SportsQuest lands indoor stock car racing

Break out your earplugs. Indoor stock car racing is coming to Chesterfield County.

SportsQuest, a planned $175 million multisport megafacility at Powhite Parkway and State Route 288, yesterday announced that Arena Racing USA will join a growing list of sports programming the campus will offer.

The indoor, half-scale stock car racing series for up-and-coming drivers, is backed by an investor group that includes former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing, Tom and Norm Miller of Interstate Batteries, and Gary Becker, formerly of PACE Entertainment.

Arena Racing just wrapped its seventh season in Hampton Roads, its second season in Charlotte, N.C., and last year launched its inaugural season in Michigan.

"Arena Racing is an affordable racing series that fits well with SportsQuest's mission to provide quality family entertainment and sports to the region," said Phil Evans, SportsQuest president. "With easy-to-drive cars, we're looking forward to making stock car racing available to the masses - young and old alike."

After meeting with Gibbs, Steve Burton, founder and CEO of SportsQuest, said he knew the sport would be a good fit for his 250-acre sports complex where members will be able to race cars in the 6,000-seat arena as well as two outdoor racetracks, he said.

A development center also is planned where drivers and pit crews will hone their skills.

"Richmond's NASCAR fans will love Arena Racing," said Bob Keane, President and CEO of Arena Racing USA. "SportsQuest's campus will be a great home for this exciting new sport and will provide them the opportunity to directly participate."

Burton said he is in negotiations with Southside Speedway to schedule events there until the racing facilities are available in 2011.

Work on the campus - which will feature development programs for dozens of sports on youth, recreation and professional levels and a 200-acre tournament complex - is slated to begin this fall.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .