What’s Happening?

NASCAR has made it very clear throughout the last few years that they want to invest in grassroots racing. And with their recent stake in Bowman Gray Stadium, this got us at The Daily Downforce thinking, what other tracks can and should NASCAR make a similar investment into? Here are the five race tracks we feel NASCAR should look into.

• With the multiple NASCAR racing series and tracks that make up the newly rebranded NASCAR Regional, it’s more important now than ever for local short-track racing to thrive. This is where young drivers and others in the industry cut their teeth. The move at Bowman Gray Stadium is just one example.
• For this list, we will consider multiple criteria. This includes prominence, the importance of the market to NASCAR, and whether NASCAR can help keep the track afloat.
• Many NASCAR fans are also fans of local short tracks. This is where fans can take the first step towards achieving their dreams of working for the most popular motorsport in the United States.

Greenville-Pickens Speedway

Greenville-Pickens Speedway is located in the Greenville, South Carolina metro area, and it’s a track with an uncertain future. No races were held in 2023, and the track is still without a true plan for this year and beyond. NASCAR should take a look at this track due to both its historical significance and the market it’s in.

Greenville, South Carolina is routinely one of the top TV markets for NASCAR. In 2023, it was the 3rd highest-rated market for NASCAR on NBC according to NBC Sports. NASCAR also held races there off and on in various series from the 1950s until the 2010s. If racing is gone from a hotbed like that, it would be a big loss for NASCAR.

Winchester Speedway

Winchester Speedway is one of the most iconic short tracks in the Midwest. Located in Winchester, Indiana, the track hosts the famed Winchester 400 every year. Its proximity to Indianapolis makes this market very important to NASCAR.

Winchester is a track that many young drivers race at before heading to NASCAR. Drivers like Mark Martin, Corey Heim, and Chase Elliott amongst others are former winners of the Winchester 400. With how prominent the track is in one of the most important racing markets in the world, NASCAR could see a big return on investment.

South Alabama Speedway

South Alabama Speedway hosts the Rattler 250 every year, and it is located in the deep south. NASCAR is very prominent in this area of the country, particularly with tracks like Atlanta and Talladega. The market is in NASCAR country, and it could be an interesting investment.

Like Winchester, plenty of prominent NASCAR drivers have won at South Alabama. Past Rattler 250 winners include Grant Enfinger, Christopher Bell, and Ty Majeski. With young drivers already racing there, why not continue to invest?

Thunder Road International Speedbowl

Thunder Road in Barre, Vermont is located in the Northeast, where Modified Racing is massive. Ken Squier helped build this track, and the venue almost made a major splash in 2023 on the SRX schedule. Flooding in the Vermont area ultimately canceled the race, forcing it to be moved to Thompson Speedway in Connecticut.

Thunder Road tends to be a bit more obscure than other short tracks. It’s not in a major NASCAR market, but, with how big modified racing is in the Northeast, why not invest in a track like this for the sport’s oldest division?

Slinger Speedway

Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin is famous for hosting the annual Slinger Nationals. It rose to prominence amongst some NASCAR fans after hosting an SRX race in 2021.

Loke Thunder Road, this track is a bit more obscure. Still, NASCAR needs to be wherever short-track racing is. Drivers like Matt Kenseth and Dick Trickle came from short tracks in the Midwest. There is talent there, so, why not invest?

Local short track racing is very important to NASCAR. Could these tracks be the next for NASCAR to invest in?