AIS track calls off racing for 2010

NEW BREMEN — The Adirondack International Speedway won't hold races in 2010.

Owner-promoter Paul Lyndaker said Saturday that there are a lot of factors that led up to his decision not to hold races next season. But he doesn't plan to leave the track empty for good.

"I hope to hold races in the future," Lyndaker said.

Lyndaker cited taxes as the biggest reason for the hiatus from racing.

"I'd like to get our taxes in line with other tracks around the state," Lyndaker said. "I'd say our taxes are probably the highest in the state as far as what other track facilities are paying."

Lyndaker also said that the state wants an improvement in the water system. "We've paid probably a million dollars for our septic system since the track opened. I want to make it clear that I am not upset at anyone on the state, county or local level. I'd just like to take a year or two off and change some things."

The speedway opened in August 2001 with the running of the Empire 100. Among the dignitaries taking part in the pre-race ceremonies was then Gov. George Pataki.

Through the years the asphalt speedway has held several NASCAR divisional races, including the annual Camping World East Series sponsored by the Edge Hotel. Steve Park won this year's 150-lap race.

"It's such a great place," said Ann Merrill, executive director of the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce. "I hate to see it sit idle."

A number of drivers and fans, including some from Vermont this summer, have stayed at her town of Croghan bed and breakfast, Merrill said.

"It's a destination," she said.

"It's a nice facility over there," agreed New Bremen Town Supervisor Fred Schneider. "It's got potential to be a real nice place."

However, he said, the town did what it could on the tax issue by settling with the speedway on its assessment challenge in January 2008.

The out-of-court settlement dropped the 430.7-acre speedway's taxable value from $3.23 million to $1.35 million.

The speedway was one of numerous properties listed recently in Lewis County delinquent tax notices, which denote parcels with unpaid taxes from January 2008. The county in February will foreclose on any that remain delinquent.

Lyndaker in August 2003 closed the track for one weekend, citing perceived negativity from then county Legislator Bruce Krug about a $500,000 state Department of Transportation grant the county accepted to assist the speedway and so-called negative coverage in the Adirondack Mountain Sun, a former weekly newspaper in Lowville.

However, the race that Saturday would likely have been canceled due to rainy weather anyway, and Lyndaker agreed to open again the following weekend after county legislators voted 8-2 to affirm their "continuing support" of the speedway.

The state comptroller's office ultimately ruled that the state funding was transferred improperly, since counties are prohibited by state law from giving money to private companies, and $117,275 that hadn't been used was returned to the county for road paving projects.