NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. says "YES" to a track in Washingotn State!!!

In a recent trip to Washington State for fan appreciation NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked the same question over and over by NASCAR fans " Will there be a track in Washington State and would you want to race here?" Dale Earnhardt Jr. driver of the number 8 Budweiser Chevy, son of one of racings most successful and popular driver's answered "Yes". The Paramount theatre was sold out the night Dale Earnhardt Jr. came to town. The following is an interview conducted by a Seattle Times reporter.

"I think it would work here," said Earnhardt, currently fourth in NASCAR's Nextel Cup points standings, one place behind Enumclaw, Wash.'s Kasey Kahne."

I don't see why not."Voted his sport's most popular driver in each of the last three years, Earnhardt took part in a "One Night Stand" event before a few thousand race fans Thursday at The Paramount Theatre. He flew from his home in Charlotte, N.C., to Seattle in the afternoon, then flew on a private jet a few hours later to Sonoma, Calif., to race in this weekend's Dodge/Save Mart 350.

Brian Eaton, public relations coordinator for Earnhardt's tour that began a few years ago, said the Seattle event was the first in an area lacking a NASCAR track. Eaton's said the sport's research shows the Pacific Northwest is filled with NASCAR followers.Yet the nearest NASCAR site is 800 miles south, Sonoma's Infineon Raceway.

That's another reason Earnhardt was signing autographs, conducting a press conference and answering Seattle-area fans' questions amid a rock concert.Marty Smith, a columnist for NASCAR.com, said the Seattle-Tacoma market and New York City "are the two places where this sport and the brass that run it want to be.

"They are making a considerable effort to see that happens," Smith said."This is the one corner of the country that we have not penetrated and it's time to do it. I know they're making a concerted push to do it."

"People don't just build tracks because the area looks good or the land's cheap or it's a big city," he said. "People build tracks because the fans call and write and complain enough to build one. No way gets this done if the fans aren't vocal about it. That's what's going to make or break the decision."That decision may come during the state's 2007 legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.

"Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle (of Vancouver, Wash.) have been successful and have a huge fan following. It's the 13th largest media market. It's a very attractive market. I think the NASCAR drivers are interested to racing there with such beautiful backdrops."Count Earnhardt among them."I think that there's enough commitment there, but you can't guess on such an expensive investment. So the fans really have to be heard," Earnhardt said. "It'd be cool to have another race track on the circuit. Washington would be a great opportunity."