NASCAR in West Virginia?

Another drive to locate a NASCAR track in West Virginia is underway, and has made some pretty formidable friends.

I know, we've heard this before and the plans kept falling through. One site proposed had a school built, another had a Wal-Mart built.

West Virginia Racing Thunder chairman Dave Higgins heads up this non-profit, all volunteer organization whose purpose it to get a track in eastern Kanawha County. They’ve set their sites on the Craftsman Truck Series and propose a ¾-mile track with an adjacent dirt track.

Higgins is not releasing the name of what he calls a “bona fide developer’ who will be making a decision in the fall about moving forward with the proposal, to be located on a reclaimed mountaintop mining operation.

Fifth Third Bank in the Kanawha Valley has given the group funds to produce promotional materials – yard signs, removable bumper stickers and lapel stickers. They are available in the downtown Charleston bank location or at the Enterprise Center at Chelyan.

The Kanawha County Commission and it’s president, Kent Carper, have thrown their support toward the effort, placing it on its current legislative agenda and may explore how to financial help out, although funding for the group is not written in stone.

West Virginia Racing Thunder is also a part of the Official NASCAR Members Club – Cabin Creek, W.Va., Local Chapter 253051, and several other local chapter presidents sit on its board of directors.

Thunder’s website, www.wvracingthunder.com has more information and news articles on the track proposal. You can also sign up to be a “Thunder Backer” and show your support for the track.

Go to the website, read the proposal and make up your own mind as to how and if you want to support the $10-$20 million project.