Most of the cities in the area, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and Virginia Beach, were going to go in together, float the bonds and have a revenue/tax sharing venture.

It was well received in the NASCAR crazy state of Virginia.

The Sawyers, owners of the Richmond races, said they’d probably bring their races to the new speedway.

Turned out Virginia Beach presented the stumbling block, wanting a guarantee from NASCAR that they’d sanction two races at the proposed race track. NASCAR wouldn’t give that guarantee, because they are NASCAR and don’t have to do anything unless they want to. The Sawyer’s said don’t worry, you’ll get NASCAR races.

Well, Va. Beach was afraid they’d lose money. Hmmph! In that area, with all the racing fans, they’da had to build a new bank to hold all the new money.

So, since then thousands and thousands of area residents from that area drive to Richmond twice a year and enrich the city of Richmond.

Tens of thousands of racing fans come from all over, twice a year, and spend money in Richmond that could have been spent in the Hampton Roads, VA area.

And the twice a year is just for the two Cup races. There’da been Busch and who knows what else with a two mile track.

I could have driven about 35 miles for the races instead of 100.

Dummies.