It's not as simple as "blame the government" (although I know that's the in-vogue thing to do). They had a wonderful master plan, the money to do it (thanks to selling all that dirt to SeaTac), AND a permit in their hands to do it. They just didn't pull the trigger. They sat on the permit for 3 years, it expired and when they went in to get it renewed the neighbors saw another chance to complain.
And you can't blame the "environmental nimrods" because they've had practically free rein environmentally there. They got a permit to pull millions of yards of dirt out of there, didn't they?
So, it's not the "environmental nimrods" or the county that's causing them problems. It's their delay and the neighbors who moved in long after the track. If the owners had worked a little community relations over the years, and had acted while the iron was hot, things would be different.
As it is, the place is dominated by the road course -- given the choice they will run road racing over drag racing any day. The road course people need little/no track prep, and -- the key difference -- they run in the rain. Our association asked to race there as often as they would let us, if they would let us do doubleheaders (Sat and Sun). We got one date, and that was just pulled in favor of a road course event. The best they can do is a Fri nite (with all the T&T idiots) and Saturday.
As far as I can tell, the only profitable part of the operation is the cart track, and that's leased, managed, and operated by someone else. And of course the national event, which they seem to do precisely the minimum amount necessary each year to prevent NHRA from pulling the plug (note the annual track problems...).
And to cap it all off... the drag strip manager just quit -- again. I believe this year will mark their fifth manager in six years. Great