North Carolina's motorsports race [NC legislators form Motorsports Caucus to keep racing in NC]

Mooresville may be Race City USA and, yes, stock car racing has its roots in the N.C. foothills, but a number of other states have been quietly working to lure the industry away from here with sweet economic incentives.

And for good reason: Seventeen years ago, when the last economic impact study on motorsports was done, the industry did a $500 million per year business in North Carolina. Another study is about to be done, and the numbers are certain to far surpass that.

If North Carolina ultimately strengthens its grip on motorsports by fending off the overtures of other state, fans of the industry will likely be able to thank a small group of N.C. legislators – and the group's chairman, Rep. Karen Ray of Mooresville.

Ray and a bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate have formed the North Carolina Motorsports Caucus, whose purpose is to help the state fend off external threats to the N.C.-based racing industry. The caucus and several members of the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) met Jan. 16 for a luncheon at Lowe's Motor Speedway to discuss the status of the racing industry and its potential competition from outside of North Carolina.

Buoyed by a $100,000 grant from the Golden Leaf Foundation to study motorsports' impact on the state, several motorsports executives vowed at the January meeting to keep and grow motorsports in this state. "Other states are using economic incentives to entice motorsports business," Jim Hannigan, vice president of Petty Enterprises and a NCMA board member, said. "It will take an effort by everyone in this room to make a difference. There is plenty of strength here in North Carolina to attract and grow the motorsports business community."

Ray said the motorsports caucus has been warmly received in Raleigh and around the state by legislators and people "who support motorsports and understand (racing's) impact on our state."

Added Ray, "Motorsports in North Carolina provides thousands of jobs, small business operations, large business operations and millions of dollars in revenues to our state. It is important that we not take this for granted and do all that we can to protect the jobs and revenues created through this industry."

Mooresville, maybe more than any other N.C. community, will be anxiously watching the efforts of Ray and the motorsports caucus. And cheering them on.

Another article

North Carolina Department of Commerce Strengthens Motorsports Ties

(Derek Chen, Business Development Manager, Transportation and Automotive Equipment, North Carolina Department of Commerce)

Before they adjourned last Sunday, several members of the General Assembly added one more item to their packed agendas: the creation of a Motorsports Caucus, chaired by Representative Karen Ray of Mooresville’s 95th District to promote and support North Carolina’s motorsports industry. International Trade’s Derek Chen, who works closely with the motorsports industry, says the formation of the Caucus is a significant step in gaining much-needed exposure for the industry. “The state is getting involved at a pivotal time in a pivotal way. We’re working to ensure that the companies associated with the industry stay and grow in North Carolina.”

Chen’s comments allude to a growing concern among motorsports insiders in North Carolina—that unless advocates of the industry work harder to promote motorsports within the state and support the companies located here, regional competitors such as South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee may succeed in their efforts to recruit business away from North Carolina. If they were successful, North Carolina could lose a significant portion of the $1.5 billion in investment and revenue the industry brings the state annually —more than double any other professional sport.

The formation of the Motorsports Caucus is only one response to a growing realization of the motorsports industry’s importance to the state’s economy. A rising number of Commerce players are recognizing the importance of the industry to North Carolina’s economy and are working to strengthen Commerce’s role in the promotion of the industry. One of the latest efforts has been to strengthen Commerce’s ties to the newly formed North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA), chaired by NASCAR legend Richard Petty. “The NCMA has helped open the doors of the motorsports industry to us,” says Chen of the traditional close-knit community of motorsports insiders.

The NCMA’s goal, like the goal of the Motorsports Caucus, is to proactively promote the growth of the motorsports industry in North Carolina. Over 600 businesses in the state are involved in the industry, and the scope, power, and contributions of these businesses have been unrecognized and unfocused because they have never had an organized voice to lobby their needs. Commerce is already working with the NCMA on a number of levels. Chen, who handles automotive exports for the state, is currently working with motorsports companies, most of which export products internationally. Lynn Minges, Director of Travel and Tourism, also works with the NCMA to promote the industry through such events as Tourism Day. Even the Governor’s office is getting involved with the NCMA. In May 2003, Chen attended a meeting with NCMA representatives and Governor Easley in which the NCMA asked for support in an economic impact study of the motorsports industry on the state of North Carolina. Easley agreed to allocate funding for the study, and as a recognition of the industry’s importance on the state, proclaimed May as Motorsports Month.

The collaboration between Commerce, the state legislature, private organizations like the NCMA, and even the research provided by universities and community colleges will prove increasingly important for an industry which Chen predicts will soon escalate tremendously in popularity. The expected growth is due in large part to Nextel’s new sponsorship of NASCAR; unlike Winston, Nextel will be unrestricted in advertising. And at a time when traditional North Carolina industries like textiles and tobacco are in decline, industries like motorsports become ever more important. Despite challenges, Chen predicts the sport will continue to thrive in our state. “Commerce can’t keep these businesses by itself, but along with the legislature, the Governor’s office and the universities and community colleges, we can work together to keep this industry strong in North Carolina.”

I made my first ever pass through the Charlotte, Mooresville area last fall. Of course being a motorsports enthusiast we had to take in what we could of the area in about a day including an over night stay in Concord.

We were very impressed with the area. We were impressed with the friendly people who took the time to guide us to places of interest. We were impressed with the tasteful and moving tributes to Dale Earnhardt at DEI and Kannapolis. We were so impressed we have included a followup visit through Charlotte this fall, including tickets to my first ever major Nascar Nextel Cup Event at Lowes Motor Speedway.

What the people of North Carolina have is very much worth preserving. They have something that few other places can boast of outside of maybe Indianapolis. Heritage, tradition, the people make the Carolinas a place like no other. And seeing is believing. The economic impact of motorsports is tremendous. The star power is huge.
From the dirt tracks here in Missouri to the super speedways, weekly attendance and the amount of time and money we devote to our cars and tracks is very satisfying when the stands are full.

But nobody does motorsports like the Carolinas!

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