If the state funds stadiums, why not auto racing tracks?

We don't pretend to know if the construction of an indoor auto racing track is feasible.
Just putting something as large as a race track under roof is a challenge. Controlling the noise and the fumes created by a few dozen 800-horsepower cars running full out would seem to be almost impossible.
And if such a track could be built, we don't know if Trumbull County has the resources to make such an ambitious project a reality.
But we do know that for purposes of divvying up money allocated to the Ohio Arts and Sports Facilities Commission, auto racing should certainly be considered a sport.
The issue has been raised by State Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th, who introduced a bill last week that would define motor raceways as eligible for funding.
And why not? The purpose of the fund is to provide facilities that host sporting and cultural activities that not only provide recreation or enlightenment for the state's citizens, but encourage economic development.
Sharing the wealth
The lion's share of the money is gobbled up by major league cities, while much of the rest of the state only gets to dream. Even now, there's talk about putting a $100 million soccer stadium in Summit or Cuyahoga County -- the would-be owner of the team gravitated toward Summit after Cuyahoga's enthusiasm did not meet his expectations.
Bert Wolstein envisions some lucky community underwriting the stadium to the tune of about $6 million a year. He says he'll put up $20 million. If the project ever comes together, there will be millions of state dollars in there.
So, regardless of whether anyone believes a covered race track will ever be built in Trumbull County, if it is, it should get at least as much from the states as a suburban Cleveland soccer stadium.
In the United States, auto racing draws more spectators than professional soccer by a factor of, oh, maybe 100 to one. Which is not a rap on soccer, it's just a recognition of the popularity of auto racing as a sport in this country.
And that popularity should be acknowledged by the Ohio General Assembly.
In recent years, bills or amendments sponsored by Democrats have not fared particularly well in Columbus.
But with NASCAR Dads replacing Soccer Moms as the demographic most ardently wooed by politicians of all stripes, it's hard to image the Republicans showing anything but a healthy respect for auto racing.