COMMERCE CITY - If this were a poker game, it seems there would be only one player at the table.

All of the noise around a possible NASCAR track in the Denver area has come from Commerce City, since International Speedway Corp. announced interest last month in building one there or in Aurora.

ISC representatives insist that both cities are equally in the running. But with six weeks to go before the ISC reportedly says it will show its hand, negotiations in Aurora are proceeding extremely quietly and without any fanfare.

One obstacle in Aurora's way is a charter amendment that requires the city to get voter approval for any financial incentives going to a racetrack.

That hurdle doesn't exist in Commerce City, although city officials came close to erecting one. Last month, the City Council voted 5-4 against asking voters in this April's city election whether the city should even consider ISC's eventual proposal.

Since then, Commerce City officials have met at least twice with ISC representatives, who told the city privately last week that they would like to be racing in the region by 2011.

Acting Assistant City Manager Roger Tinklenberg briefed the council on the latest development in a memo Monday.

"This is a hyper-political situation right now," he said before the meeting.

On Monday night, the City Council voted to table any further discussion on NASCAR until after the April 3 election, when four council seats and the mayor's job are up for a vote.

"I have this feeling there may be a change in direction from the whole council," said Councilman Paul Natale.

According to an earlier internal memo, the ISC told Tinklenberg on March 6 that it wanted to choose between Commerce City and Aurora within 60 days.

The company envisions a $360 million to $400 million track and stadium with capacity for 75,000 to 80,000 fans. The facility would include a large oval track with a race course inside it.

About 90 people turned out for Monday night's meeting, including 13 who wanted to speak about NASCAR. They left frustrated, after the council announced it would not be taking any more testimony on the matter for now.

"There is no proposal for a board decision," Mayor Sean Ford told the audience. "Everybody's getting worked up without there being something there."

Jason McEldowney, who moved to the Reunion development two years ago, is among those protesting the possible track. "We're absolutely fearful of something that size being close to homes," he said.

McEldowney questioned why candidates are being so reluctant to talk about the issue at public forums. City Attorney Bob Gehler told McEldowney he had advised council candidates to be circumspect because they may have to sit in judgment someday of any zoning application on the track. If they take a strong position either way, their ability to give the track a fair hearing could be called into question, he said.

McEldowney countered that the effect of such advice is interfering with the democratic process on one of the city's hottest issues.

Meanwhile, talk about a track in Aurora, by comparison, has been muted. No one has even brought up the topic at a City Council meeting. "We think it could be a terrific amenity," said Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer, who has met with ISC's lawyer.

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059 Staff writer John C. Ensslin contributed to this report.