I live 6 miles from the Nashville superspeedway, and it ain't got nothing on this original Nashville speedway. We have to preserve this piece of racing history.
The race track is actually been put on the historic register. So as a local the track isn’t going anywhere it’s the number of events that’s up for debate and greed. One side is worried about the other side profiting as for the push back on the homeowners they are pissed because when they bought in it was before it was registered as a historical property and the realtors told the out of towners that it was a up and coming neighborhood so buy in cheap and value will go up hahahaa the race track is getting torn down but that didn’t and isn’t happening now the board has voted yes for cup racing now the local sports council has to approve the financial
@@aRedFrog I'm 55 years old- grew up in CT with my local asphalt modified 1/4 mi track at Danbury Fairgrounds. It's now a shopping mall that's clinging to life.
As a child were cleaned up and put to bed on a saturday night for church on sunday. We had no A/C so tha windows were open, we lived within earshot of tha fairgrounds, and so we fell asleep to tha "Left Turn Lullaby"
The exact same thing happened to the Rolla Speedway in Rolla, MO. The speedway was built well out of town, but as town expanded, they built houses all around the track. Eventually the residents that bought and lived near the track were able to find a judge that issued a permanent injunction against the track, closing it down forever. I used to watch your dad Russ race there, and your brother Rusty, as well as Kenny Schrader. Others such as Larry Phillips, and Terry Brumley ran there nearly every week. There were many local drivers as well, one being Eddie House from St. James. Eddie's Texaco gas station, where he kept and worked on his race car, was just a block from my house. The speedway was a beautiful paved, half mile, high banked speedway, that for the past forty or so years has just sat rotting away. When you drive south out of Rolla on Hwy. 63 you can still see the turns 3 and 4 concrete wall. This happens all too often all across America.
Hell yeah! Save the speedways! All those people knew there was a speedway there when they moved there. If they had a problem with it, they could have gone somewhere else.
Kenny, I spent a lot of time there with my Dad and watched the greats like you and the others mix it up including Dale Earnhart Sr and D. Waltrip. A ton of unforgettable memories who also used to win a lot and also made a name for themselves were Coo-Coo and Sterling Marlin. Even watched Lynyrd Skynrd and ZZ Top perform there in the 70s. Thank you for taking the time to share it again. Great channel.
Not sure what year it was but my parents and I went to a Saturday night race there in the late 80s, when I was a kid. I just remember Bobby Hamilton winning several races that night. Thanks for bringing back some great memories and hopefully they can save this great track.
Thanks Kenny for spotlighting my home track. I was able to win a quarter mile championship and 3rd All American 400 race in a row for my divison last year and also competed on the big track for the first time in the VORES Series. There is something special about that track and I always show respect to the history of the facility and the legends who have competed there. Thank you sir
Thank you I've watched DW Sterling marlin Bobby Hamilton David and Jeff Green special place my dad drove for matco tools on short track one time memory will never forget i want see big boys run hear again before I die
I spent many a Saturday night at that track watching races and helping buddies with their race cars. The other buildings are for the monthly flea market and other shows and sales they have there. They replaced the old barn buildings that were part of the old fairgrounds and stuff they tore down to build the soccer stadium. Wish I had seen you on your pass through Nashville. Love the show!
We have North Wilksboro back, saving this place would be amazing. This place is like Bristol, once you see a race here you are hooked. Door to door action, bumping, the opportunity for aggressive driving, and not a bad seat in the house. Great video Kenny, always appreciate you energy and positivity!
I live in Nashville and grew up going to that track every saturday night. Crewed on some local late models teams for several years. I have a lot of good memories of this track. I pray they save it. Thanks for putting this out there Herman!
Thank you Kenny! We have to support our local tracks. We managed to have someone save Arrowhead Speedway here in NW AR/NE OK. You can bet your butt my family will be there opening night!
Kenny I've lived here in Tennessee my whole life and have the same feelings for these old short tracks they are what we are known for we have to fight for them they're our history and hopefully the future thanks for pointing this out for others
Never got to attend any races at Nashville, but attended the last several years of the Country Music Fan Fest that was held there before it was moved to the stadium downtown. Saw alot of great shows and met alot of the great country performers there.
I finally made it to Nashville Fairgrounds last year, it was a "bucket list" thing for me. The racing was great, of course, and being under that HUGE roof...with no supporting columns...use a trip. By the way, I'm 70y/o, and if yo go down to the pits after a race, make sure you find an easier way back to your car. That climb back up the steps got my thighs burning. LOL They weren't used to that.
I attended the All American 400 race there in 1984. Had a great experience. When looking for a restaurant downtown we asked directions at a gas station. The guy says get on this road and go about 4 miles, hang a left and your first right. We drove there and nothing. We ended up at the restaurant, just 1 block from the original gas station. Too bad about Nashville now with the all the people moving there from California, New York, Michigan, Chicago. They are more interested in Soccer than racing. With the masses come all the problems. Give me wide open spaces. A small dirt track with 1500 spectators out in the middle of nowhere.
Exactly they ruined everything! My whole family is from Gallatin which is 50 miles north of Nashville and they built a damn bypass and it turned Gallatin into a suburb of Nashville! Damn yuppies need to stay where they were living! And then they bring their politics to where they move!
