Washington residents would get vote on ISC track

Kitsap area voters would get the chance to vote up or down on a speedway in new language to be included in bills being considered in Olympia.

International Speedway Corp. of Daytona Beach, Fla. announced the proposed change to the bill language this morning.

The company wants to build a speedway in Washington state for NASCAR races and other events. The preferred site is on 950 acres near Bremerton National Airport. Assuming that continues to be the proposed location, voters in Kitsap, Mason and Pierce counties would be able to decide whether to create a Public Speedway Authority that would own the site.

The election probably would be in the fall of this year if the Legislature approves a speedway funding package.

"I would hope that it would show the people in Olympia that we continue to be willing to compromise and find ways to show that this is a good project," said Grant Lynch, ISC vice president from his office in Talladega, Ala.

ISC's bill would call on the state to authorize the issuance of an estimated $164 million in bonds, backed by sales taxes track proponents say would be generated by out-of-state race fans coming to Washington to attend a race. Another $24 million would come from bonds backed by future admissions taxes. ISC would agree to spend $180 million, plus pay any cost overruns and track maintenance over the life of the bonds. Scrippsnews.com