If you think getting the Adirondack International Speedway open again is easy, you'd be wrong.
While the New Bremen raceway is inching closer to operating, its owners are faced with a complicated problem. One that has to do with money.
"It's a political mess at this point," said Jack Bush, who chairs the Lewis County legislature.
"We're waiting for a decision from a Supreme Court justice in Albany County and hopefully this whole mess will be straightened out," Bush said.
It all goes back to a $500,000 grant the track received from the state while the track was first being constructed.
There have been questions about whether or not the speedway should have even received this money and the courts are involved.
Bush says the state wanted that grant money back from track owner Paul Lyndaker.
"The state at that point in time wanted Lyndaker to repay them, which I think he has done," Bush said. "Mr. Lyndaker feels he should get that $200,000 back."
But Lyndaker says that's not a deal breaker.
"Do I want it back? It would sure give us a heck of a boost. Will we get it back? That's up to the legislators," Lyndaker said.
Lyndaker said Tuesday his attorney talked with Lewis County attorney Rich Graham and a state judge about clearing up the problem and says he's hopeful everything will be ironed out.
"I think all is going to be solved and everybody is going to walk away from the table happy and pleased," Lyndaker said.
"We wish Mr. Lyndaker all the best," Bush said, "and the county would like to just have all this stuff thrown out the window and go on with life."
Just recently, the speedway cleared up problems with a property assessment at the town level.
If everything is cleared up at the state and county levels, Lyndaker plans on reopening the track by 2013.
