First use establishes property rights, even if neighbors don’t agree. States are formalizing owners’ claims to protect them from “aesthetic interventionism.”

It is important to celebrate victories for economic freedom as they emerge, even when they come in the most peculiar of places. One such place is the racing world.

In October, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed into law HB 926, called the “Right to Race” law. This new measure shields racetracks from noise-related nuisance lawsuits if the facility existed and was permitted before nearby properties were developed. This is an incredible win for economic freedom against NIMBYs demanding to silence roaring engines after making the decision to move next to a racetrack. North Carolina has definitively answered “no” to the question: Should those who knowingly move next to a racetrack be allowed to use the government to quiet it?

As areas around the country redevelop, with rural areas becoming suburbs and suburbs evolving into de facto metropolises, racetracks have found themselves the target of those moving into these newer developments. Racetracks that long predate the existence of these neighbors are facing legal action by the newcomers.

For example, in Tennessee, the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, which first opened in 1904, now faces opposition from residents as the track seeks to renovate in order to lure NASCAR racing back to the facility. Despite being there first, despite the track’s positive economic impact, many tracks find themselves without legal protection from the locals.

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