World class speedway green-lit in Fort Erie

Nov 9, 2012 | Sports

By Luke Vermeer

CMS officials hope to attract NASCAR to their new track. COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The town of Fort Erie, Ontario will be host to a NASCAR calibre speedway starting in 2013 after the Ontario Municipal Board dismissed all appeals against the proposed Canadian Motor Speedway.

The track, designed by four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, will include a 1.6 kilometre oval as well as a 4.2 kilometre road course.

Doug Martin, mayor of Fort Erie said the speedway will be a boon for the community.

“The overall benefits that this is going to have is great, the jobs off the construction and the jobs that the speedway itself creates plus the businesses and industrial buildup around the speedway will be a huge benefit for Fort Erie,” Martin told Humber News.

According to the Toronto Star, officials for the Canadian Motor Speedway hope that the venue will attract NASCAR to hold events there.

Montreal has hosted a NASCAR Nationwide series race since 2007 but officials announced that the race will not be held after this year and speculation is that the race could be moved somewhere in Ontario.

When contacted about the new track NASCAR declined to comment.

While many Fort Erie residents are excited about the new speedway the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie has opposed the speedway from the start saying the land should instead be used for agricultural purposes.

The CCGFE issued this comment to Humber News in an email.

“CCGFE is disappointed the OMB dismissed the appeal, we would have rather the land stayed agricultural.  Moving forward, through our settlement agreement with CMS, Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie will monitor the progress of the speedway development as mandatory studies are completed.”

Construction is expected to commence next summer with planning and design occurring in the coming months.