A coalition of neighborhood, environmental and community groups opposing a possible fairgrounds racetrack deal are calling on Mayor Freddie O'Connell and the Metro Council to let voters decide the fate of the embattled property.

Why it matters: There's growing chatter that a deal is close between O'Connell and Speedway Motorsports Inc. to revitalize the racetrack and bring back NASCAR to the fairgrounds.

• The groups plan on releasing a joint statement Wednesday morning calling on city leaders to support a referendum.
• The prospect of revitalizing the track has been stuck in political gridlock for 14 years.

Driving the news: The coalition of opponents includes neighborhood groups (South Nashville Action People and Belmont Hillsboro Neighbors), environmental groups (the Cumberland River Compact and the Southern Environmental Law Center) and community activist organizations (the progressive group NOAH's economic equity, jobs and transportation task force).

• Those groups prefer the property be converted into a park and affordable housing, and for investments to be made in cleaning up Brown's Creek, which runs through the fairgrounds.

Flashback: Opponents pitched a plan two years ago to amend the Metro charter by replacing racing with affordable housing on the list of programming required at fairgrounds.

• That effort stalled after a lawsuit challenged its legality.

Between the lines: The soonest a measure could be on the ballot is 2026.

• There are two routes for Metro charter amendments: A petition drive, which requires thousands of voters to sign on in support, can trigger a ballot measure. Or Metro Council can also pass legislation to send a proposed amendment to voters for approval.

The intrigue: Metro council member Terry Vo, who represents the area, called the fairgrounds a "gem."

• "Nashvillians have been clear: they want more affordable housing, more green space, and more walkable neighborhoods," Vo said in a statement. "That's why I support exploring alternative uses of the speedway site, including the idea of restoring part of it to scenic green space — a place where families can picnic, children can play, and neighbors can come together."

What they're saying: "While our neighborhood's proximity means we may experience the impacts of fairgrounds activities more frequently than others, we also recognize that this land is a public asset for the entire city," SNAP board president Shay Sapp said in a statement. "It should therefore be used in ways that reflect the shared priorities of all Nashvillians."

State of play: Previous Mayor John Cooper struck a deal with Speedway Motorsports in 2023 to essentially build a new racetrack. State law allows the city to use tax revenue generated at the property to help finance a racetrack plan.

• The O'Connell administration and Speedway have been in talks over the last year about the possibility of a new deal.

Friction point: There is a disagreement about where the public stands on the issue. Opponents of the racetrack plan point to polling showing affordable housing and a park are popular alternatives to auto racing. Racing supporters point to their own polling showing public backing for preserving the 121-year-old track.

• In 2011, voters overwhelmingly supported a charter amendment requiring 27 Metro Council votes in support of demolishing the current track.
• The first Titans stadium plan was approved by voters, but the new stadium and the Nashville SC soccer project at the fairgrounds were not.

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Tariffs could push car insurance rates higher by the end of the year, a new projection finds.

Why it matters: The analysis shows one more way that Americans pay for higher tariffs.

The big picture: The nationwide average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance could rise by 7% between June and December if tariffs stay in effect, compared to 4% otherwise, per a new report from insurance-comparison platform Insurify.

• The analysis found cost hikes in Tennessee would be in line with the national average.

Driving the news: Tariffs affect insurance rates by increasing the costs of imported parts needed for repairs.

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🦋 Dolly Parton's autobiographical musical, which is in the midst of a trial run in Nashville, has gone from 210 minutes to two hours as the production team fine tunes the show before heading to Broadway. (Tennessean)

A former Nashville police officer who got fired after authorities said he filmed an Only Fans video on duty was sentenced to probation on a felony official misconduct charge. (CBS News)

🥓 Bacon is king at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair. Variants on hand include chocolate bacon, caramel brown sugar bacon funnel cake and bacon cheddar pizza on sticks. (NewsChannel 5)

• The fair runs through Aug. 23.

Butterlamp, the wine bar and bread bastion that opened a year ago in East Nashville, is making the most of tomato season.

Why it matters: Axios Nashville is always on the hunt for the best ways to eat tomatoes in Music City.

Zoom in: Butterlamp's seasonal bar menu currently features a tempting pile of cherry tomatoes on a slab of toasted sourdough.

💭 Adam's thought bubble: I recently visited Butterlamp for the first time, and I was quickly charmed by the neighborhood bar vibe. And then my food arrived.

• I had the cracked pepper sourdough with cultured butter. It was my favorite bite of the month — by far.
• This tomato tornado could top that. I might save the picture as my desktop background.

📬 Tell us: What is your favorite tomato-forward dish this season?