NASCAR's Staten Island Dream Officially Over

Okay, so the International Speedway Corp.—which owns NASCAR—said they wouldn't pursue the building a raceway on Staten Island back in 2006—but they only sold their 676-acre parcel of land yesterday. The plot was bought by KB Marine for $80 million, and the ISC is happy with the deal, because it wanted to find a buyer that would redevelop the site for port activities, "KB Marine plans to do exactly that, which will benefit economic development and job creation in Staten Island, New York City and the region as a whole." The Birmingham News says it's good NASCAR won't be here: "NASCAR is like Pace picante sauce—not to be associated with New York City. "

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By Jen Chung in News on November 13, 2009 3:45 PM

Comments [rss]

robingee

Wasn't Champ Car supposed to make a race track in Brooklyn?

Think2wice

I recall Paul Newman floating the idea of using Floyd Bennett Field as a temporary race track for a charity race.

Formula 1 would looove to have a New York Grand Prix.

kcin122

NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!!

also I grew up next to a NASCAR track. People in New Jersey and Statan Island would eat that shit up.

Spirit of 76

One thing I've always wondered. In those old commercials for Pace that mock NYC, just how many of those "cowboy" actors are from the southwest and would know good picante sauce?

smokedgouda

As a NYer I'm proud to defer to Texas or wherever as to who makes better salsa. We have a lock on most everything that matters.

Sommelier

NASCAR: a bunch of rednecks making a left.

longacre

...hoping that someone makes a right.

JenChungsBaby

More like "Staten Islanders' NASCAR Dream Officially Over."

CR

Anyone remember when Spitzer was called the "the best Jewish Nascar fan they’ve ever had" by the president of NASCAR? Knew right then and there this wouldn't work out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/nyregion/14spitzer.html

smokedgouda

New York needs NASCAR like a hole in the head.

NannyState

Or like Staten Island.

dr zippy

Why would NASCAR care what the buyer does with the site?

JacqueMehoff

it was for the best, you don't want staten island to go more backwards.

and, I don't want to see used race car tires as coffee tables.

barryap

Unrelated to this post, but

Am I the only one who loves to see how many "likes" the sponsored posts, like the Pirate Radio one, get? People clicking to angrily/sarcastically comment realize too late that there's no commenting allowed. I myself have been guilty of this.