Did a little thinking and researching about Portland International Raceway and the open-but-still-being-built Pacific Northwest Raceway Park (PNRP), and, end the end the new track and facilities, I believe, will be better for Portland and better for the Northwest racing community. And there are several clues to suggest that PNRP is being built as a replacement for PIR.
1. Oregon/Washington are looking to replace the I-5 bridge with a wider bridge and add a new light-rail line across the Columbia. This will require them to build the bridge(s) next to the existing I-5 bridge and, because they also want to widen the freeway down to the Rose Quarter, that construction runs right smack into PIR.
2. PNRP is in a MUCH better place than in the far corner of Portland like PIR is. The new, larger facility will very close to I-84, and thus get much more traffic, and potentially more ticket buyers than PIR. PIR has had a couple series drop the circuit due to low ticket sales, a track on the Interstate, might help with that.
3. PIR is about 3 minutes or so away from the Airport. Good for visitors and drivers flying in, but no so good for everyone else. Moving the racing events further away from the airport should end up being a big help. Even Sebring I believes shuts down the airport next door during races. The new track is only a couple hours away, so, it's still close, just not right next door. There is an airport where they want to build...not sure if it's still open, but I wouldn't be surprised if they moved the little strip over and used it to fly in racers.
If the facility is built as planned it really will be a much, much better facility than PIR. karting, drag, road racing, golf, a nice marina....the works. Plus...PIR is a short track, PNRP has a few of those, plus a 6 mile road course. Plus, PNRP will feature a club, which, I don't believe is something PIR has.
