Raceway

THE PROSPECT of a 61,000-seat auto racing stadium in northern Anne Arundel County near the Key Bridge should be clearer in the coming weeks. The Maryland Port Administration land-use advisory council Wednesday will recommend whether Chesapeake Motorsports Development Corp. should be allowed on 100 waterfront acres, the site of a former copper refinery. In early March, the Anne Arundel County Council takes a critical vote on whether to rescind the previous council's approval.The port council is expected to give its blessing since no one else is interested in this brownfields site, and several influential members support the project.

A County Council vote last night on a measure to hold up construction of an auto racing track in Anne Arundel County was delayed by faulty wording in the bill, which must be corrected and resubmitted.It was the latest setback for developers battling resident resistance and government bureaucracy to build the 61,000-seat stadium they've proposed for south of the Key Bridge in Pasadena.Missy Berge, chief executive officer of Chesapeake Motorsports Inc., told council members as they considered undoing the fast-track approval given the track by a previous county administration that they were toying with trouble.

Sunfest in O.C.Celebrate the start of the fall season in Ocean City with four days of fun, food, arts, crafts and music when Sunfest '98 shines on the resort's inlet parking lot today through Sunday. The annual event includes entertainment, hayrides on the beach, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving, and much more in and around four big-top tents. Headline artists presenting concerts are David Gates of Bread, Toby Keith, the Jerry Garcia Band, and 38 Special. There's also an outdoor stage featuring local bands.

MRRA racetrack is viable, with a few conditionsI have been following your continuing coverage of the Middle River Racing Association's proposed speedway and the debate among surprised neighbors.As I go door-to-door throughout the district in my campaign for the House of Delegates, I find a real division among men and women in their beliefs about the track. Searching for a middle ground, I believe that the speedway could be a complement to the community, but only if the following two conditions are met:1)

NASCAR has no intention of bringing Busch Grand National auto racing to this area and was surprised by a recent announcement by the Middle River Racing Association, which is trying to build a racetrack in Anne Arundel County, that it had landed the series.The Timonium-based track developers announced last month at a news conference that the small South Boston Speedway in Virginia was "excited about the opportunity" to give its Busch events to the MRRA starting in 2000 -- the year developers hope to have their $100 million track built.

For three decades, Myrtle and William Wright enjoyed a tranquil life along Bird River Road in eastern Baltimore County's countryside.But then came the midnight riders.In what police strongly suspect is retaliation against residents who successfully fought a proposed NASCAR speedway near their homes, vandals have made death threats, destroyed lawns and wrecked mailboxes along the peaceful two-lane road bordering White Marsh and Middle River.In one incident, vandals killed a family's pet rabbit and stole 10 others from an outdoor pen. On another night, someone threw two dead cats on the front lawn of a Bird River Road resident with small children.

Three years ago, Nancy Schwarz felt salvation had arrived.A $100 million world-class NASCAR speedway was proposed for economically depressed eastern Baltimore County, and Start Your Engines, her collectibles and apparel shop, was suddenly hotter than Jeff Gordon's engine. When speedway developers sought community support, Schwarz delivered -- enlisting 900 local fans of America's fastest-growing sport.Today, though, plans for the Essex International Speedway have crumbled, defeated by various forces.

In an uncharacteristic blast at the Baltimore County executive, a state delegate from Essex says C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger has derailed plans for a $100 million NASCAR speedway by failing to negotiate in good faith with developers."

The leader of efforts to build a $100 million speedway in eastern Baltimore County is close to striking a deal for a track outside Chicago -- a move that would scuttle the controversial Middle River project.Amid continuing criticism from Baltimore County residents and officials, Joseph Mattioli III confirmed yesterday that he has been negotiating with politicians and investors for a speedway on farmland near Kankakee, Ill."I am a racing businessman," said Mattioli, chief operating officer of Middle River Racing Association (MRRA)