Kenny, thank you for stopping by the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville (Proper-historic name for the track) to show us its present condition. The track and facilities are in pretty good shape. However, this old town neighborhood is rapidly changing to more upper class housing. With new residents come the desire for more (newer) restaurants, entertainment and shopping venues. A greater need for parking spaces comes along with the new soccer stadium. This is a legendary racetrack that is being squeezed out to make room for “progress.” The folks who move into those 900 condos next door aren’t going to be interested in putting up with the noise generated by stock car racing. They won’t appreciate all the race fans who flood into their new neighborhood. TheMetro council will most likely vote to close the fairgrounds, or at least change zoning to force a shutdown of the track. Then the developers will replace this historic track with even more expensive condominiums. The track has been fighting the local noise ordinances for years. Just my observations. Thank you Kenny for bringing the potential of this track to everyone’s attention.
Real racetracks are disappearing! I remember representing TR as your PR person in the Red Dog car in the Busch series here for 3 races. There was one gas station and just woods behind the backstretch and a couple of houses. The Red Dog beer truck did not arrive in time so we had to go and buy some. You would not let me go alone and your wife was pregnant or just had a baby. So, you walked with me, in full uniform and that was the funniest mile I’ve ever walked. You told stories the whole way and when we got in there, your stand up was right there. The owner, could not believe you were actually in his store and was so excited. Being the good PR Rep, I handed you a Sharpie (rule no 2, I learned from TR) and you signed it. He let us use this old cart he was getting rid of to haul it back, that rocky terrain back there! Back then the garages were your haulers and it was dirt and grass in the infield/garage area. My memory is not as good as yours but I remember they wanted you to do a tv interview because it being a Busch Series/XFinity race and it was also played over the loudspeakers at the track. I was with you going to the interview and Tom Wopat (ol’ Luke Duke himself) was practicing with the flag because he was going to drop the green that day. You were saying to me I would be too young to know him and I told you that I had a crush on him since I was little and that I would always say I was going to marry him while watching the show. Here came your signature laugh and I knew I was in for it. I was right, you hollered up at him and he came down (my face must have been as red as that Red Dog Beer)! You told him.!!!! You hollered it from the grandstands and the booth! You’re beautiful wife and I had taken my mom with me were sitting on the back of your hauler wondering if you would make it back! I thought of several mishaps 😂. But, I got to meet “Luke Duke” and learn a very important lesson that day. In the wise words of your wife, “Never tell Kenny anything you don’t want the track to hear”! You were great at Nashville but those late lap pit stops killed us and one year you went down a cylinder and one I think (having memory issues from severe long COVID... that mess is no joke), you were third but had dominated. I have no idea if you remember me or not, but those are some of my best memories. Nashville is probably my favorite city. My first race TR and his late wife Joni took me with them. It was about a week before my birthday to hit the big 21 and the Wild Horse Saloon would not let me in to assist in a PR way for your autograph signing. You told them forget it, and you signed them for everybody lined up to get in, right there on the sidewalk because you stood up for me because they would not stamp my hand. TR and Joni did not get their date night (without me), but I don’t know that I have ever thanked you for letting me stand in when TR was off with your brother Rusty so I could learn the ropes. I was just an almost 21 year-old- kid (female at that), working her way through University, a job and my internship with TR and you accepted me and so did Gil and the whole team. I wanted to be like TR so much, and I was a little for a little while. I got to work with you, Tim Steele and Rusty. I am grateful. Learned more by doing it than the classes I took, but I finally got my degree and NASCAR changed with the first race of 2001 when “We lost Dale Earnhardt”. The older and wiser drivers who had been there even a few years, calmed down a lot on track. Then all the new safety rules and it just came to a point where only big PR firms represented multi-drivers. TR was able to stay because he had the years of experience but I never made it to have a driver and team of my own. So the memories I have are priceless to me. I was so close, but it just was not meant to be. These pictures of The Nashville Fairgrounds Raceway make me cry! Happy memory tears and the tears of fear that some soccer stadium that won’t last will swallow her up and she’ll disappear. To me the “new” Nashville track just does not have the same feeling of warmth, history and because of it’s size, they have more room to space out from each other so the family aspect in the garages and infield is not there. It’s a nice track, but it’s not like Fairgrounds. Not only racing happened there but back in the day, it was used as a concert venue for the Country Music Festival. I do hope and pray that they stick it out and they do not get shut down. We’ve already lost too many of the good old tracks. Sorry I have rambled on Kenny, but this video was very moving! Thanks for putting this out there! Definitely it must be saved!
Ya damn right!!! I've been going to that track since I was knee high to a grasshopper and still do. Nashville born and raised this track means a lot more to some of us than most
Thanks for driving by my old high school (Central) and my neighborhood. The track brings back many wonderful family memories...Well done and thanks again
Thanks for promoting the speedway Kenny!! I remember back in the day when people bought houses around the track and then had the nerve to complain about the noise. You knew the track was there before you bought the house!!! I'm sure the people who buys these apartments will do the same thing.
I live 3.0 miles from the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium and the neighbors close to it make the City of Winston Salem use a curfew of 11:00 on Saturday nights it is the only night they can race there. But it’s a constant crowd of 15,000 people for 16 weeks every summer. Other venues in Winston Salem can’t compete with the constant turn out! BTW Herman you have a great show! I hope the Nashville Fairgrounds Race Track can live on!
Kenny, thank you for not only showing love to fairgrounds, but to Kentucky Lake as well. I live just a few miles from KLMS and went many times as a kid. I loved the time I got to spend with my father and grandfather at that track in the early 200’s. It’s such a shame to see it in the shape it’s in. But then, to hear fairgrounds is in jeopardy hurts just as much. We went almost every other month to sell at the fairgrounds flea market and I would stand at the edge of the fence at turn four to try to catch a glimpse of practice when my parents didn’t have the money or we didn’t have the time to stay for the race. That track made me the racing lover I am and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Keep doing what you do Herman. God bless ya buddy!
