Fountain, Colo. wants NASCAR race

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Community leaders will meet this week to discuss how to attract a major NASCAR race and its big-time money to a racetrack in Fountain.

"NASCAR said they are going to take a look at realignment and schedule adjustment in the future, and this is our chance to put our best foot forward," said Rob Johnson, president of the Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain. Johnson will meet with leaders from El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Fountain and Pueblo, on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Colorado Springs economist David Bamberger estimated a top NASCAR race would generate $102 million in local sales, create 1,510 local jobs and generate $1.1 million in city sales tax receipts. PPIR, the track in Fountain, already has several major races, including a NASCAR Busch series race.

However, no city on the Winston Cup circuit wants to give up races that feature racing stars such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon.

"A lot of people are making the pitch now," Johnson said. "As dates change, (NASCAR) has to look at its entire portfolio and look where it has to go. We want to look good."

PPIR grandstands can seat 42,700 fans, about half the size a Winston Cup race would require. Johnson said the facility 20 miles south of Colorado Springs could easily grow to 87,000 to 100,000 seats.

Officials say they will also have to look at access to the track from Interstate 25 and elsewhere.

"We need to do a traffic assessment, and we need to develop a plan to get people in and out of there," said Fountain Mayor Ken Barela, who is helping organize the meeting. "It must be a regional initiative. You must show you have regional support from all sectors of the community."

Four Winston Cup races run within 600 miles of Colorado Springs -- Las Vegas; Kansas City, Kan.; Phoenix; and Fort Worth, Texas.

"There is a huge hole," Barela said. "And it's in this region."

 

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