Here are two of the most frequently asked questions from Herald readers about NASCAR. Answers are based on a four-day visit to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., which included NASCAR’s most-popular Busch Series and Nextel Cup races July 10 and 11.
Q: How many events does the racetrack have a year?
A:
Those include:
* A three-day weekend of NASCAR (Nextel Cup and Busch races, plus qualifying.)
* A three-day weekend of Indy Racing League.
* 50 days of Richard Petty’s driving school.
* Nine days of Mario Andretti’s driving program.
* 21 days of test drives by race teams.
* Also, there’s a one-day swap meet, a three-day tractor show and two days of fund-raisers.
Q: How would the track affect nearby property values? A:
Joliet resident Diane Sharp’s 1,357-square-foot home decreased in value. An appraisal in September 2001 (the track’s first year) valued her home at $140,000. By December of 2002, the appraisal fell to $130,000. Both appraisals cited the proximity to the track as the major drawback.
For six months in 2001, the neighborhood tried to sell all 12 homes for commercial use. But with an asking price of $3.2 million, they got no takers. One Joliet city planner said that price seemed unrealistic.
Information was less conclusive 1 to 3 miles from the track. City officials found three homes that sold in the past three years for more than $30,000 higher than prior sales.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
