A Lincoln man is looking at Lancaster and two other counties for a site to host national drag races and other motor sports events.

Greg Sanford, owner of Nebraska Motorplex, said he has an option to buy 250 acres just west of the Bluff Road Landfill  and north of Interstate 80.

He said he would need to get the zoning changed to proceed with the project. He also is looking at sites in Cass and Seward counties, he said.

"We're just trying to make sure we come up with a good area," he said.

Nebraska Motorplex, based in Lincoln, has hosted drag racing events near Scribner for years. Sanford said some division races attract as many as 500 cars and 17,000 people over a four-day period.

"We're not saying we would shut that one down," said Sanford. "We would want to build a new facility."

Sanford envisions a motor sports complex that includes a quarter-mile drag strip, a BMX track for bicycles, a skateboard park, a small off-road course for quad runners, and a tractor-pulling track. He said he also is interested in donating some land to the Lincoln Public Schools for a football field.

Sanford said he has been talking with officials in all three counties, and so far Cass County seems to be the most receptive. He said he plans to meet with them today to look at some land. Seward County has three sites that  would work, he said.

"They would really, really like to see it," said Sanford, referring to Cass County.

Sanford said Lancaster County officials are also interested, but they don't seem to be "enthusiastic" about motor sports. He cited Dr. David Samani's uphill battle to locate a motocross track in the Lincoln area as an example.

Samani has twice been turned down by local officials and is now preparing to submit design plans for a site at the Abbott Sports Complex, north of North 70th Street and U.S. 6. Meanwhile, the Lancaster County Attorney has filed a lawsuit against Samani to stop him from operating a practice track on his land near Denton.

"It's just really strange. Dr. Samani has been trying to get his motocross track in, and it's not happening," Sanford said. "It will be a major surprise if it goes in, and I hope it does."

Darl Naumann, aide to the mayor for economic development and a member of a motor sports task force studying the issue of where to locate such facilities in Lancaster County, said the group has met with Sanford but is not close to recommending a site for his project.

"We're still in the mode of doing fiscal analysis for motor sports events which include drag strips, go carts, motocross … and water sports activities," Naumann said.

He said the 12-member task force might have its report completed by the end of January.

Part of the problem, Naumann said, is getting sites that meet the approval of neighbors, environmentalists and sports enthusiasts.

"It's not an easy task to locate something like this," he added.

Asked if there was a bias in Lancaster County against motor sports activities, Naumann replied: "No, I don't think so. The only bias that would exist is being in somebody's backyard."

Sanford said he would like to start construction as soon  as possible and open a facility in 2006.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.