Bruton Smith sues Concord, Cabarrus County

Marcus Smith, the son of Lowe’s Motor Speedway mogul Bruton Smith defends the lawsuit filed by his father against the city of Concord and Cabarrus County. The suit claims the city and county failed to pay $80 million dollars for roadway and other improvements around the speedway and the ZMax dragstrip. “We’ve been here for 50 years," Marcus Smith, the President of Speedway Motorsports Inc. said. “It’s the investment in the infrastructure around the speedway is what we are looking for and what the initial bargain was with the city and county." Bruton Smith had threatened to pack up the track and move it out of Concord if he did not get some financial help with road improvements. The suit claims letters and agreements were drawn up by the local government promising the money. However, Cabarrus County Commissioner Coy Privette says while others in government may have made promises, “the Cabarrus County Commissioners have never acted officially on any proposal to give him a dime." At an outdoor concert tonight in Concord, residents said they could not see giving Smith any more money. “No, he doesn’t deserve that," said Barbara Fink. “I think he has had more than his share," she added. The city and county now have 30 days to respond to the allegations in the suit. Bruton Smith was out of town and could not be reached for comment on the suit. WCNC.com