Business View Magazine | February 2020

183 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020 TOWN OF BROWNSBURG, INDI ANA The town annexed Ronald Reagan Parkway in 2011, and in 2012 expanded the municipality’s Tax Increment Financing District to include 2,143 acres around the parkway to secure future commercial development. Brownsburg’s comprehensive plan calls for land along the parkway to be used for warehouses, office campuses, hotels, restaurants, and other retail development. In fact, in June 2019, ecommerce technology and operations leader, Radial, opened a 700,000-sq.-ft. fulfillment center that will employ 2,000 workers. The developer had the building under construction and actually leased it before completion. Undoubtedly, the motor racing community is a driving force behind Brownsburg’s economic growth. From racing parts, to racing development, to race teams, along with a good number of related companies coming in to support that industry. According to Eder, “With regard to the support industries for the motorsports sector, the very precise Brownsburg has a rich racing heritage and is home to a thriving motorsports industry. The National Hot Rod Association’s Lucas Oil Raceway (built in 1960) is Hendricks County’s top tourist destination. Its drag strip hosts the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals, known as the most prestigious drag race in the world. A number of open wheel and stock car series compete on Lucas Oil Raceway’s oval track and it’s a popular location for hot rod and custom car shows. Several open wheel “hall of fame” racers call Brownsburg their hometown, including Duane “Pancho” Carter, Steve “Big Bopper” Stapp, Joe Saldana and the late Larry Rice and Robbie Stanley. Some of today’s top pro racers, including NHRA champions Antron Brown, Eddie Krawiec and Cruz Pedregon, choose Brownsburg for their families. Thanks to the town’s quality of life, affordability, central location, and easy access to transportation many professional racing teams are headquartered in Brownsburg. Supporting motorsports businesses also make their home here. And, because Brownsburg is central to the North American racing community, Honda Performance Development put a state-of-the- art driving simulator here. Race teams currently in Brownsburg include: • Don Schumacher Racing (NHRA) • John Force Racing (NHRA) • Rahal Letterman Lanigan (INDYCAR/sports cars) • Wayne Taylor Racing (sports cars) • Bryan Herta Autosport (INDYCAR/sports cars) • Tony Stewart Racing (open wheel) RACING TO THE TOP