Fair board narrowly approves NASCAR proposal

Metro's Fair Commissioners Board on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposal for a $164 million overhaul of auto racing facilities that aims to bring NASCAR to the Fairgrounds Nashville. The 3-2 vote reflects outstanding concerns among the board about scheduling power, financial liabilities and the track’s impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

Partisans filled the gallery, vocally expressing support or opposition while speakers addressed the board. Opponents held up signs and jeered commissioners, racing advocates and mayoral staffer Ben Eagles, a frequent proxy for the mayor’s office. Residents from surrounding neighborhoods attempted to sway commissioners with concerns about sound mitigation and scheduling. Racing fans and industry representatives pushed for the deal’s passage, which, they argued, will usher in a new heyday for auto racing in Nashville. The project’s financial projections plan for $164 million in debt service over 30 years.