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Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times Online
South Boston, Va. A proposed motorsports testing facility in South
Boston, Va. could provide a much-needed economic boost to counties along
the North Carolina-Virginia border.
The recent decline of textile and tobacco industries, along with ongoing
announcements of plant and factory closings has had a negative economic
impact for the border counties of both states. South Boston Speedway
President Joe Mattioli believes motorsports may be the answer to some of
the area's economic woes.
Mattioli has proposed constructing a multi-purpose oval track testing
facility on a 300-acre tract adjacent to South Boston Speedway. He
believes the facility could thrive, given the area's rich tradition in
motorsports.
"A 300-acre site adjacent to South Boston Speedway has been optioned for
such a multi-purpose testing facility," Mattioli said. "The site is
approximately 10 miles from the Virginia-North Carolina Border.
"Halifax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia commissioned a study to
examine the viability of this project and its economic impact," Mattioli
added. "The report was presented to the Halifax County Board of
Supervisors in January and it confirmed the viability of the project and
the tremendous economic impact it would generate. Roush Racing, which
competes in NASCAR's Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series,
confirmed that its teams alone test between 100 and 180 days per year.
"Add in the other major NASCAR teams and auto manufacturers and the right
type of testing facility could realize 300 days of testing use per year,"
Mattioli said.
Mattioli estimates the cost of developing the multi-purpose test track at
$15 to $20 million.
"That is a small price to pay for an economic lifeboat," Mattioli said. "A
public/private partnership, supported by multi-year track leases,
increased taxes and jobs make this opportunity almost too good to be true."
South Boston, according to Mattioli, would be a prime location for the
facility since it is anchored in the west by Martinsville Speedway and in
the east with a wind tunnel testing facility in Langley, Va., which is
used by race teams.
In addition, VIRginia International Raceway (VIR), a revived road course
facility, is just a short drive away near Danville, Va.
Martinsville Speedway is now owned by the International Speedway Corp. and
continues to grow its racing events, which include two NASCAR Nextel Cup
weekends, a special event for NASCAR Dodge Late Model Stock Cars and,
beginning this year, a new event for NASCAR Modified Stocks.
"The International Speedway Corp. is the largest operator of NASCAR Nextel
Cup venues, including Daytona, Talladega, Fontana, Richmond, Darlington
and Phoenix," Mattioli said.
He went on to say that Patrick Henry College has partnered with Joey
Arrington to build and sell race engines to top teams, including the 2004
winner of NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series, Bobby Hamilton. In the process
they are providing hands-on learning opportunities for the next generation
of NASCAR mechanics.
"VIR, located between South Boston and Danville, has been reborn as one of
the finest road courses in the nation," Mattioli said. "In addition to its
world class events and facilities, VIR is attracting NASCAR race teams
that need road course testing facilities as well as becoming the home of a
growing number of motorsports related industries and road racing teams.
"South Boston Speedway, beginning its 50th season, is one of the premier
NASCAR short tracks in the country," Mattioli added. "It has a long
reputation as being the incubator of the next generation of NASCAR Super
Stars. Its graduates include Ward and Jeff Burton, Stacy Compton, Elliott
and Hermie Saddler and Timothy Peters, who will be making his Craftsman
Truck debut later this year," Mattioli said. "The wind tunnels at Langley
continue to improve their facilities attracting race teams up and down the
East Coast."
While these motorsports assets are impressive, Mattioli thinks the test
track complex he envisions in South Boston could be the most important
asset for sustained economic impact.
"While most of the major NASCAR teams are home based in or around
Charlotte, they are traveling all over the country to find tracks to test
at," Mattioli said. "The most popular track is located over eight hours
and 500 miles away in Kentucky.
"NASCAR limits the number of days these teams can test at tracks that host
NASCAR sanctioned Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck events," Mattioli
added. "The fact that the Kentucky track does not host a Nextel Cup event
makes it a prime choice for teams. A multi purpose oval track testing
facility less than three hours from Charlotte would be a very attractive
alternative for team testing and possibly team relocation."
Mattioli also thinks the testing complex also could attract race teams to
southside Virginia and northern North Carolina.
"A test track in South Boston Va., the life style amenities available 60
miles away in Raleigh-Durham, would make the corridor between South Boston
and Raleigh-Durham the perfect place for race teams and their families,"
Mattioli said. "Teams could locate their shops at or near the test track,
literally driving their car from their shops to the track. Team families
could enjoy the low cost of living available in the South
Boston/Raleigh-Durham corridor and be 30 miles from their team shops and
30 miles from restaurants, entertainment, healthcare and other amenities
of the North Carolina Triangle Area.
"Each team that located in the area would bring jobs, millions of dollars
of economic impact to the region and attract the cottage industries that
support them," Mattioli added.
Mattioli conceded that while it is unlikely that the more established race
teams would relocate, new teams and existing teams with tighter budgets
would be prime candidates.