Truex welcomes another shot at the Daytona 500, this one in the No. 56 his late father drove
It was a resounding yes from Tricon Garage, and the decision has become even more special for Truex in the weeks since.
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NBC News
9 hours ago
- NBC News
Data center developer backs off $30 billion plans for Dale Earnhardt widow's property
A Denver-based company proposing a $30 billion data center on land owned by the widow of NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt in rural Mooresville, North Carolina, will not move forward with the project, a city official and an engineer representing the company said Wednesday. The proposal had drawn intense community backlash, including from Earnhardt's eldest son. For months, developers with Tract had said they wanted to build a data center campus in Mooresville, about 30 miles outside of Charlotte. Many residents pushed back against the proposal, citing concerns about the future facility's water and electricity usage. Others viewed the project as an encroachment on the area's close-knit feel. Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney said in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon that Tract developers had withdrawn their proposal. Dan Brewer, an engineer representing Tract, confirmed that he had withdrawn a request for a rezoning that was needed to move the project forward. The city's commissioners had been scheduled to vote on the rezoning next month. 'My client is Tract, I was instructed to withdraw it and that's what I did,' Brewer said in a phone interview. 'That's the only comment I have.' Representatives for Tract, which had pitched the project as a boon for local tax revenue, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Tract spokesperson said last week in a statement to The Charlotte Observer that the company was 'both disappointed and surprised' by the mayor's previous comments indicating he no longer supported the project. Earnhardt was killed in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. When he wasn't at the racetrack, he was an avid outdoorsman, and neighbors said he used the North Carolina property at the center of the recent battle for hunting and fishing. Teresa Earnhardt, who married Dale Earnhardt in 1982, began asking city officials to rezone 400 acres of that land for a data center last fall. She didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt's eldest son, blasted efforts to rezone the property on social media recently, saying his father 'would be livid for his name to be associated' with the project. At an Aug. 4 meeting, roughly 200 residents showed up, many in protest of the pending rezoning. Several of them, including Kerry Earnhardt's wife, René, urged commissioners to halt the project. Kerry and René Earnhardt posted a YouTube video Wednesday detailing their opposition to the data center. Kerry Earnhardt recalled dove hunting with his father on the property, and added that he felt compelled to speak up on behalf of his neighbors. 'The bottom line is this project does not belong where they're trying to put it,' he said. While the White House embraces data centers as critical infrastructure in the global artificial intelligence race, in a growing number of communities they're not welcome. Wednesday's announcement makes Mooresville the latest city where developers have either backed off their plans for a data center, or had their plans for a data center voted down by local leaders amid public backlash. Last week, officials in Tucson, Arizona, rejected a proposed Amazon data center. Kerry Pennell, who ordered yard signs for the campaign opposing the Mooresville project, cheered Wednesday's withdrawal. 'AI and data centers are an important part of the world we live in today, but we really need to figure out their proper place in this country,' she said. 'We can't just take rural residential land and destroy it forever.' Late last week, Carney, the mayor, cast doubts on the project's prospects because Tract hadn't said which tech company would ultimately use the facility once it was built. 'There is no request to postpone — this is a full withdrawal,' Carney wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. The mayor added that there are no other 'active' requests for a data center in Mooresville. For Donna Jones, who lives about a half mile from the proposed Mooresville site, Wednesday's retreat felt like a victory. But she's remaining vigilant — and urges her neighbors to hold onto their anti-data center lawn signs 'in the event that something else comes along.' 'You just never know what they're going to plan for the future,' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt's Widow Battles His Son Over $30 Billion Data Center Plan on His Former N.C. Land — 'Dad Would Be Livid'
