In a significant win for the racing community, Oregon House Bill (HB) 2738, which aimed to ban the use of leaded fuel at Portland International Raceway (PIR), and thus shut down the race track, is dead. The bill missed a critical legislative deadline and will not advance this year.
Portland International Raceway is unusual in that, according to its website, it is owned by the City of Portland. Drag racing is a huge part of its mission.
Portland International Raceway hosts all kinds of racing: It has a drag strip, a road course, and hosts motorcross, motorcycle road racing and simple Cruise-Ins. Closing the facility would have been a major blow to area enthusiasts.
We recently posted about how Willow Springs International Raceway also dodged a potentially lethal blow. Read about that here.
According to the track’s website, it is owned by the City of Portland and operates in its Department of Parks and Recreation.
In a significant win for the racing community, Oregon House Bill (HB) 2738, which aimed to ban the use of leaded fuel at Portland International Raceway (PIR), and thus shut down the race track, is dead. The bill missed a critical legislative deadline and will not advance this year.
The bill was problematic from the start, according to SEMA, relying on junk science advanced by neighborhood activists seeking to eliminate a local institution. In the end, the grassroots and lobbying efforts of PRI and SEMA generated a groundswell of opposition from motorsports enthusiasts and state lawmakers. These efforts are what delivered this significant victory at a time when race tracks nationwide are at risk of shutting down.
If enacted, HB 2738 would have significantly impacted the historic 63-year-old facility that has hosted an impressive cadre of champion drivers, including Mario and Michael Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi and Álex Palou. Major racing events at PIR, such as those by INDYCAR and NASCAR, generate more than $32 million annually for Portland’s economy.
The racing industry rallied against the bill, with organizations like PRI and SEMA highlighting the minimal environmental impact of leaded fuel emissions at the track and that many racers were already transitioning to alternative fuels.
How It Happened
The bill to shut down PIR was introduced at the start of Oregon’s legislative session, and the racing community’s response to the proposal was swift and robust. PRI and SEMA worked closely with local stakeholders to present a united front. PRI’s members, bolstered by support from the SEMA Action Network, mobilized the motorsports community, raised awareness, and advocated for the interests of racing enthusiasts and businesses.
In its testimony, PRI and SEMA strongly opposed HB 2738, highlighting several key concerns. The letter emphasized that the specialty automotive aftermarket industry generates $3.27 billion in economic impact, supports more than 14,000 jobs, and contributes significantly to Oregon’s state and local tax revenues.
What’s Next
While HB 2738 is dead for this year, the conversation around leaded fuel and its environmental impact is far from over. Portland International Raceway has been in the crosshairs of activists for years, and the motorsports community must remain vigilant and proactive in advocating for their interests. We thank all who engaged on this effort for their unwavering support and advocacy. Their efforts have been pivotal in this ongoing battle to protect the interests of the motorsports community.
