Big Lake, Minnesota Looking To Build Motorsports Track Complex

Developer Proposing $200M Motorsports Track Complex In Minnesota

A "state-of-the-art motorsports track complex, envisioned to attract the biggest names in racing, is being proposed for 400 acres" in Big Lake, Minnesota, according to Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Int'l Motorsports Entertainment & Development Corp. of Coon Rapids said that the $200M facility "would be built for 90,000 fans and could expand to more than 150,000." The complex "would be financed privately by partners whom [Coon Rapids President] Jim Farnum declined to divulge." No hearings have been scheduled, but Farnum said that he "expects to go before city and township officials sometime this year." Farnum added that "if financing is secured, bureaucratic requirements are met and races lined up, the facility could have its first full season by 2011." NASCAR PR Manager Kerry Tharp, "while unfamiliar with the corporation's proposal," said that NASCAR "is always looking for opportunities to run its races in new locations." However, Elko Speedway (MN) Owner Tom Ryan said, "I don't think it's viable. I don't know what kind of races they would ever expect to get there. ... I don't think there is the interest (in this part of the country) to support a race track for real hard-core racing" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/22).