San Bernardino may study track’s impact

The California Speedway near Fontana attracts thousands of fans at its race weekends throughout the year. San Bernardino County officials want to find out what that means for the local economy. The Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to seek bids to conduct an economic-impact analysis of the speedway and surrounding area. The county has made a substantial investment in improving the speedway area since before it opened in 1997, creating a redevelopment district in the surrounding neighborhood.

The district has spent $10 million on improving streets and has contributed $1 million for lights to add a second NASCAR race. Last year, the county spent $700,000 co-sponsoring an entertainment area called the FanZone outside the grandstand, featuring a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. As part of the sponsorship, two signs with the county logo were displayed and the county hosted about 160 developers, investors and corporate executives at corporate suites. More at pe.com