The 2025 state budget spends $200,000 on traffic control at Michigan International Speedway, and a prominent policy advocate is raising red flags. “These dollars are going in the wrong direction,” John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Responsibility, said in an email to the Michigan Capitol. “This should be a way for NASCAR to compensate taxpayers for the costs the race imposes on the surrounding communities, not the other way around.”State Police will provide traffic control services as fans exit the highway. Visitors pay an entrance fee, but Michigan taxpayers foot the bill to direct traffic for up to 125,000 people leaving the highway. According to Mozena, an event held in a quiet rural area would result in major traffic disruption and the National Motor Racing Association would have to foot the bill for traffic control.
“Last year, NASCAR collected approximately $425 million in sponsorships from the world’s largest corporations and is soon on track to sign billions of dollars worth of new television broadcast deals,” Mozena wrote. “This $200,000 from Michigan taxpayers is meaningless to NASCAR’s bottom line, and even if lawmakers incorporate this benefit into the state budget, it should be a red flag for taxpayers at risk.” Mike McCabe, a retired deputy, worked for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for more than 44 years after graduating from Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice in 1977. McCabe said taxpayers should not have to pay overtime for the track. “For example, we do not subsidize overtime for reps working at Pine Knob Music Theatre,” McCabe wrote for CapCon. “The Illich family pays all the overtime there.”
A state budget review found that taxpayers also paid for traffic control in 2007. When Detroit held the 2024 NFL Draft, approximately 775,000 people attended. John Roach, director of media relations for the Detroit administration, said in an email to the Michigan Capitol that the city has paid for and implemented a public safety strategy. “Detroit’s commitment to safety was at the heart of our successful effort, which ultimately became the largest and most successful NFL project for the league, city and business,” Roach said.