Thankyou for showing the track and the great message. The toughest part about getting older is to see what they call progress or change. Sadly just the way the world is and thankfully we have so many great memories. Keep on trucking Herm.
Honestly the facilities at the fairgrounds look absolutely incredible. There's no way nascar and smi couldn't get up to snuff easily without losing any of its character
Another great video. Liked you showing the past history of the track. The old pictures and signs. Liked seeing the red & gold Bobby Allison car. Will is the Man. Darrell Waltrip should get involved also. Thanks for the video.
They build on top of our track , and complain about the racing. I remember going there as a kid. Hooker Hood on the program later Jeff Swindell. Darrel Waltrip , Alan Kuwicki with Kenny Wallace ASA 1986 Jeff and David Green. Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling his son, Bobby Hamilton the Po Folks Car . Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Hammond gave me his Budweiser Cap. Caution came out took a Day to decide if you race back to the Flag. Waltrip slowed up and his Budweiser teammate took the Flag. I raced karts there as did Russ Thompson.. Names go on forever. Please don't shut this great Speedway down. Thank You Kenny Wallace! I forgot my first time at the track I was a kid. Marty Robbins raced that night. 60 years ago. 😮I'm old
Also, if i was the mayor of Nashville, I would've added a parking garage between the track & the soccer stadium. NOT apartments. To me, it only makes sense!
My Favorite race track growing up into my twenties, was Beltsville speedway in Md. Half mile asphalt. I saw many NASCAR cup drivers. Richard Petty, Bobby Alison, Reds Cagle, Bobby Issac. With locals Bobby Balentine, Jack Bland, Bert Robbins. Dollar beer, five dollar tickets. New commers moved in and closed the track.
I went there years ago for a Busch race and truck race...the sunoco car and the Red man chewing tabaco cars were beautiful ...man it got loud under the awning but i had a great time and saw some great racing and i think Doyle Ford was the flag man...great memories
We went to Bristol for the dirt race. Stayed in wise Virginia and went for a ride and came across lonesome pine speedway. That was the most beautiful asphalt short track I have ever seen. Btw we was at nascar race day. Awesome awesome job Kenny
GREAT VIDEO KENNY!!! I AGREE WITH YOU 100% WE NEED TO SAVE OUR RACETRACKS!!!! NASCAR AND NHRA!!!1 WE NEED TO SAVE OUR RACING HERITAGE AND OUR RACING FUTURE!!!! FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LOVE AND ENJOY!!!!
Thank you Kenny for video I live in Lebanon Tennessee my dad drove for matco tools on time at small track at Nashville memory will never forget been to ever nascar race at new Nashville track but it sucks can't pass when they come to this old school track I will be there with my dad can't wait
I used to go to fan fair there, but it has changed a lot since the last time I was there! The big hill we used to climb to get the the stands are apparently gone, so are a lot of the exhibit buildings where they had the artists booths! I can't believe there is a soccer stadium there & condos! 2nd street & 4th Avenue coming going into the fair grounds!
That track is historical landmark and could be used as multi use facility like track and field or others great video keep up the good work God bless from GA and stay safe
Yes we too in Mason Michigan are about to lose our track, a strong rumor is they are putting in condos. our track has been there since the mid-50s .the name of our track is Corrigan oil speedway, which was formerly known as Spartan speedway the track to Starz call home. I've been going to this track since the early 70s.
Kenny, I watch you and your channel to get encouragement during a VERY emotional time in my life. You make my smile and it truly changes my attitude. I appreciate you and your sense of positive example. Thank you for all you do!
The only time I've been to the Fairgrounds Speedway, it was for the 2022 SRX and the day before I showed up to scope out the place and get an idea how things are going to go. A manager in his car saw me walking to the facility and he asked if I was here for the races and he gave me a ride across the hot parkinglot. And they let me in and watch the other series practice and look around. I had a lot of fun and will be back at some point. I hope to see Nascar Cup race there again soon!
Thanks for doing a video on saving the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway! My profile picture was taken towards the end of pitlane in front of the white fence. It's a great track with a lot of history and deserves to be saved!
Kenny. It is called modernization. "We got to keep up with the Joneses"! However we have level headed people like you and Dale Jr who is continuing to praise the benefits of the Nashville Fairgrounds track. Maybe someday someone will listen to the great prophets of racing. Like you and Dale Jr.
Good shit Herm. Gave a great lay of the land. Unreal how crammed they are making it. Basically forcing the track out... God bless the race track staff. Will sure sounds optimistic
Nice job Kenny! We need these tracks. Props to Will and the crew there. Who in their right mind allowed those apartments to get built? Damn politicians.
Happened at Summerville Speedway in S.C. Attendance had been down for quite some time, developers made an offer and the owner took it. There was no fight or movement from the community and so for the owner Charlie Powell, (May he rest in peace) i believe it was the right move given the situation. He was one hell pf a promoter and a great driver as well. Luckily for us in S.C. we still have great options for great racing. We have Dillon, Florence, and N.C. options. Im proud to say i was the last car to drive around Myrtle Beach Speedway before they demolished it. I snuck in while they were ripping up the parking lot and ran a few laps in my 1500 hemi lol. God i miss those places. So many good races and so many fights.
