David Fox Endorsed By Race Car Drivers Darrell Waltrip, Sterling Marlin

Mayoral candidate David Fox gained endorsements today from two prominent race car drivers who support his vision for repairing the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

Darrell Waltrip said he was impressed with Fox’s understanding of the role of the racetrack in city history, as well as his desire to repair it instead of getting rid of it. Nashville voters voiced the same preference for the racetrack in a 2011 referendum.

“I was really, really excited and enthused when David said that we don’t want to remove it, we don’t want to replace it, we want to repair it and make it better,” Waltrip said.

Waltrip also read a statement from driver Sterling Marlin. Both live outside of Nashville, but Waltrip explained the importance of the city to the region.

“This is the mothership. And if Nashville’s healthy, Nashville’s strong, and Nashville is being managed properly, that’s good for everybody,” he said.

The announcement was made in front of a Fox-themed race car on 2nd Avenue and included speedway president 
Tony Formosa.

“What was so impressive to me about David was that all the things that I wanted to tell him, he already knew,
” Formosa
 said. 
“
We all know, over the past five years, the fairgrounds has been a roller coaster ride.
“

Fox did not commit to a specific plan or funding amount but said he would work with experts and the community to chart a path forward, calling it a “fun
“ 
issue to address, since Nashville voters backed it so fervently.

Within an hour, the fairgrounds surfaced again in a candidate debate hosted by the Rotary Club of Nashville. Given the chance to question one another, Fox asked Barry why she voted to tear down the racetrack.

Barry said her thinking at the time was that the racetrack could become a suitable piece of land to attract businesses to the city.

Now, she said, she would carry out what the voters want.

“That facility needs some upgrades. Now that the voters have spoken, that’s what a mayor does. You say, ‘Voters have spoken, now we’re going to implement what voters want.’ “

Fox also has the support of the Save Our Fairgrounds group. 
Barry secured the endorsement of the Fairgrounds Vendors Association.