Kentucky Gov. Seeks NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Under Proposed Bill

Proposal Would Provide Up To $36.7M In Incentives To Kentucky Speedway

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear yesterday "unveiled details of a $75[M] bill intended to lure a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to the state, and to beef up incentives to encourage expansion of existing businesses," according to Stephanie Steitzer of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. The bill, "to be taken up in a special session starting Monday, also contains an expansion of a tax exemption to lure a Breeders' Cup World Championship to Kentucky." The proposal "would provide as much as $36.7[M] in incentives over 20 years to the Kentucky Speedway." The tax credits "would help pay for expansion of the track," which SMI contends is "necessary to accommodate a Sprint Cup race." Beshear: "If we want the possibility of getting a Sprint Cup race here, I think we need to move soon." While the prospects of getting a Cup race for the '10 season "appear bleak at this point," Beshear spokesperson Jay Blanton yesterday said that Beshear's office "believes the track could still get a race date in the near future if the tax incentives were approved" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/11).