A public hearing between the Loudon Zoning Board and New Hampshire Motor Speedway scheduled for Thursday has been postponed to July 27.
The track is applying for a special exception that would allow music concerts to be held on the speedway’s 1,200 acres along Route 106 in Loudon. NHMS also seeks a variance from the town to allow for overnight camping during concerts.
The hearing was postponed as NHMS organizes its filing with the town, according to speedway officials.
“We had a couple filing questions that we needed to get in order before we go to the zoning board,” NHMS Communications Director Kristen Lestock wrote in an email.
The speedway is pursuing new avenues of entertainment at its facility since losing its fall NASCAR race to Las Vegas beginning in 2018. In December, NHMS General Manager David McGrath submitted a letter of intent to host a country music festival in the summer.
A group of residents from Loudon and neighboring towns have come together under the name “Keep Track of the Agreement,” referencing a 1989 agreement between the town, the speedway and abutters that restrict track activity to only involve racing.
Supporters of the track’s plan say a music festival will benefit local businesses that depend on the NASCAR races to bring thousands of people to the area.