NASCAR: SMI wants to use your tax dollars to upgrade North Wilkesboro

Speedway Motorsports president/CEO Marcus Smith issued a statement Friday on North Carolina’s state budget, which includes funding for North Wilkesboro Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Rockingham Speedway as part of the American Rescue Plan.

$40 million is allocated to the three race tracks in the budget.

The budget states $18 million of that is specifically allocated to Wilkes County “to coordinate with relevant local government units for water and sewer and related infrastructure projects for service to the North Wilkesboro Speedway.”

Smith stated: “The allocation toward North Wilkesboro provides the starting capital needed to rebuild the infrastructure of the historic facility. With state budget amounts now finalized, we can zero in on project priorities and determine work schedules.

“The goal will be to modernize the property so that it can host racing and special events again in the future.”