Southside Speedway has been saved. Racing to return to the Chesterfield County Virginia Short Track
By Julian Austin
March 11th, 2025
Photo from the 2009 Denny Hamlin Charity Event from Taylor Meyn
Competitive Racing Investments LLC plans to bring back racing to Southside Speedway following it's closure in 2020. Chesterfield's Economic Development Authority entered into a 20 year least to purchase aggrement with CRI back in February.
Chesterfield native Lin O'Neill and businessman Jeff Oakley, former Southside Speedway racers with local ties, are behind Competitive Racing Investments, per a news release.
O'Neill was the man behind Save Southside Speedway, a multi-year grassroots coalition that wanted to save the racetrack from demolition, Richmond Magazine reported.
Their lease with the county allows for the track to host other entertainment events, like concerts, the Times-Dispatch reported.
"We recognize Southside Speedway’s importance to many of our residents and its uniqueness as a historic venue that has helped shape the careers of many racing greats,” said Jim Ingle, chair of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “We are doing what local government can to give Competitive Racing Investments every opportunity to successfully reopen and operate the track.”
“We have a lot of work ahead of us and are committed to keeping the community informed with regular updates as we move forward,” Project Manager Jeff Oakley said.
Planned upgrades include resurfacing the track, Grandstand improvements, new infrastructure and and repairing or removing all structures except the track itself and the barriers.
In its 60 years, NASCAR legends like Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin raced on the track, dubbed the "toughest short track in the South."
Chesterfield bought the 41-acre site in 2021 for $4.5 million and put out a request for proposals two years later. Per the Richmond Times Dispatch, the lease allows the facility to host enertainment events such as concerts.