Sale of property closing Fayetteville
Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway’s closure is imminent with the 500-acre property being sold for industrial/commercial use, promoters announced Tuesday evening.
“We’ll have our five races left throughout the end of the season, and that’ll be it for the speedway,” co-promoter David Mitchell announced. “That’s very hard to say. It hurts your heart.”
The Broadwell Land Company’s 500-acre property that includes the dirt track, drag strip and extra acreage is under contract, said Mitchell, who for six seasons operated the track with Shay Martin.
“We tried to get them to them to cut out just the dirt track, and sell us just the dirt track,” Mitchell said. “They don’t want to parcel it up, they don’t want to cut it up, and they’ve already had people that’s bid on it and now they’re in contract as of Sunday and they’re going to move forward with closing.”
The track, originally built as a half-mile asphalt track in 1968 that operated as a dirt oval since the 1970s, has been a longtime Late Model track and is among 10 tracks to host events on the sport’s four national tours: the National Dirt Racing Association (one race), Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series (nine), Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (five) and World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series (eight).
“We love everybody and we appreciate the six years we’ve had with your guys and it’s a shame the racetrack’s going to go away in Fayetteville,” said Mitchell, who shortened the track to 5/16-mile in 2020.
Martin wrote that “we understand this is disappointing news to all those who have enjoyed coming here. A lot of people in this community have loved and supported the track for decades. You have made the track your home away from home and shared many great memories with each other here. Our hearts are heavy for you as we make this announcement.”
Saturday’s $7,500-to-win Carlton Lamm Memorial on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series ends the track’s summer break. The final four events are Oct. 4, Oct. 25 (final points races), Nov. 8 and Nov. 29. Mitchell said the track plans additional divisions to programs to give everyone a chance to compete for a final time. No postseason banquet is planned, but champions will receive trophies Nov. 29.
