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One of the finest dirt racing facilities in the United States has announced that it will cease operation for the 2025 season. Bill Sawyer, owner of Virginia Motor Speedway, recently made the announcement. When Sawyer quit NASCAR and built the track, he gave Virginia a great venue for racing. Virginia did not support him or the track as they should and now, we have lost another track. Shame on everybody in that region!
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Shame??? Everybody has to make the best economical decision for themselves, just like racers do. Not every venture works and the old adage still holds true, "Location, Location, Location". After that is quality of product being offered. So shaming people for not just giving their money over regardless, is stupid. I always loved Cherokee speedway when it was the big track, incredible speeds! But it had the reputation as a, "Motor Getter!" and the racing wasn't what the majority wanted. The track made changes to attract the racers and fans, so they continue to operate. I've never been to VMS, but it sounds like it had issues they couldn't overcome. I don't enjoy any track closing, but it happens."In the Republic of Mediocrity, Genius is Dangerous." - Robert Green Ingersoll
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Top notch facility in an out of the way area. Have been to multiple races there, crowd is always scarce. I appreciate the opportunities we had there and hope that maybe it will come back in the future.Comment
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You clearly have no idea what your talking about. Sawyer did not build the track it was their before him. He did improve the facility greatly though. And he has done himself no favors with getting support from the regions racers because from day one of sawyers ownership they have always had conflicting rules compared to all the other tracks in the region. The only cars that could go their without changing things like carburetors and intake manifolds amongst other things were crate cars that is what killed their weekly support. Hate to see it go but they never made much of any effort to draw cars from other tracks in the region. You can't have that mentality. Now days theirs not enough cars to create a rule package that prevents a guy from traveling they just won't support you. And now because of that most of the guys that raced their weekly have nowhere to go because their cars don't fit inline with most of the other racetracks in the areaOriginally posted by jog49 View PostComment
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I knew about the old track but years ago, a man who mentioned he live back out Briery Swamp Rd. said that when Sawyer bought the property, he bulldozed the old track and built what you see today. Since he lived close by, I would assume he knew. An employee would later say, essentially, the same thing. One way or the other, I don't give a (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word); just hate to see a nice facility close. You mentioned "the other racetracks in the area". VMS is a dirt track so where are these other dirt tracks in the area?Comment
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I would guess Potomac is the closest, with Elizabeth City and Brinkleyville next at about two hours away. Location is not the greatest, and also other tracks running big shows on the same nights didn't help them this year (back to promotors working against themselves). The track was completely redone so you are correct on it being 'built', not even remotely close to the facility I went to in the early 90's.Originally posted by jog49 View PostComment
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Did the "hard" 4 1/2 hour trip up there many time to see really good racing. Several times, drove into the parking lot to find out the race had just been cancelled and had to cancel motel reservation, turn around, and go home. Made for long days!Comment
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