It's the fastest-growing sport in the nation. It requires huge tracts of land for its events. And wherever it goes, it leaves construction boomlets in its wake. Now it is quickly spreading into the Midwest and even the Northwest.
Fans drive hundreds of miles and spend thousands of dollars to feed their craving for auto racing.
Last year, attendance at Winston Cup events alone exceeded 6.3 million. The money starts to flow and land values skyrocket from the moment a new speedway project is undertaken. And Kansas City, Mo. is in the throes of a boom as construction gets underway on a 1.5-mile speedway. With initial spectator capacity of 75,000, the Kansas City speedway has been designed to accommodate most types of major motor-sport events. Construction should be completed by spring 2001.