INDUSTRY: Monterey County chooses Friends of Laguna Seca group

Monterey County's board of supervisors has chosen the newly formed "Friends of Laguna Seca" (FLS) group to enter negotiations that could lead to its long-term control of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the surrounding property that contains the famed road course.

The decision comes after a busy year where there board sought proposals for a new management and concession agreement that would increase revenue while revitalizing the aging facility. Of the three parties that were considered for the job, the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) – Laguna Seca's one and only concessionaire since its formation in 1957 – joined forces with NASCAR's International Speedway Corporation, the Chris Pook-led World Automotive Championship of California, and FLS made presentations to the board.

FLS, the only non-profit group, will enter the next phase of the process where it will negotiate with the county to create a concession agreement. The completion of that process hinges upon both sides creating an acceptable contract and, according to a statement provided by the county, SCRAMP+ISC and WACC have not been ruled out from further negotiations.

"A final decision on a concession will depend on the ability to reach mutually agreeable terms, and require Board of Supervisors approval in a public session," it wrote in a statement published by the Monterey Herald. "While initially the county will negotiate with Friends of Laguna Seca, all other potential candidates are still seen as viable candidates."