NC Governor commits to motorsport complex
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has signed a bill calling for $4million of US taxpayer's money to pay for the planning and design of a North Carolina Motorsports Testing and Research Complex near Charlotte, N.C. Easley has expressed his commitment to North Carolina remaining a significant platform for America's multibillion-dollar motor racing industry and wishes to prevent other states luring it away
According to racing officials, approximately 300 motorsports teams, including NASCAR, are located within 60 miles of Charlotte, with the majority within 35 miles. However, NASCAR limits the number of times teams can practice on a sanctioned track, such as the local Lowe's Motor Speedway. Instead of heading to Kentucky or Phoenix to practice, a test track would allow teams to test closer to home and ensure North Carolina holds on to its share of the industry.
"The motorsports industry is an important economic engine for the state of North Carolina, bringing in more than 10,000 hardworking North Carolinians," Easley said in a statement. "These two bills send a strong signal that North Carolina is committed to this industry and its future here in our state."
The estimated $50million testing complex would link with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte's existing motorsports engineering programme.
"This will help replace manufacturing jobs that have left the area," said Humpy Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Motorsport is a relatively new industry here, and we need to keep it here."
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