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CONCORD --
Lowe's Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith now says there is a "90 percent chance" he will move his track out of Concord for another site around Charlotte.
And if he leaves Concord, Smith said, he will raze the track and sell the property piecemeal.
Smith's comments to the Observer on Monday are the latest twist in an episode that began when the city of Concord moved to stop work on a $60 million drag strip on speedway property.
After the City Council's Oct. 1 vote to rezone the property to ban drag strips, Smith threatened to move the track. Last week, the city reversed its position on the drag strip and started talking about offering incentives to help reduce noise from the drag strip, a concern among neighbors.
If he moved his speedway operations elsewhere, Smith said, he would bulldoze the turns at the track instead of using it as a testing facility, then sell the property off in pieces.
He also said he would feel obligated to buy back the 52 condominiums at the speedway from their owners.
"If I move, I'd have to do the moral thing," Smith said.
He also said the one regret he would have is the impact a move would have on the businesses near the track. "You'd rather go through life not hurting anybody," Smith said.
A final decision on the move won't be made until after the Concord City Council revisits the issue Oct. 24, Smith said.
Local officials are continuing to try to persuade Smith to stay put. Several state lawmakers approached him at Saturday's Bank of America 500 race, telling him how much they appreciated his being in North Carolina, said state Rep. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus.
John Cox, chief executive officer of Cabarrus Economic Development, also has talked with Smith over the past few days.
"I think the message is getting through that we care about him, and we care about this project, and we will do everything in our power to retain (the speedway)," Cox said.
The speedway is paying more than $1.7 million in city and county taxes this year. Last year, the track generated $169 million in tourism spending for the county.
Smith declined to encourage speculation that he was considering a move to Rock Hill, saying he has not disclosed where he is looking to move. He did say he was considering about 20 sites within an 18-mile radius of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
"I'm committed to staying in this market," Smith said. "I'd say there's a 90 percent chance we will (move out of Concord and) build somewhere else. This has gone down the road a long ways."
He said he received a call from Gov. Mike Easley on Saturday morning, and that the governor was supportive of the track and of keeping it in Concord. Smith said he would hold off commenting on whether he is interested in financial incentives to stay.
Last Thursday, the Concord City Council voted to ask city staff to come up with a tax-incentive package for the drag strip and for improvements Smith has mentioned for the track. Smith has said he had wanted to spend about $200 million on improvements.
Smith also has said he is willing to spend $350 million to abandon the Concord track and build another elsewhere in the Charlotte area.
The council also asked Concord's Planning and Zoning Commission to consider amending the speedway's zoning to allow drag strips on the property -- the use the council had banned the previous week. The zoning board plans to address the issue at its meeting tonight.
"We've put them in a bad position, and I apologize for that," Mayor Scott Padgett said.
Lowe's Motor Speedway owner Bruton Smith now says there is a "90 percent chance" he will move his track out of Concord for another site around Charlotte.
And if he leaves Concord, Smith said, he will raze the track and sell the property piecemeal.
Smith's comments to the Observer on Monday are the latest twist in an episode that began when the city of Concord moved to stop work on a $60 million drag strip on speedway property.
After the City Council's Oct. 1 vote to rezone the property to ban drag strips, Smith threatened to move the track. Last week, the city reversed its position on the drag strip and started talking about offering incentives to help reduce noise from the drag strip, a concern among neighbors.
If he moved his speedway operations elsewhere, Smith said, he would bulldoze the turns at the track instead of using it as a testing facility, then sell the property off in pieces.
He also said he would feel obligated to buy back the 52 condominiums at the speedway from their owners.
"If I move, I'd have to do the moral thing," Smith said.
He also said the one regret he would have is the impact a move would have on the businesses near the track. "You'd rather go through life not hurting anybody," Smith said.
A final decision on the move won't be made until after the Concord City Council revisits the issue Oct. 24, Smith said.
Local officials are continuing to try to persuade Smith to stay put. Several state lawmakers approached him at Saturday's Bank of America 500 race, telling him how much they appreciated his being in North Carolina, said state Rep. Linda Johnson, R-Cabarrus.
John Cox, chief executive officer of Cabarrus Economic Development, also has talked with Smith over the past few days.
"I think the message is getting through that we care about him, and we care about this project, and we will do everything in our power to retain (the speedway)," Cox said.
The speedway is paying more than $1.7 million in city and county taxes this year. Last year, the track generated $169 million in tourism spending for the county.
Smith declined to encourage speculation that he was considering a move to Rock Hill, saying he has not disclosed where he is looking to move. He did say he was considering about 20 sites within an 18-mile radius of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
"I'm committed to staying in this market," Smith said. "I'd say there's a 90 percent chance we will (move out of Concord and) build somewhere else. This has gone down the road a long ways."
He said he received a call from Gov. Mike Easley on Saturday morning, and that the governor was supportive of the track and of keeping it in Concord. Smith said he would hold off commenting on whether he is interested in financial incentives to stay.
Last Thursday, the Concord City Council voted to ask city staff to come up with a tax-incentive package for the drag strip and for improvements Smith has mentioned for the track. Smith has said he had wanted to spend about $200 million on improvements.
Smith also has said he is willing to spend $350 million to abandon the Concord track and build another elsewhere in the Charlotte area.
The council also asked Concord's Planning and Zoning Commission to consider amending the speedway's zoning to allow drag strips on the property -- the use the council had banned the previous week. The zoning board plans to address the issue at its meeting tonight.
"We've put them in a bad position, and I apologize for that," Mayor Scott Padgett said.
Think about --lets say the dragstrip was fine with the town from day 1. Would you start construction on a property your "going to raze+ sell off piecemeal"? Once the town blinked, he saw how quick they were willing to kiss his wealthy behind. Now he wants the state + everyone else to start kissin' too. Anyone ever know of Bruton of keeping grand plans a secret? If he had plans of moving it in next 20 years it would have been announce with big flash drawings. 
