A $21 million motorsports complex, including three race tracks, is being proposed by a nationally known firm for the Cleburne joint city/county industrial park off I-20 and Hwy. 46. A representative made their proposal to the Economic & Industrial Development Authority of Cleburne County during their meeting Tuesday night. She said the firm would like to build an NHRA drag strip, a NASCAR oval short track and an AMA motocross/supercross track along with a “mega-mall” to include souvenir shops, sports cafe, high performance auto parts shop with possible RV park, motels, restaurants and small manufacturing facilities to follow. The proposal calls for development in three phases over a five year period with construction beginning this year. Stage one would include a drag track, media suites, concessions, parking and amenities followed by the oval track and motocross facilities (stages 2-3) - all at an estimated cost of $21.1 million. Planners specualte on drawing nationwide racing event participants, local and trans-state spectators, nationwide sponsors, corporate participation, concessions, souvenir and event vendors. The facility will also draw nationwide media coverage including ESPN, SPEED Channel TV, SPIKE TV, The Outdoor Channel and a multitude of racing publications, both print and Internet. The NHRA is the largest motorsports organization in the world claiming 68 million fans in the U.S. alone and despite a lagging economy, NHRA events posted a 53 percent attendance growth in the 1990s. They also have a multi-year television agreement with ESPN and ESPN2. In their presentation the firm noted that surveys indicate over 900,000 people in the Birmingham area alone who are interested in one or more of the three planned motorsports formats. "The overall impact for the Heflin/Cleburne area is estimated to produce approximately $50 million dollars annually" based on figures from another Alabama site. They propose operating the drag racing facility two days per week, the oval track one day per week and the motocross track two days a month in addition to World of Wheels events, manufacturer and organization shows, test and tune sessions and extended national events. The company representative said Heflin, being between Atlanta and Birmingham, is "the perfect location for us," particularly along the interstate. Following the presentation most EIDACC members seemed open and positive to the proposal and asked the compnay to supply noise level studies as that is a concern. EIDACC member Ted Beam said such a development could be a boost to the whole area. He said he has learned how hard it is to attract industries and perhaps a tourist/immediate tax generating business would be more beneficial to the area. EIDACC attorney Russell Emric said interest and participation in motorsports is growing and such a complex "would generate a lot of money. This is one of the most popular sports in the country," he said. EIDACC Chairwoman Sherri Morgan said the facility could open up opportunities for trade school students interested in welding, vehicle painting and engines. EIDACC member Steve Swafford said he will contact other areas where the company has operations and obtain more information and figures so that the board can be better prepared. The topic of no cold beer ssles in the city and county was also raised and how this might adversely impact restaurants, hotels, businesses, tourists and spectators to races. A source who knows the company presidentpersonally said they are a reputable firm and if they do a project, it's done right.
About Wayne Ruple
Cleburne News editor Wayne Ruple is a native of Ashville. Before coming to Heflin, he worked for three years as a computer systems manager in Birmingham. Ruple has worked for The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, and was the editor of The Independent in Robertsdale. He has also worked for the Shades Valley Sun, the St. Clair News-Aegis and The Daily Home in Talladega.
