WCNC, an NBC affiliate in Charlotte, NC, reports that Cabarrus County (NC) officials are scrambling to meet a $75 million dollar wish list leaked to the media that has the items needed to keep Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. This wish list includes such items as improvements to every major road close to the speedway, various tax rebates and assistance in creating noise barriers to appease neighbors who complained of a proposed drag strip.

Their protest to Concord officials and the subsequent rezoning of the LMS property is what has forced track owner Bruton Smith to begin looking elsewhere. Smith has said he’s looking at different areas within Charlotte as well as just across the border into Rock Hill, SC. An unsubstantiated rumor also suggests another location in South Carolina is under consideration.

Officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of higher property taxes to keep LMS in town, but are adding that would be a last resort. They’ve lobbied the state for additional help.

Smith is expected to render his final decision before Thanksgiving.

Sources close to the situation have said the proposed drag strip on LMS property was to be the 24th event on NHRA POWERade Championship Drag Racing Series. To have this facility completed in time for the proposed September date, construction can begin no later than January. If the facility is incomplete by the deadline, the event will be staged in Gainesville, Florida in 2008.