News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Dirt work ongoing at the Flatrock Motorsports Park in Cumberland County as site preparation has officially begun on the project.
COO Jeremy Hale said the project will cross motorsports and entertainment creating a destination off exit 338 of I-40.
“The economic impact will be significant,” Hale said. “Usually, when you’re seeing those numbers like Barber (Motorsports Park) for example. They are not offering the motor club side with the amphitheaters, the concerts and some of the things we will be doing. Some of the numbers out there, you just have to go higher. It’s going to have a massive economic impact on the state.”
The entire site will be just under 800 acres. Hale said majority of the space is devoted to a grand prix track, lodging and a retail area with restaurants. Developer and Founding Partner Rusty Bittle said he envisions the project becoming a nation-wide attraction.
“I think it is going to be more than just a state product,” Bittle said. “I think most of our visitors will be from all over the United States. I think we will have a lot of Tennessee visitors, but people travel over the weekend long distances to put their cars on the tracks and race.”
Hale said the organization plans to host major international racing events and several concerts each year. Bittle said the first phase which includes a club track should be completed next spring. The grand prix track will come sometime in 2024.
“The concept started pretty small with just a car track and has just evolved,” Bittle said. “Traveling from track to track on the weekends and seeing that there was either commercial tracks or club tracks kind of lead us to do a hybrid of the two. We will be the only type of facility as far as I know any where in the world that has a track that is private and a track that is strictly commercial especially having all the amenities that we will have at Flatrock is pretty uncommon as well.”
