Topeka ? A partnership hoping to build a casino in Kansas City, Kan., is expected to clear its final regulatory hurdle this week.

The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled Friday to consider a background report on Kansas Entertainment LLC. It wants to build the casino at Kansas Speedway, a NASCAR track in the Kansas City area.

If the commission approves the background report as anticipated, Kansas Entertainment can go ahead with the $521 million project.

Both the Kansas Lottery and a separate casino selection board have signed off on the project.

Kansas Entertainment is a venture of the track’s parent company, International Speedway Corp., and Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming Inc. They hope to open the casino early in 2012.