Big fan Kenny. Got a picture with you years and years ago as a probably 10 year old at Clarksville Speedway close by. My moms boyfriend is a late model track Champion here and I’ve been the the fairgrounds more than I can count. It must be saved, it doesn’t need to, it must be. If not this tracks history will be following our country’s history sadly.
great segment what i remember most about the fairgrounds is the race where Waltrip and Bonnett thought each other won the race both in junoirs care both had Budweiser on the car it was night race at the fairgrounds
Kenny why didn't you stop in Morristown TN at the first Rusty Wallace dealership. It used to be Rusty Wallace Pontiac and now it is a Cadillac and Kia dealership. Morristown was so proud when Rusty put his name on it. We love Rusty Wallace.
I love this history lesson and I'm bookmarking these race tracks that you've stopped and showed off. I want to see them myself. I wish we could restore some of these old dilapidated tracks and actually get them in use again.
Thank you Kenny!!!!! Yes the fairgrounds needs to be saved. I believe you got your directions confused at the end, if you're headed west it's gonna be a looooong drive to Knoxville. Lol . Great video.
The state of Kentucky seized 35 acres west of Kentucky Lake Speedway through eminent domain during the I69 project. You can access the speedway, but there is no where to park or pit. Once the bulldozing started, it killed the track instantly in 2015. I believe once the seizure happened, they closed instantly during the middle of the racing season. Been driving past it for many years, and it just continues to erode away.
Insane that they are building apartments wedged between the race track and soccer stadium. Wouldn't it be loud at the soccer events also? Like... That wasn't well thought out. Everything included in the Nashville Fairground Speedway looks perfectly fine to me.
This neighborhood was always middle income and underprivileged families. All of the out of towners shoving the small neighborhoods out to build tall skinny houses for one million dollars each are complaining about the track to heighten property values. The dang soccer stadium sets off fireworks every time their team makes a goal. In a metal stadium this sounds like bombs going off in a trash dumpster from several blocks away, not to mention the rock concerts. My little dog hides in the closet the entire game. Geodis just wants another 26 acres for free from the city to build private development. Nashville has too many mixed use luxury apartment complexes being built on every corner in town already pushing out small businesses and family restaurants that were once a staple of Nashville. The fairgrounds was donated for the citizens of Nashville. Not for billionaire sports executives to build public private investments sponsored by tax dollars.🤔
Kenny, you are incredible! This was a very nice treat of you. Thank you so much I never saw this race track on TV the last time any NASCAR series race there’s when I was a toddler/preschool/kindergarten. I always start watching the cup series in 2000/2001. I would love to see this track any update regarding the metro board vote and when that’s going to happen? I heard that one board did pass had to go through one more vote/approval then the process can begin?
You’re absolutely correct Herm about build residential properties around these racetracks then people complain about the noise. That’s what happened to Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale Illinois….sad so so sad…
Nice commentary, Kenny. I started going to the All American 400 in 1983. Those ASA vs All Pro races were the best. Nashville is the perfect sized short track. Just over a half mile and about 22 degrees of banking. It's disappointing to see the attendance at the recent fall 400 races, especially with all the cars and talent. Hope they can save the track from all the development.
Really enjoyed watching races at Kentucky Lakes, to bad they closed it. The good thing is in that area is the last year Paducah International Raceway reopened so we do have racing again.
It might have to do with politics and $$$. We lost our Fairgrounds Motor Speedway in Louisville, KY in 1980 for horse barns that never happened. Tragic loss to the city and racing community. I hope and pray the Nashville Speedway survives. Don't forget Marty Robbins! Many Thanks Kenny always Good!
🤘🏻😎🤘🏻 Awesome stuff Kenny Kenny Wallis show In the semi is going to the show One week you’ll be in one semi going to the track next week you’ll be in another semi going to the track talking to the drivers telling stories that be awesome never seen that on fox
Mr. Kenny I just gotta say it's a sad thing that our local Bristol TN/VA channel 5 WCYB or 11 WJHL don't show Jack shit , to put it mildly , don't show any of our Nascar Racing on Sundays or any other damn day but they make sure we see everything about the TN Titans n bout all their ball games. 100,000 people or even way more only have antenna TV not just in this area but all over the states probably millions of people. I watched the 1979 Daytona 500 at 9 years old n I was baptized into the world of Nascar... Come on man.... lol what the hell. Love you Kenny Wallace. Keep up the good work.
I drive by Kentucky Lake Speedway every few months on my way no Nashville, thanks for stopping there I always wondered what part of the track the road had over taken. Interstates / roads / commercial real estate have taken over so many tracks, just look at what is happening to the final year of the legendary Wild Horse Raceway in Arizona, Irwindale Speedway in CA is on prime real estate and on life support not to mention what is happening to Auto Club Speedway in California. It is a con job that they say they are building a smaller track on that property...that will not happen. Amazon warehouses are the new kryptonite to race tracks the same way malls and shopping centers were to tracks in the 70's and 80's. Let this be a lesson to all motorsports fans regardless if you like IndyCar, Nascar, Drag Racing...what so ever, get out and support your local tracks. Miss seeing your brother, Larry Phillips, Dick Trickle, the Ropers race in Springfield MO at the old fairgrounds
Heck since nobody said it yet, thanks to a dudes like Will for keeping it looking good and for getting Kenny upstairs.
it’s a shame but they sold Chicago land speedway and all the property including the dirt track I’m upset
BRAVO KENNY - LONG LIVE NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY :) !!!
I live 6 miles from the Nashville superspeedway, and it ain't got nothing on this original Nashville speedway. We have to preserve this piece of racing history.
Perhaps a way around to preserve these older tracks would be to have them registered as a historic place?
Nobody young will appreciate them.
