The Industrial Development Board of the counties of Cumberland, Morgan and Roane approved a letter of intent from Rusty Bittle to purchase nearly 800 acres of land in the plateau industrial site for a motorsports park. The area is located in Cumberland County off of the Westel Road exit of I-40.

This is the same motorsports park that was proposed for the Horizon Center in Anderson County but did not move forward.

Bittle owns Flatrock, USA, and the preliminary plans call for a range from 4 to 6 miles of track for high performance driving events.

Kevin Clayton and William T. “Teddy” Phillips Jr. are also investors in the park. Clayton is the CEO of Clayton Homes. Phillips is the CEO of Phillips & Jordan, a heavy/civil infrastructure contractor headquartered in Knox County.

The motorsports park will be designed by Tilke Engineers & Architects, who has built Fuji International Speedway and Atlanta Motorsports Park.

The planned motorsports park would have a road course suitable for FIA (Federation Internationale de L’Automobile) sanctioned events, such as Formula E, Indy Car, IMSA, NASA (National Auto Sports Association) and other sanctioning bodies. It will also feature hospitality suites, meeting space for training and orientation, rooftop viewing, private garages, and an FIA certified kart track for public use.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place later this year. The motorsports park is projected to be completed in phases with the first as early as next summer.