Paul Allen’s billions may lead to millions for Whidbey Island.
Allen, owner of the Seattle Seahawks, has decided to build a NASCAR track on Whidbey Island.
Trey Dinpahndt, associate director of operations for NASCAR, confirmed the report.
“We have been trying to get a track in the Northwest for decades,” Dinpahndt said. “It is the one part of the country without one, and it will enable us to expand our brand and exploitation.”
Mike Rashauft, spokesman for Allen’s Vulcan Inc., also confirmed the report.
“Mr. Allen is a huge NASCAR fan,” Rashauft said. “He has a retreat on Whidbey Island and enjoys the friendships he has developed there. The track is a way to thank the citizens of Whidbey Island for their hospitality and to share his passion for NASCAR.”
Allen has committed $2.5 billion to build the track, which will be a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility. So the track won’t sit idle for lost stretches of time between races, it will be designed to host non-racing events such as circuses, rodeos and other sporting events, including football, soccer and baseball games.
In fact, Rashauft said, Allen has received permission from the NFL for the Seahawks to play one game a season at the track, which will seat over 100,000 fans. The Sounders and Major League Soccer are also considering a match at the racing facility; the Mariners said they are not interested.
The list of potential sites for the track have been narrowed to two, just south of Coupeville’s Outlying Field and the Fakkema farm, which is west of Oak Harbor.
Island County Assistant Commissioner I.L. Tacsu said both sites have their pros and cons.
The OLF site allows the county to “concentrate noisy activity” in one spot, Tacsu said.
“That way we wouldn’t be upsetting another portion of the population. Besides, those folks are use to the noise.”
The Fakkema farm and its sweeping view of Puget Sound would be “the most gorgeous setting for an athletic venue in the U.S.,” Tacus said.
This would be a reversal by the county, which previously stopped development of the farm into a residential area.
The owners’ bid to subdivide the acreage was denied several years ago because, the county said, it would lead to urban sprawl and damage the rural atmosphere of Whidbey Island.
“This is different,” Tacsu said. “This isn’t several people trying to sell their own property; this would benefit the county.
“The county could make an obscene amount of money with this track. Government revenue trumps ideals any day of the week and twice on race day.”
Allen, in addition to building the track, is going to start his own NASCAR race team, Paul Allen Racing, or PAR.
According to Rashauft, one of the PAR car drivers will be Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch, who is expected to retire from football after one more season.
Lynch currently races during the football off season in the Hollywood Series, a circuit designed for celebrity racers. The Hollywood Series receives little publicity because it is a private enterprise and the races aren’t open to public spectators.
Many of NASCAR’s regular drivers enter Hollywood events during NASCAR’s down time to keep their skills sharp, Dinpahndt said.
The quality of driving at Hollywood is equal to the highest level of NASCAR, according to Dinpahndt. With their vast financial resources, the drivers have the highest quality cars, crews and training.
Lynch and actress Scarlett Johansson are Hollywood’s top drivers, Dinpahndt said.
“You haven’t really seen Beast Mode until you see Lynch pinned against the wall at 200 miles per hour,” he said. “And, Johansson reminds me of Danica Patrick — but with talent.”
The media-shy Lynch surprisingly agreed to talk to the Whidbey News-Times but stipulated he be asked only four questions.
His responses were “yes,” “yes,” “yes,” and “no, boss.”
The track will break ground on April 1, 2016.
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