 1959 (I think) then that noise has always been around.  A drag strip isn't going to create that much more noise than there already is.  They just don't like the "rednecks" that they think we all are.

[flamehothead]

Is it possible that B.Smith is doing this on Purpose? Maybe Penske went to him for advice about how to get the local officials to budge on his new practice track he wants to build lol.

[Chris]

nnaawww I can't see how one relates to the other.
On one hand Penske is wanting to build a track in a 'quiet' place where only some trees separate the race shops from several neighborhoods.  ON that argument,.. I can see the argument from the people NOT wanting to hear that in their back yard... (then again it would only be at day, and not when people try to sleep)

As far as the race track deal... Concord is trying to change the zoning of property of property that has ALREADY been zoned... and it is Brutons OWN land to do with what he wants.  Plus they tried to change the zoning without a public meeting (which is illegal).  SO Concord will back down before all this is said and done IMO,.. and Smith will stay where he is.

[KurtBuschFan]

Anyone see Jeff's Top 10 list today?  Pretty funny:  http://www.frontstretch.com/jmeyer/12711/

[Busch Babe 899]

Hehehe pretty good, Jeff. Haven't tried to teach a pig to sing, but we had a dog who did.

[skool]

Thank you. Thank you very much

[czechmate25]

Not sure if you all heard or not but the City of Concord changed their minds.  The original vote was 7-0 in favor of denying the drag strip and on tuesday night, they voted 7-0 in favor of it.  I guess the threat worked.

The bottom line is there wasn't anything here before the speedway was built.  I live in Salisbury, which is about 15 minutes from Concord.  Everything that is here (all the resturants, hotels, stores, etc) are here b/c of the speedway.  The speedway was here long before the housing developments that hold these complaining citizens.  If Bruton Smith built a track on the south side of Charlotte, the city of Concord would lose so much money and all the businesses that have prospered from having the track here would go under. 

[James J.]

If Bruton Smith built a track on the south side of Charlotte, the city of Concord would lose so much money and all the businesses that have prospered from having the track here would go under. 

Or they'd close and getting a better location at the new track.   

[Chris]

First if all HI to Czechmate.. nice to see you back...
Didn't know you lived in Salibury.  I have very close friends that live there also.  They live on Lake ?? (I forget the name right now.) I plan on being up to stay with them for the weekend the last weekend of this month to go to the Good Guys show that will be at Lowes.

Anyway I wanted to ask this of Sunkist.... DUDE have you been to Lowes in the last 5 years or so.

Or they'd close and getting a better location at the new track.

MAN I have a feeling that all these place closing may of weighed heavily in the councils decision to let Smith build his drag strip.  First of all just that exit where you get off at the speedway is like a small city.  about 6-8 restaurants, about 6 motels, (maybe more of both of these)  Then there is a huge mall... not to mention all the gas stations, and various other racing related business in the immedate area.
Can you imagine ALL of this closing up.  This was all put there because of the track.  Move the track lose the business... lose the business the places close up,.. the city loses all that income from taxes, business permits, hotel tax, etc.  HUGE loss for a small city like Concord.
Most of these places would just sit vacant... place could become a ghost town.... especially if they moved to the south side of town.

[James J.]

It's probably been 9-10 years since I was last at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

[Chris]

honesty it's AMAZING how it has grown...
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=33.567091,-86.063268&spn=0.024674,0.039911&t=k&om=1
see if this link will show you the speedway...
if not do google maps, and then fill in Charlotte Motor Speedway
If so go along in front of the speedway ... about where the S/F line is on the track.. there is a road that runs straight into the track (outside)... this road has been built in the last several years.  Follow that road out to the interstate and look at all the businesses that have been built between the track and the interstate. (and on the other side of the interstate)
  Many motels, restaurants, Concord Mills Mall, .. on the map you can see what all is there, and all the parking there is....
I think way down where the road dead ends there is one condo, but all the rest is businesses.