Bruton Smith Blvd...what a JOKE! (Charlotte, Concord: property taxes, rich, budget)

[Stripes17]

Obviously the county blew it by poking the sleeping giant. I think it would have been classic if Bruton said to leave Speedway Blvd as is and name the main road through that neighboring subdivision "Bruton Smith Blvd". That would have been legen....(wait for it)....dary!

[mullman]

Originally Posted by the 7 oh 4

OK all Cabarrus County residents. How do you feel about the STUPID new name for Speedway Blvd and the fact that it cost you guys $15,000 for the new signs on I-85 and Highway 29. And of course they have to put his name above Concord Mills Blvd for the I-85 exit signs.

He has so much money...why didn't he pay the $15,000 to swell his head!

What a baby he was & is!

The age old adage is the golden rule.
He who has the gold makes the rules.

Don't like the rules, then earn your own gold and change the status quo.
That is Capitalism! Nothing is stopping you seven-o-fo!
I personally know two first generation immigrants that arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs and will each die multi-millionaires.
America is all what you make of it. No country on earth offers more opportunity.
Yes it is hard. Yes it is tough. But it is possible.

I'm no B Smith fan, but it is what it is.
I am much more frustrated by our growing government and rising taxes than what this shrewd businessman is doing.
In other words, people moving here for the low cost of living compared to the Northeast, then voting in a way that over time will make NC another Northeast. Vote small government, not the same or larger!

[cball75]

All I know is when he said he was pulling out of Concord, I would have loved to have him in Union County. He brings dollars and knows how to run and grow business. I am not a big fan of Nascar, but Concord would be nothing had he not set up shop there. I am just waiting on Bruton Smith Elementary School to pop up next! BTW- he really is a nice person/shrewd businessman and has done a lot with speedway charities.

[himain]

I'm living in Concord and the next house will be there too. Do I care about the name change? Not at all. I know people are complaining about the drag strip being built. Trust me, it will bring in tons of money including several hundreds to thousands from me and my friends coming up to see the action. I finally went to LMS yesterday after having pit passes to see the drivers up close. FUN! Beautiful speedway and much better than the Homestead one. (from Miami here) I'm sure everyone already knows how crazy the Concord area will be in the next few weeks and I'm sure all the waiters and hotels are happy and looking forward to it.

[swingaway]

That whole area around the speedway and I - 85 would be farmland if not for Bruton Smith. Do you realize the tax revenue he has generated for your city and county? $15,000 is nothing! Speedway Blvd, Concord Mills Mall, Concord Airport, etc... are there simply because of the speedway.

By the way, the speedway was built with private dollars. Try to find that these days with any other sports venue in any city in America.

Doesn't he allow the county to use some of his property as a landfill?

Have you paid attention to the great work of Speedway Children's Charity lately? Thanks Bruton!

Get a grip - be thankful for what he has done for the area. Your Chamber of Commerce certainly is thankful.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by himain

I'm living in Concord and the next house will be there too. Do I care about the name change? Not at all. I know people are complaining about the drag strip being built. Trust me, it will bring in tons of money including several hundreds to thousands from me and my friends coming up to see the action. I finally went to LMS yesterday after having pit passes to see the drivers up close. FUN! Beautiful speedway and much better than the Homestead one. (from Miami here) I'm sure everyone already knows how crazy the Concord area will be in the next few weeks and I'm sure all the waiters and hotels are happy and looking forward to it.

I was there both days for the testing. That's a fun day out and yeah, it's a great facility.

[luisdiovany]

I just want let you guys know that I just read an article on bruton smith, and let me tell you .....I AM A BRUTON SMITH FAN....and I dont mind working for the guy....He is where his at for one reason only he no nonsense guy and he takes every oppurtunity he can to succeed and thats why he is who he is.

Read the article:

Greater Charlotte Biz

[CarolinaWoman]

York County would have welcomed Bruton Smith with open arms! Long long ago when the track was built that area was PURE BOONIES ... people wondered aloud ... why are they building a speedway WAY OUT THERE. If you're going to see the track you better pack a lunch it's way on the other side of Charlotte.

It was really something to watch ... if you will recall ... the very first reading or announcement and all the residents showed up at the council meeting ranting and raving about a dragstrip with their signs and the council without contacting the Zoning Dept ruled ... no way ... nope no dragstrip for Mr. Smith ... and boy oh boy did it hit the fan ... LOL

What followed was very important to see ... POLITICS at it's finest ... it was like the shot heard 'round the world ... It's not just DC, Raleigh or Columbia ... it's present in our everyday local politics ... Mr. Smith said ... I WILL MOVE ... Leave Cabarrus County ... take my enterprise and GO.

What happened next was the political version of what we southern folks call shucking and jiving ... no no no Mr. Smith please don't go ... please please ... you can build your dragstrip ... you can have tax credits ... ohhhhh Mr. Smith you can have our first born child ... whatever you want Mr. Smith ... Ohhh Bruton Smith County instead of Cabarrus ... we can arrange that. He didn't ask for any of those things ... the ELECTED POLITICIANS came up with the list of goodies including Bruton Smith Blvd.

Dontche just love politics and politicians. The track was there long before the malls, restaurants and housing developments.

[Stripes17]

That's what happens when the NIMBY's persuade the local government. I can't wait to spend some money over at Bruton's drag strip; not only for some cool racing but to also support his rights.

[carolina_guy]

Go Bruton and go private property rights!!! At the very least he deserves a road named after him for what he has done for the Cabarus county economy, not to mention Charlotte's!