By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SPARTA - Kentucky Speedway's quest for a major NASCAR race took a hard turn Thursday into the state's gubernatorial race.

Ernie Fletcher and Steve Pence, the GOP's governor and lieutenant governor ticket, pledged money, infrastructure and support to help the $150 million speedway land a Nextel Cup race - professional auto racing's largest event and biggest draw.

The track returned the favor, with speedway president Jerry Carroll and former professional driver Darrell Waltrip - a Kentucky native and consultant to the speedway - endorsing Fletcher and Pence.

"Racing is a big business," said Waltrip, a Republican from Owensboro. "(The speedway) reaches out and touches so many people," and attracting a Nextel Cup race - formerly known as Winston Cup - "has been our goal from day one."

Fletcher said, if elected, he will:

• Pursue more than $50 million in road projects that would improve access to the track. The projects include widening Interstate 71 and building a road from U.S. 42 along the Ohio River to the track. Most of the money would come from the federal government; some state money would be required.

• Work to extend the speedway's existing tourism tax credit.

• Continue to lobby the federal government to build a regional airport near the speedway.

• Integrate the speedway into the state's efforts and advertising to attract tourists.

Fletcher said a major race could pump more than $100 million into Kentucky's economy.

"It will increase tourism, it will increase our revenue, it will help us balance the budget in the long run, it will help us provide money for education and will help us create jobs in this area and all across Kentucky," Fletcher said.

Carroll said support from Fletcher's administration could play a role is the speedway's ultimate goal of attracting a Nextel race from NASCAR, a sanctioning body of professional auto racing.

"We get the people here, we've got to get them in and out," Carroll said.

The 4-year old speedway was the first tourist attraction to benefit from tax breaks under the Kentucky Tourism Development, which allows an attraction to recoup 25 cents of every $1 it generates in state sales tax. The break expires after 10 years. But if it were extended, Carroll said, the money could be used to increase the speedway's seating capacity from 66,000 to more than 100,000.

The expansion would be a key element in attracting the Nextel Cup race, Carroll said.

Carroll and Fletcher downplayed any suggestion that the prospect of legalized casino gaming in Kentucky was connected to Thursday's announcement.

Carroll has led a push for legalized casinos in Kentucky. He believes that for Kentucky and the horse racing industry to compete with gaming in other states, including Indiana, full-blown casinos are needed.

But both Carroll said Fletcher said they have not had any detailed discussions about gambling.

"I'm not going to spend my political capital ... on trying to expand gambling," said Fletcher, who favors the voters deciding the issue on the ballot with at least some money going to Kentucky's thoroughbred industry. "I've said I will be involved if it moves forward to make sure it is fair for all Kentuckians, but I'm not going to be out there promoting casinos."

Carroll has given campaign money to Fletcher and his opponent, Democrat Ben Chandler. But Carroll said Thursday he believes Fletcher is going to win.

"Ernie Fletcher has made a commitment, he's willing to step up," Carroll said. "Not that the other candidate isn't willing. But Ernie is here today. But Darrell (Waltrip) is a big fan of Ernie's, I'm a big fan of Ernie's - and I think Ernie has the capability of getting things done."

Chandler's campaign did not return requests for comment.

Waltrip said he believes in Fletcher and is convinced the candidate is a racing fan.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com