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When Dale Earnhardt<\/strong>, the NASCAR champion known as “The Intimidator,” died in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, the sport lost more than a driver\u2014it lost a symbol of grit, rural pride, and Southern determination. Away from the track, Earnhardt’s refuge was hundreds of wooded acres in Mooresville, North Carolina, where he hunted, fished, and spent time far from the roar of an engine.<\/p>\n Today, that same land is at the center of a bitter family and community dispute. Teresa Earnhardt<\/strong>, Dale’s widow and stepmother to his children, controls the property<\/a> through Earnhardt Farms LLC<\/strong>. Public records show she owns around 400 acres of what was once her late husband’s private escape. Over the years, Teresa became the primary steward of much of Dale’s estate, a position that has sometimes caused friction within the family.<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, she’s asking the Mooresville Board of Commissioners to rezone the property from residential-agricultural to industrial use. The change would clear the way for Denver-based developer Tract<\/strong><\/a> to build the Mooresville Technology Park, a massive data center campus with a projected investment topping $30 billion over the next two decades. That figure includes land preparation, construction, infrastructure, utilities, and technology upgrades.<\/p>\n Supporters of the plan point to big economic gains. During a presentation to the board, Tract Senior Director, Entitlements Kristin Dean<\/strong> said the Mooresville Technology Park would create 277 “recession-resistant” jobs, 195 of them paying more than $125,000 a year. She also estimated<\/a> it would “generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for Mooresville, Iredell County, and local public schools over 20 years.”<\/p>\n Trending: <\/strong>If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it<\/strong><\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\n But while developers painted a picture of economic windfalls, Kerry Earnhardt<\/strong>, Dale’s eldest son, saw something entirely different. In a late-July Facebook post<\/a>, referring to a Charlotte Observer headline<\/a> about the meeting that mentioned his father’s name, he wrote:<\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n “My Dad would be livid for his name to be associated in this title! Frankly, I’m ashamed our family name is involved in the request to rezone a community that is thriving as a Rural Residential\/Agriculture zone to be changed to Industrial.<\/p>\n “Infrastructures like this don’t belong in neighborhoods where people’s natural resources will be depleted, wildlife will be uprooted, and the landscape and lives of the people<\/a> that call this area home will forever be changed. I’d rather see homes built with people loving the land we live on… the way this area was intended to be!<\/p>\n “I look forward to Monday’s meeting at the Mooresville Town Hall.”<\/p>\n The post quickly spread among locals opposed to the rezoning, many echoing his concerns about the project’s potential to upend the area’s character.<\/p>\n “No Data Center” signs now line rural roads near the property. Residents warn the project could permanently alter the area’s character, increase traffic, and damage property values.<\/p>\n See Also: In a $34 Trillion Debt Era, The Right AI Could Be Your Financial Advantage \u2014 Get Your Demo<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney<\/strong> shares some of those concerns. He told the Observer<\/a>\u00a0 it’s difficult to support the rezoning without knowing who would operate the facility\u2014whether that’s a tech giant such as Apple, Amazon, or Google. He added that if the board were split 3-3, he would likely vote “no.” “So we, as a group, have had a really hard time with that, and I just can’t imagine anybody voting yes without the answer,” Carney said.<\/p>\n At a recent board meeting, voices from the community made their stance clear. According to NBC News<\/a>, Former NASCAR engineer H.A. Mergen<\/strong> told commissioners, “This land is Dale’s legacy\u2014make no mistake about it. I believe we all know what Dale would want his legacy to be.” Donna Jones<\/strong>, who lives half a mile from the site, asked, “Who’s going to want to buy or build a house next to a data center?”<\/p>\n For supporters, the proposal is a chance to bring high-paying jobs and lasting tax revenue to Mooresville. For opponents, it’s an irreversible break from the quiet, open space Dale Earnhardt valued in life.<\/p>\n The Mooresville Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing in September<\/a> before making its decision. That single vote will determine whether the late NASCAR legend’s onetime sanctuary becomes one of North Carolina’s largest tech developments\u2014or remains a stretch of countryside tied to his legacy.<\/p>\n Read Next: Have $100k+ to invest? Charlie Munger says that’s the toughest milestone \u2014 don’t stall now. Get matched with a fiduciary advisor and keep building<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/strong><\/p>\n This article NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt’s Widow Battles His Son Over $30 Billion Data Center Plan on His Former N.C. Land \u2014 ‘Dad Would Be Livid’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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