The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series could have a race within sight of the Manhattan Skyline itself within the next five years after the International Speedway Corporation, which owns more than half a dozen current NNC venues, bought land on Staten Island.
The ISC's proposal is to build a three-quarter mile oval with room for 80,000 spectators capable of holding NASCAR racing by 2009. Although no guarantee has been made by NASCAR that the track would automatically gain a race and with planning still at a precariously early stage, the purchasing of nearly 700 acres of land for an undisclosed fee is a good indicator that NASCAR could be heading to ‘The Big Apple.'
The International Speedway Corporation, which is presided over by Lesa France-Kennedy, the sister of current NASCAR top man Brian France and owned by the France family, recently completed the purchase of the legendary Martinsville Speedway to add to its roster of tracks, which also includes
Daytona, Talladega, Richmond and Darlington.
In total ISC owns no less than 12 Nextel Cup tracks as well as the one-mile Nazareth Speedway.
Although the myriad of political issues, planning permissions and environmental concerns could well delay the proposed 2009 opening, NASCAR's current lone New York City race at Watkins Glen (an ISC owned track) is rumoured to be in line for the chop should Staten Island get the green flag.