@@theamerican7080 Idk about you but these younger generations today are saving long forgotten race tracks. Pennsboro being one
The race track is actually been put on the historic register. So as a local the track isn’t going anywhere it’s the number of events that’s up for debate and greed. One side is worried about the other side profiting as for the push back on the homeowners they are pissed because when they bought in it was before it was registered as a historical property and the realtors told the out of towners that it was a up and coming neighborhood so buy in cheap and value will go up hahahaa the race track is getting torn down but that didn’t and isn’t happening now the board has voted yes for cup racing now the local sports council has to approve the financial
@@aRedFrog I'm 55 years old- grew up in CT with my local asphalt modified 1/4 mi track at Danbury Fairgrounds. It's now a shopping mall that's clinging to life.
I didn't mean to sound so pessimistic, but kids that were raised on screens will never consider these places valuable historic relics.
As a child were cleaned up and put to bed on a saturday night for church on sunday. We had no A/C so tha windows were open, we lived within earshot of tha fairgrounds, and so we fell asleep to tha "Left Turn Lullaby"
The exact same thing happened to the Rolla Speedway in Rolla, MO. The speedway was built well out of town, but as town expanded, they built houses all around the track. Eventually the residents that bought and lived near the track were able to find a judge that issued a permanent injunction against the track, closing it down forever. I used to watch your dad Russ race there, and your brother Rusty, as well as Kenny Schrader. Others such as Larry Phillips, and Terry Brumley ran there nearly every week. There were many local drivers as well, one being Eddie House from St. James. Eddie's Texaco gas station, where he kept and worked on his race car, was just a block from my house. The speedway was a beautiful paved, half mile, high banked speedway, that for the past forty or so years has just sat rotting away. When you drive south out of Rolla on Hwy. 63 you can still see the turns 3 and 4 concrete wall. This happens all too often all across America.
We need to keep these old tracks!!!
We need to keep going to them or they will not keep them.
I grew up watching Saturday night racing at the fair grounds. Back in the day thay had some of the best late model drivers in the country
Hell yeah! Save the speedways! All those people knew there was a speedway there when they moved there. If they had a problem with it, they could have gone somewhere else.
Same as the people that move next to an airport and complain 🤷🏼♂️
Ole Will seems like a good ole boy. Love to see loyal workers at iconic tracks
I can’t believe they actually went forward with building the apartments between the track and the stadium. It’s even more crammed than I imagined!
They allows as support to tear down tracks
It’s all about the $$$$$$ they make when it is gone. More apartments more quick cash for the greedy sob’s
Kenny, I spent a lot of time there with my Dad and watched the greats like you and the others mix it up including Dale Earnhart Sr and D. Waltrip. A ton of unforgettable memories who also used to win a lot and also made a name for themselves were Coo-Coo and Sterling Marlin. Even watched Lynyrd Skynrd and ZZ Top perform there in the 70s. Thank you for taking the time to share it again. Great channel.
Not sure what year it was but my parents and I went to a Saturday night race there in the late 80s, when I was a kid. I just remember Bobby Hamilton winning several races that night. Thanks for bringing back some great memories and hopefully they can save this great track.
TY Will... U2 KW...Looks like a good place for the "new" NASCAR EV series...wont disturb the complainers and soccer fans...Ciao Bubba!
Kenny you are one hell of a promoter and one hell of a story teller thank you so much.
Thank you for taking your time for showing off the "real" shape of the track! Most of the news makes out that it's falling apart and gone to garbage!
That’s what “the news” does in order to get people NOT to show up so they can blame it on people NOT SHOWING UP.
Thanks Kenny for spotlighting my home track. I was able to win a quarter mile championship and 3rd All American 400 race in a row for my divison last year and also competed on the big track for the first time in the VORES Series. There is something special about that track and I always show respect to the history of the facility and the legends who have competed there. Thank you sir
Thank you I've watched DW Sterling marlin Bobby Hamilton David and Jeff Green special place my dad drove for matco tools on short track one time memory will never forget i want see big boys run hear again before I die
I spent many a Saturday night at that track watching races and helping buddies with their race cars. The other buildings are for the monthly flea market and other shows and sales they have there. They replaced the old barn buildings that were part of the old fairgrounds and stuff they tore down to build the soccer stadium. Wish I had seen you on your pass through Nashville. Love the show!
We have North Wilksboro back, saving this place would be amazing. This place is like Bristol, once you see a race here you are hooked. Door to door action, bumping, the opportunity for aggressive driving, and not a bad seat in the house. Great video Kenny, always appreciate you energy and positivity!
Thanks Kenny for putting in a good word for how beautiful the track is… (soon to be even better!) I was just there last night for the April 15 races!
Kenny Wallace. The People's Champion
I live in Nashville and grew up going to that track every saturday night. Crewed on some local late models teams for several years. I have a lot of good memories of this track. I pray they save it. Thanks for putting this out there Herman!
Thank you Kenny! We have to support our local tracks. We managed to have someone save Arrowhead Speedway here in NW AR/NE OK. You can bet your butt my family will be there opening night!
Kenny I've lived here in Tennessee my whole life and have the same feelings for these old short tracks they are what we are known for we have to fight for them they're our history and hopefully the future thanks for pointing this out for others
My Dad took me to the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 1969 and I was a fan for life. I’ve seen DW win a race on his roof.
Thanks WILL. Great job KENNY.😎🇺🇸
The track is Beautiful ! I believe that the homeowners should just buy some EAR PLUGS .😉
Never got to attend any races at Nashville, but attended the last several years of the Country Music Fan Fest that was held there before it was moved to the stadium downtown. Saw alot of great shows and met alot of the great country performers there.
