Is the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway getting demolished?

The track has been working hard behind the scenes for the return of top-tier racing.

Is the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway getting demolished?

SRX race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (Via nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing)

A recent proposal has surfaced in Nashville calling for the demolition of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as part of a massive $100 million renovation. If the proposal gets the green flag the 0.596-mile paved oval, which has once hosted some of the iconic moments of NASCAR history, will be a thing of the past.

Fairgrounds Preservation Partners, a local music organization, wants a renovation project at the property. The proposal asks for the track to be demolished and turned into a green space that has additional housing and a rehearsal area for local artists. It also proposes a drag race track for electric car competitions.

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The $100 million funding plan for the public property includes a split in expenses between the State and the Metro Sports Authority. $17 million is expected to come from the state, and another $17 million from Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Rest of the funding will come from Metro Sports Authority revenue bonds. It will be paid back by diverted sales tax revenue.

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The track hasn’t hosted a NASCAR Cup race since 1984. Xfinity and Truck Series also stopped visiting the track in 2000. Currently is hosting Tony Stewart’s SRX Series races, the ARCA Mendes Series races, and the Super Late Model races. Efforts to bring back the Cup races back to the track is currently underway.

Richard Petty has recently called for NASCAR’s return to the track

Seven times Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty at Nashville advocated for the return the top-tier Stock Car racing to the track. He wants to see the same rejuvenation North Wilkesboro got at Nashville.

Richard Petty (Via IMAGO)
Richard Petty (Via IMAGO)

Petty, who is the most successful driver at the track, wants the track to be featured in the Cup not just because of its heritage but also because it has a special place in the heart. His grandfather Lee Petty, son Kyle Petty, and late grandson Adam Petty have raced in the circuit, making it one of the few circuits.

I would like to see NASCAR come back here like it came back to Wilkesboro (North Carolina) to show the history to people that this is where it all started. I mean they wouldn’t have that big race track on the other side of town (Nashville Superspeedway) if it hadn’t been for this race track here. It took tracks like this to nurture NASCAR into growing into what it has become.
Petty told THE TENNESSEAN.

The entire NASCAR nation would’ve loved to see the track return to the track, one of the tracks that aided the growth of the sport. Demolishing it will be a disservice to the racing fans and the preservation of Motorsports history should be the priority.

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