House Bill 2062 -- aka the NASCAR bill -- will finally get a hearing today, and we sincerely hope it crashes and burns. And no, this wish has nothing to do with any sort of high brow, Seattle snobbery.

The request that Washington state kick in millions in public funding (as much as $145 million) for a professional motor-sports track while letting the International Speedway Corp. off the hook for forest land compensation taxes is a huge concern. It seems the bill's backers are willing to let some important things slide in an effort to bring us NASCAR, which Lt. Gov. Brad Owen has compared to "bringing two Super Bowls" to Kitsap County. Sure, bringing the loud, polluting 83,000-seat NASCAR track might be an economic boost, but at what expense? And, all this work and expense for two races a year? Is it worth it to protect the serenity and beauty of an area in exchange for more jobs? And why is it that a fat-cat entity such as the ISC, which for this fiscal year expects to earn close to $820 million (never mind the billions it is projected to earn in broadcast agreements), requires public funding?

We really don't see why the Legislature should invoke the emergency clause attached to HB2062, which states that the "act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government," rushing the measure into effect by July. What's the rush?

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