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. When Dale Earnhardt, the NASCAR champion known as "The Intimidator," died in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, the sport lost more than a driver—it lost a symbol of grit, rural pride, and Southern determination. Away from the track, Earnhardt's refuge was hundreds of wooded acres in Mooresville, North Carolina, where he hunted, fished, and spent time far from the roar of an engine. Today, that same land is at the center of a bitter family and community dispute. Teresa Earnhardt, Dale's widow and stepmother to his children, controls the property through Earnhardt Farms LLC. Public records show she owns around 400 acres of what was once her late husband's private escape. Over the years, Teresa became the primary steward of much of Dale's estate, a position that has sometimes caused friction within the family. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Now, she's asking the Mooresville Board of Commissioners to rezone the property from residential-agricultural to industrial use. The change would clear the way for Denver-based developer Tract to build the Mooresville Technology Park, a massive data center campus with a projected investment topping $30 billion over the next two decades. That figure includes land preparation, construction, infrastructure, utilities, and technology upgrades. Supporters of the plan point to big economic gains. During a presentation to the board, Tract Senior Director, Entitlements Kristin Dean said the Mooresville Technology Park would create 277 "recession-resistant" jobs, 195 of them paying more than $125,000 a year. She also estimated it would "generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for Mooresville, Iredell County, and local public schools over 20 years." Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a ? But while developers painted a picture of economic windfalls, Kerry Earnhardt, Dale's eldest son, saw something entirely different. In a late-July Facebook post, referring to a Charlotte Observer headline about the meeting that mentioned his father's name, he wrote: "My Dad would be livid for his name to be associated in this title! Frankly, I'm ashamed our family name is involved in the request to rezone a community that is thriving as a Rural Residential/Agriculture zone to be changed to Industrial. "Infrastructures like this don't belong in neighborhoods where people's natural resources will be depleted, wildlife will be uprooted, and the landscape and lives of the people that call this area home will forever be changed. I'd rather see homes built with people loving the land we live on... the way this area was intended to be! "I look forward to Monday's meeting at the Mooresville Town Hall." The post quickly spread among locals opposed to the rezoning, many echoing his concerns about the project's potential to upend the area's character. "No Data Center" signs now line rural roads near the property. Residents warn the project could permanently alter the area's character, increase traffic, and damage property Mayor Chris Carney shares some of those concerns. He told the Observer it's difficult to support the rezoning without knowing who would operate the facility—whether that's a tech giant such as Apple, Amazon, or Google. He added that if the board were split 3-3, he would likely vote "no." "So we, as a group, have had a really hard time with that, and I just can't imagine anybody voting yes without the answer," Carney said. At a recent board meeting, voices from the community made their stance clear. According to NBC News, Former NASCAR engineer H.A. Mergen told commissioners, "This land is Dale's legacy—make no mistake about it. I believe we all know what Dale would want his legacy to be." Donna Jones, who lives half a mile from the site, asked, "Who's going to want to buy or build a house next to a data center?" For supporters, the proposal is a chance to bring high-paying jobs and lasting tax revenue to Mooresville. For opponents, it's an irreversible break from the quiet, open space Dale Earnhardt valued in life. The Mooresville Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing in September before making its decision. That single vote will determine whether the late NASCAR legend's onetime sanctuary becomes one of North Carolina's largest tech developments—or remains a stretch of countryside tied to his legacy. Read Next: Have $100k+ to invest? Charlie Munger says that's the toughest milestone — don't stall now. Image: Shutterstock This article NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt's Widow Battles His Son Over $30 Billion Data Center Plan on His Former N.C. Land — 'Dad Would Be Livid' originally appeared on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Connor Zilisch injury update: NASCAR driver falls after winning Xfinity Series race
Connor Zilisch's celebration of his NASCAR Xfinity Series win on Saturday, Aug. 9, quickly turned into a scary moment. While in Victory Lane following the Mission 200 at The Glen, the 19-year-old JR Motorsports driver placed his right foot on the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet and his left foot on the window. He then appeared to lose his balance, with his left foot getting caught inside his car and twisting as he fell hard to the pavement. Zilisch did not immediately move. Medical personnel put him on a backboard and loaded him into an ambulance. He was transported to the infield care center before being moved to a local hospital for further evaluation. It was later determined he broke his collarbone. Connor Zilisch injury update Zilisch was released from the hospital Saturday evening. He offered his own update on social media. At Watkins Glen, he earned his sixth victory of the season. He remains one of NASCAR's most talented prospects and is expected to jump to the Cup Series full-time next season. Zilisch was scheduled to run the Cup Series' Go Bowling at The Glen for Trackhouse Racing on Sunday. He qualified 25th early Saturday afternoon. But Trackhouse released a statement Saturday night announcing it was withdrawing Zilisch's entry. Each car on the inside row that lined up behind Zilisch will move up a row. (This story was updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Connor Zilisch falls after winning NASCAR Xfinity race: Injury update
