Riviera Beach, FL/CBS12 News — Across our area street racing has become a problem and many say one way to fix that is to build a race track. Now in Palm Beach County it’s actually a step closer to becoming a reality.
Supporters are expected to release new details tonight at an event at the Riviera Beach Marina Event Center.
It’s been a couple of years since Palm Beach International Raceway near Jupiter closed.
The love of racing is fueling efforts to build a new racetrack in western Palm Beach County.
“There’s such a need for this facility here in this county to drive economic impact, tourism, bring people here from all over the country right here to Palm Beach County,” said Madelyn Marconi, a racing fan whose husband and father are semi-professional drag racers.
Palm Beach International Raceway, formerly known as Moroso Motorsports Park, on the Beeline Highway near Jupiter closed in April 2022.
Supporters say their goal is to get a new track in the area.
“Moroso was a huge key in keeping kids off of the streets and not participating in illegal street racing. So having a racetrack in the community will give those joyriders a place to go and just race safely,” Marconi said.
The most likely location for a new racetrack facility is a 128-acre site owned by the county west of Wellington near 20-Mile Bend.
The possibility that Palm Beach County is a step closer to getting a new racetrack is terrific news for places such as Area-51 Motorsports in Lake Worth Beach.
“That is great. It’s definitely needed,” said Dain Allen, Area-51 Motorsports owner.
Area-51 Motorsports does performance upgrades on exotic cars and they also service race cars.
Allen feels having a track will reduce street racing.
“It’s a lot easier for someone, you know, it’s a lot safer. A lot more people would prefer going to a track where it’s a closed environment, safe environment. There’s no risk for any kind of police activities or things like that,” Allen said.
We reached out to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw for an interview.
A PBSO spokeswoman sent me a written statement from Bradshaw which reads: “Building a race track may or may not reduce the amount of street racing, but any option that we make available is better than no options at all.”
Plans for a new racetrack will be discussed tonight at the Riviera Beach Marina Event Center starting at 6:30.
