Speedway Industrial Park lures 12 companies so far

The Shelby Cobra is billed as a car that can go from zero to sixty in four seconds.

The new Speedway Industrial Park, where the Cobras are built, may not be filling up quite as fast. But tenants are signing on rapidly.

Located in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway complex just off I-15 north of Las Vegas, the 40-acre park includes warehouse, office and store front space in 27 buildings. It is part of the $200 million speedway complex developed by casino owners Ralph Englestad of the Imperial Palace and William Bennett of the Sahara.

The first phase of the park is substantially completed. While workers are putting the finishing touches on a few remaining buildings, 18 of the park's 27 units have been leased by 12 companies.

Just as envisioned by its backers, the park's relationship with the speedway has attracted tenants from the automotive industry. The track offers a chance for companies to road test their wares in proximity to their manufacturing operations.

"No place else in the country exists with an industrial park and a one-and-a-half mile speedway," said Ray Stepniak, general manager of the industrial park. "I believe within five years this will be the hub of racing for the country."

Coupled with that is the enticement of Nevada's dry climate, conducive for uninterrupted testing, and the state's often-touted business friendly tax structure.

The result is tenants that include racing teams, auto parts manufacturers and one auto manufacturer, Shelby America Inc., the park's anchor tenant.

Since moving operations there, Shelby America officials say the track has been invaluable.

"Our entire reason for moving there, besides wanting to be in Nevada, was to have the speedway," said Donald Rager, Shelby America president and CEO.

For example, one day last week Ford Motor Co. executives visited to show off new Mustangs with more powerful engines.

"After our meeting, we literally had the capability to take those new concept cars out and test them," Rager said. "We would have never have been able to do that without the track."

Shelby America makes the Shelby Cobra and Series I cars. The operation lured another company that will offer painting services to the car maker.

The track was also a draw for Performance Manufacturing and its sister company, Racer's Supply, to the park from southwestern Colorado. Performance Manufacturing makes parts for dragsters, with Racer's Supply being the arm of the company that sells the parts.

"The complex is what caused us to make the decision (to move here)," said Don Cobb, who owns the business along with son, Daron.

The business is in the early stages of setting up shop and Cobb expects the site to be operational by mid-October.

Other early tenants include an Indy Racing League team, Zali Racing, whose owner, Eric Zimmerman, will operate a deli in the front of a building with a garage for the race team in the back. Stepniak said he has also had contacts with a "major manufacturer," though he declined to identify the company.

"If it has wheels, it's welcomed here," Stepniak said.

The buildings are particularly tailored for garages and warehousing, with 26-foot high ceilings and sky lights. Sizes range from 2,500 square feet to 130,000 square feet.

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