I finally made it to Nashville Fairgrounds last year, it was a "bucket list" thing for me. The racing was great, of course, and being under that HUGE roof...with no supporting columns...use a trip. By the way, I'm 70y/o, and if yo go down to the pits after a race, make sure you find an easier way back to your car. That climb back up the steps got my thighs burning. LOL They weren't used to that.
I attended the All American 400 race there in 1984. Had a great experience. When looking for a restaurant downtown we asked directions at a gas station. The guy says get on this road and go about 4 miles, hang a left and your first right. We drove there and nothing. We ended up at the restaurant, just 1 block from the original gas station. Too bad about Nashville now with the all the people moving there from California, New York, Michigan, Chicago. They are more interested in Soccer than racing. With the masses come all the problems. Give me wide open spaces. A small dirt track with 1500 spectators out in the middle of nowhere.
Exactly they ruined everything! My whole family is from Gallatin which is 50 miles north of Nashville and they built a damn bypass and it turned Gallatin into a suburb of Nashville! Damn yuppies need to stay where they were living! And then they bring their politics to where they move!
Kenny, thank you for stopping by the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville (Proper-historic name for the track) to show us its present condition. The track and facilities are in pretty good shape. However, this old town neighborhood is rapidly changing to more upper class housing. With new residents come the desire for more (newer) restaurants, entertainment and shopping venues. A greater need for parking spaces comes along with the new soccer stadium. This is a legendary racetrack that is being squeezed out to make room for “progress.” The folks who move into those 900 condos next door aren’t going to be interested in putting up with the noise generated by stock car racing. They won’t appreciate all the race fans who flood into their new neighborhood. TheMetro council will most likely vote to close the fairgrounds, or at least change zoning to force a shutdown of the track. Then the developers will replace this historic track with even more expensive condominiums. The track has been fighting the local noise ordinances for years. Just my observations. Thank you Kenny for bringing the potential of this track to everyone’s attention.
Real racetracks are disappearing! I remember representing TR as your PR person in the Red Dog car in the Busch series here for 3 races. There was one gas station and just woods behind the backstretch and a couple of houses. The Red Dog beer truck did not arrive in time so we had to go and buy some. You would not let me go alone and your wife was pregnant or just had a baby. So, you walked with me, in full uniform and that was the funniest mile I’ve ever walked. You told stories the whole way and when we got in there, your stand up was right there. The owner, could not believe you were actually in his store and was so excited. Being the good PR Rep, I handed you a Sharpie (rule no 2, I learned from TR) and you signed it. He let us use this old cart he was getting rid of to haul it back, that rocky terrain back there! Back then the garages were your haulers and it was dirt and grass in the infield/garage area. My memory is not as good as yours but I remember they wanted you to do a tv interview because it being a Busch Series/XFinity race and it was also played over the loudspeakers at the track. I was with you going to the interview and Tom Wopat (ol’ Luke Duke himself) was practicing with the flag because he was going to drop the green that day. You were saying to me I would be too young to know him and I told you that I had a crush on him since I was little and that I would always say I was going to marry him while watching the show. Here came your signature laugh and I knew I was in for it. I was right, you hollered up at him and he came down (my face must have been as red as that Red Dog Beer)! You told him.!!!! You hollered it from the grandstands and the booth! You’re beautiful wife and I had taken my mom with me were sitting on the back of your hauler wondering if you would make it back! I thought of several mishaps 😂. But, I got to meet “Luke Duke” and learn a very important lesson that day. In the wise words of your wife, “Never tell Kenny anything you don’t want the track to hear”! You were great at Nashville but those late lap pit stops killed us and one year you went down a cylinder and one I think (having memory issues from severe long COVID... that mess is no joke), you were third but had dominated. I have no idea if you remember me or not, but those are some of my best memories. Nashville is probably my favorite city. My first race TR and his late wife Joni took me with them. It was about a week before my birthday to hit the big 21 and the Wild Horse Saloon would not let me in to assist in a PR way for your autograph signing. You told them forget it, and you signed them for everybody lined up to get in, right there on the sidewalk because you stood up for me because they would not stamp my hand. TR and Joni did not get their date night (without me), but I don’t know that I have ever thanked you for letting me stand in when TR was off with your brother Rusty so I could learn the ropes. I was just an almost 21 year-old- kid (female at that), working her way through University, a job and my internship with TR and you accepted me and so did Gil and the whole team. I wanted to be like TR so much, and I was a little for a little while. I got to work with you, Tim Steele and Rusty. I am grateful. Learned more by doing it than the classes I took, but I finally got my degree and NASCAR changed with the first race of 2001 when “We lost Dale Earnhardt”. The older and wiser drivers who had been there even a few years, calmed down a lot on track. Then all the new safety rules and it just came to a point where only big PR firms represented multi-drivers. TR was able to stay because he had the years of experience but I never made it to have a driver and team of my own. So the memories I have are priceless to me. I was so close, but it just was not meant to be. These pictures of The Nashville Fairgrounds Raceway make me cry! Happy memory tears and the tears of fear that some soccer stadium that won’t last will swallow her up and she’ll disappear. To me the “new” Nashville track just does not have the same feeling of warmth, history and because of it’s size, they have more room to space out from each other so the family aspect in the garages and infield is not there. It’s a nice track, but it’s not like Fairgrounds. Not only racing happened there but back in the day, it was used as a concert venue for the Country Music Festival. I do hope and pray that they stick it out and they do not get shut down. We’ve already lost too many of the good old tracks. Sorry I have rambled on Kenny, but this video was very moving! Thanks for putting this out there! Definitely it must be saved!
