more than $22 million is being gener-
ated by the trails in the local economy,
and it is supporting over 200 new jobs.
The past 16 years have seen the opening
of more than 40 new lodging businesses
and campgrounds around the trails. These
businesses, along with ancillary businesses
such as restaurants, ATV rental compa-
nies, kayak rental companies and moon-
shine distilleries, now dot the landscape
surrounding the trails and have created
a true tourist destination for trail riders.
The future looks bright for tourism
development on the trails, with six more
projects in design or under construc-
tion that will open new trails in Boone,
McDowell, Lincoln, Kanawha, Wayne
and Wyoming counties. These projects,
when complete, will connect the towns
of Chesapeake, Danville, Gary, Madison,
Oceana, War and Welch to the trails.
The success of the trails has not gone
unnoticed at the national level. In 2016,
the Appalachian Regional Commission
(ARC) granted funding to help business-
es develop along the trails. This grant,
coupled with an ARC grant to the Natural
Capital Investment Fund, will provide
business coaching, small business training
and risk capital to entrepreneurs develop-
ing businesses to support the trail system.
The growth of the trail system and the
entrepreneurial opportunities it provides
are enormous. It continues to exceed all
expectations and is serving as an engine
for tourism growth and entrepreneurship.
Racer Productions
BY PARWEEN MASCARI . Since the first
Blackwater 100 in Tucker County, WV,
in the 1970s, professional motorsports
have proven to be a multi-million-dollar
industry in West Virginia. Today, Racer
Productions, headquartered in Morgan-
town, leads the charge in professional mo-
torsports, driving the growth and success
of the industry in the state.
The Coombs family, the leaders behind
Racer Productions, has a long history in
professional motorsports. Former pro rider
Davey Coombs is the son of Rita Coombs,
known as the matriarch of motocross,
and Big Dave Coombs, who founded the
National Promoters Group in the 1970s,
as well as The Racing Paper 20 years ago
and its spinoff, RacerX magazine. Davey’s
A health coach with
you every step of the
way is #LivingProof.
Cortne was at risk for diabetes. So Highmark health coach
Stephanie put her on a plan. So far, she’s helped Cortne lose 50
pounds. And to help Cortne on her path to better health, she
calls regularly and even meets her every month for a walk.
Living Proof of the difference you can make, when you’re
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86
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
sister, Carrie, is the country’s most in-
fluential woman in motorcycle racing.
In addition to the magazine, Racer TV
and a huge social media presence, the
family owns and promotes multiple pro-
fessional races and two professional racing
series—The AMSOIL Grand National
Cross Country (GNCC) Series and Lucas
Oil Pro Motocross—through their pro-
motion company, MX Sports. With races
taking place coast to coast, Racer Pro-
ductions has a nationwide following of
more than 2 million Facebook followers
and 1.5 million followers on Instagram.
According to Davey, the choice to keep
their national headquarters in Morgan-
town is an easy one.
“Growing up, I was lucky enough to
get to travel, and I knew from an early age
how Morgantown stacked up to the rest of
the country,” he says. “The overall sense
of community is something you don’t see
in a lot of other small cities this size, and
the diversity the university brings makes
us stand out even more.”
The economic benefit of having compa-
nies like Racer Productions and MX Sports
headquartered in West Virginia doesn’t end
on the track. The Morgantown Marriott