Oct. 05, 2021
MARION CENTER –– In an effort to raise awareness of the tremendous economic impact attributable to Pennsylvania motorsports, Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) had the privilege of competing in a Side-by-Side race at Marion Center Raceway on Saturday evening, Oct 2.
“I had a lot of fun racing in front of a hometown crowd and I am greatly looking forward to competing again in 2022,” said Smith, who also serves as a member of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee. “The far-reaching local, regional, statewide and national impact of competitive motorsports is without question a powerful and winning economic engine contributing $2.5 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy.”
Smith raced his personal Polaris RZR 1000XP, Side-by-Side, #66 (for the 66th Legislative District) and finished in fourth place—a very clean and respectable finish for a first-time competitor. Marion Center Raceway reopened for the 2021 season and added the Side-by-Side and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) category to the successful dirt track facility’s final race of the season.
In addition to the $2.5 billion in statewide economic impact, previously referenced by Smith, a recent study completed by the Motorsports Council of Pennsylvania (MCP) also confirmed more than 21,000 racing-supported jobs (direct and indirect) in Pennsylvania and more than 5,000 race teams, which can also be viewed as small businesses, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue each year.
Hitting closer to home, Marion Center Raceway has an estimated impact of $20 million on the local economy. Later in the evening, Smith addressed race fans over the public address system and welcomed division winners to Victory Lane with a photo and handshake.
“Many thanks to track owner Randy Reitz, operator Gale Huey and Robert Johnson, Motorsports Council of Pennsylvania for making this exciting racing opportunity possible,” said Smith. “My family has deep roots here at Marion Center Raceway. I have been coming here since childhood to watch weekly racing action. Tracks like Marion Center are extremely important for delivering family-affordable entertainment and are, again, major economic drivers for our communities and the Commonwealth.”
Representative Brian Smith
66th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ty McCauslin
717.772.9979
RepSmith.com /
Facebook.com/RepBrianSmith
In an effort to raise awareness of the tremendous economic impact attributable to Pennsylvania motorsports, Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) had the privilege of competing in a Side-by-Side race at Marion Center Raceway on Saturday evening, Oct 2. Smith raced his personal Polaris RZR 1000XP, Side by Side, #66 and finished in fourth placeāa very clean and respectable finish for a first-time competitor.