Ya damn right!!! I've been going to that track since I was knee high to a grasshopper and still do. Nashville born and raised this track means a lot more to some of us than most
Thanks for driving by my old high school (Central) and my neighborhood. The track brings back many wonderful family memories...Well done and thanks again
I was on those high banked turns one night. I was on a golf cart. That facility has a feeling of history that's powerful! ❤
I hope we don't lose Nashville it's a part of the history of nascar
Just because Nascar left,they still kept racing and having big races every year!
Thanks for promoting the speedway Kenny!! I remember back in the day when people bought houses around the track and then had the nerve to complain about the noise. You knew the track was there before you bought the house!!! I'm sure the people who buys these apartments will do the same thing.
I live 3.0 miles from the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium and the neighbors close to it make the City of Winston Salem use a curfew of 11:00 on Saturday nights it is the only night they can race there. But it’s a constant crowd of 15,000 people for 16 weeks every summer. Other venues in Winston Salem can’t compete with the constant turn out! BTW Herman you have a great show! I hope the Nashville Fairgrounds Race Track can live on!
I can’t believe how well kept that facility is. Wow.
Kenny, thank you for not only showing love to fairgrounds, but to Kentucky Lake as well. I live just a few miles from KLMS and went many times as a kid. I loved the time I got to spend with my father and grandfather at that track in the early 200’s. It’s such a shame to see it in the shape it’s in. But then, to hear fairgrounds is in jeopardy hurts just as much. We went almost every other month to sell at the fairgrounds flea market and I would stand at the edge of the fence at turn four to try to catch a glimpse of practice when my parents didn’t have the money or we didn’t have the time to stay for the race. That track made me the racing lover I am and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Keep doing what you do Herman. God bless ya buddy!
Some great races at the fairgrounds
Thankyou for showing the track and the great message. The toughest part about getting older is to see what they call progress or change. Sadly just the way the world is and thankfully we have so many great memories. Keep on trucking Herm.
You should talk to Kevin Harvick & bring CARTS racing.
Honestly the facilities at the fairgrounds look absolutely incredible. There's no way nascar and smi couldn't get up to snuff easily without losing any of its character
Thanks for the post Kenny. These older tracks need a voice, thank you for being that. Also, gotta love a good Jake brake!
This is the same kind of money that pushed racing out of Asheville. Nashville faces an uphill battle, but I hope it can be saved.
Another great video. Liked you showing the past history of the track. The old pictures and signs. Liked seeing the red & gold Bobby Allison car. Will is the Man. Darrell Waltrip should get involved also. Thanks for the video.
They build on top of our track , and complain about the racing. I remember going there as a kid. Hooker Hood on the program later Jeff Swindell. Darrel Waltrip , Alan Kuwicki with Kenny Wallace ASA 1986 Jeff and David Green. Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling his son, Bobby Hamilton the Po Folks Car . Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jeff Hammond gave me his Budweiser Cap. Caution came out took a Day to decide if you race back to the Flag. Waltrip slowed up and his Budweiser teammate took the Flag. I raced karts there as did Russ Thompson.. Names go on forever. Please don't shut this great Speedway down. Thank You Kenny Wallace! I forgot my first time at the track I was a kid. Marty Robbins raced that night. 60 years ago. 😮I'm old
Cool video glad we got to see the track hopefully they will do something with it. THANKS KENNY
Hey Kenny, love the vid. My Dad is Kenny. My friend I've known for 50 years is a Kenny. So Hey!, Kenny. Love these ol' tracks.
Keep it all thanks for showing kenny
Crazy how you could just walk right in there Kenny? This might be your best video yet. Thanks for showing us the facility.
Also, if i was the mayor of Nashville, I would've added a parking garage between the track & the soccer stadium. NOT apartments. To me, it only makes sense!
The Geodis soccer stadium holds over 30,000 people. There are approx 4000 parking places.🤔
Thank you for continuing to put a spotlight on the fairgrounds!
My Favorite race track growing up into my twenties, was Beltsville speedway in Md. Half mile asphalt. I saw many NASCAR cup drivers. Richard Petty, Bobby Alison, Reds Cagle, Bobby Issac. With locals Bobby Balentine, Jack Bland, Bert Robbins. Dollar beer, five dollar tickets. New commers moved in and closed the track.
What a beautiful facility, Great job! Kenny thanks for a wonderful video! Thanks for taking me to Nashville!
I went there years ago for a Busch race and truck race...the sunoco car and the Red man chewing tabaco cars were beautiful ...man it got loud under the awning but i had a great time and saw some great racing and i think Doyle Ford was the flag man...great memories
Watched a Cup race (although it wasn’t cup yet) back in 1976 there. Saw ZZ Top in 1976. Great old place.
👍😎 Cool tour Kenny, enjoyed watching that.
That was a great show good job Kenny and yes save Nashville
We went to Bristol for the dirt race. Stayed in wise Virginia and went for a ride and came across lonesome pine speedway. That was the most beautiful asphalt short track I have ever seen. Btw we was at nascar race day. Awesome awesome job Kenny
GREAT VIDEO KENNY!!! I AGREE WITH YOU 100% WE NEED TO SAVE OUR RACETRACKS!!!! NASCAR AND NHRA!!!1 WE NEED TO SAVE OUR RACING HERITAGE AND OUR RACING FUTURE!!!! FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LOVE AND ENJOY!!!!
