FLORENCE, Ky. - A state-of-the-art oval asphalt racetrack, with permanent seating for at least 45,000 spectators to watch the stars of NASCAR compete, could be a reality by 1999 on a piece of farmland in Gallatin County.
Developer Jerry Carroll, who owns Turfway Park thoroughbred track here, told the Enquirer on Thursday that he and some partners are well on the way to building the multipurpose racetrack at the intersection of Interstate 71 and Ky. 33 at the Sparta exit, about 40 miles from Fountain Square.
''We have an option on 800 acres just off I-71,'' Mr. Carroll said. ''We've formed a team to put this together. It's not a done deal, but I think we're at about the halfway point.''
Mr. Carroll met with Procter & Gamble Co. advertising officials Thursday and said he came away with the opinion that P&G, which sponsors cars on the NASCAR circuit, would be interested in working with him on the racetrack promotion.
''We've also talked to Cintas, the uniform people, and the owners of the Outback Steakhouse chain, and they are also very interested'' in sponsorship, he said.
The racing facility that Mr. Carroll and his associates - including Outback owner Chris Sullivan of Louisville and Bill Moss of Birmingham, Ala., who helped build Talladega (Ala.) Motor Speedway - are planning would probably cost between $75 million and $100 million.
''I'm very positive about this plan,'' said Mr. Moss, who has worked with NASCAR on track design and construction for 30 years and will serve as coordinator for the Gallatin County project.
''(NASCAR President) Bill France told Jerry (Carroll) . . . Cincinnati was one of the best market areas in America.''
In addition to the large oval for NASCAR stock cars and open-wheel Indy-type racing, the facility would include a half-mile dirt track for sprint cars and late-model stock cars, and a drag strip.
''I'm looking at this like any other real estate development,'' Mr. Carroll said. ''We want our planning to follow the regular development course. We want everything to be in place . . . no mistakes.
Attempts to reach NASCAR representatives, and Gallatin County Judge-executive Clarence Davis, for comment Thursday were unsuccessful. And Mr. Carroll, the man who helped develop the Turfway business and commercial area near his thoroughbred racetrack off I-75, said that's where the second half of the plan gets tough.
''We have to go out and look for money, and we have to ask for money to start construction without knowing if we will be able to get a NASCAR date the first season,'' Mr. Carroll said.
But buoyed by a detailed report from sports consultant Don Schumacher, Mr. Carroll said he hopes to have the necessary financial backing to break ground in Gallatin County in April or May of 1998. He expects the project to take 12-18 months.
''The report was two volumes, and it not only said a major racetrack would work in this area, but that it would be a grand slam,'' he said. ''So far, everything we've looked at has been extremely positive.'' He pointed out that there are about 51 million people within a 300-mile radius of Cincinnati.
''NASCAR fans, and other racing fans, don't think anything of driving 300 miles for a race.''