Thank you Kenny for video I live in Lebanon Tennessee my dad drove for matco tools on time at small track at Nashville memory will never forget been to ever nascar race at new Nashville track but it sucks can't pass when they come to this old school track I will be there with my dad can't wait
I used to go to fan fair there, but it has changed a lot since the last time I was there! The big hill we used to climb to get the the stands are apparently gone, so are a lot of the exhibit buildings where they had the artists booths! I can't believe there is a soccer stadium there & condos!
2nd street & 4th Avenue coming going into the fair grounds!
That track is historical landmark and could be used as multi use facility like track and field or others great video keep up the good work God bless from GA and stay safe
Yes we too in Mason Michigan are about to lose our track, a strong rumor is they are putting in condos. our track has been there since the mid-50s .the name of our track is Corrigan oil speedway, which was formerly known as Spartan speedway the track to Starz call home. I've been going to this track since the early 70s.
Pretty good at that jake Brake sound 😂
Kenny, I watch you and your channel to get encouragement during a VERY emotional time in my life. You make my smile and it truly changes my attitude. I appreciate you and your sense of positive example. Thank you for all you do!
The only time I've been to the Fairgrounds Speedway, it was for the 2022 SRX and the day before I showed up to scope out the place and get an idea how things are going to go. A manager in his car saw me walking to the facility and he asked if I was here for the races and he gave me a ride across the hot parkinglot. And they let me in and watch the other series practice and look around. I had a lot of fun and will be back at some point. I hope to see Nascar Cup race there again soon!
Thanks for doing a video on saving the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway! My profile picture was taken towards the end of pitlane in front of the white fence. It's a great track with a lot of history and deserves to be saved!
Nashville looks like a fun track to race on
I've worked here for many years now. I love this place. Truly historic & a staple to NASCAR history.
thx Derek!
Thanks for visiting & making this video@@KennyWallace36
Nice look behind the scenes, and what a good guy you are
Kenny. It is called modernization. "We got to keep up with the Joneses"! However we have level headed people like you and Dale Jr who is continuing to praise the benefits of the Nashville Fairgrounds track. Maybe someday someone will listen to the great prophets of racing. Like you and Dale Jr.
Will !! What a man. Salt of the earth!
We love you Kenny!
Good shit Herm. Gave a great lay of the land. Unreal how crammed they are making it. Basically forcing the track out... God bless the race track staff. Will sure sounds optimistic
Nice job Kenny! We need these tracks. Props to Will and the crew there. Who in their right mind allowed those apartments to get built? Damn politicians.
Happened at Summerville Speedway in S.C. Attendance had been down for quite some time, developers made an offer and the owner took it. There was no fight or movement from the community and so for the owner Charlie Powell, (May he rest in peace) i believe it was the right move given the situation. He was one hell pf a promoter and a great driver as well. Luckily for us in S.C. we still have great options for great racing. We have Dillon, Florence, and N.C. options. Im proud to say i was the last car to drive around Myrtle Beach Speedway before they demolished it. I snuck in while they were ripping up the parking lot and ran a few laps in my 1500 hemi lol. God i miss those places. So many good races and so many fights.
Big fan Kenny. Got a picture with you years and years ago as a probably 10 year old at Clarksville Speedway close by. My moms boyfriend is a late model track Champion here and I’ve been the the fairgrounds more than I can count. It must be saved, it doesn’t need to, it must be. If not this tracks history will be following our country’s history sadly.
I've been there once for a asa race. That place is unreal. Love that place.
great segment what i remember most about the fairgrounds is the race where Waltrip and Bonnett thought each other won the race both in junoirs care both had Budweiser on the car it was night race at the fairgrounds
Kenny why didn't you stop in Morristown TN at the first Rusty Wallace dealership. It used to be Rusty Wallace Pontiac and now it is a Cadillac and Kia dealership. Morristown was so proud when Rusty put his name on it. We love Rusty Wallace.
I love this history lesson and I'm bookmarking these race tracks that you've stopped and showed off. I want to see them myself. I wish we could restore some of these old dilapidated tracks and actually get them in use again.
greetings from France kenny god bless you ! kenny you are one of my favorite pilots of the time.
Thank you Kenny!!!!! Yes the fairgrounds needs to be saved. I believe you got your directions confused at the end, if you're headed west it's gonna be a looooong drive to Knoxville. Lol . Great video.
Glad you are doing good. So sorry for the people that were affected by the storm.
The state of Kentucky seized 35 acres west of Kentucky Lake Speedway through eminent domain during the I69 project. You can access the speedway, but there is no where to park or pit. Once the bulldozing started, it killed the track instantly in 2015. I believe once the seizure happened, they closed instantly during the middle of the racing season. Been driving past it for many years, and it just continues to erode away.
Can't wait to run there this summer with the 500 sprint car tour!
Awesome Track! Please do more videos like this Kenny! Very interesting stuff!👍
Insane that they are building apartments wedged between the race track and soccer stadium. Wouldn't it be loud at the soccer events also? Like... That wasn't well thought out. Everything included in the Nashville Fairground Speedway looks perfectly fine to me.
This neighborhood was always middle income and underprivileged families. All of the out of towners shoving the small neighborhoods out to build tall skinny houses for one million dollars each are complaining about the track to heighten property values.
The dang soccer stadium sets off fireworks every time their team makes a goal. In a metal stadium this sounds like bombs going off in a trash dumpster from several blocks away, not to mention the rock concerts. My little dog hides in the closet the entire game.
Geodis just wants another 26 acres for free from the city to build private development. Nashville has too many mixed use luxury apartment complexes being built on every corner in town already pushing out small businesses and family restaurants that were once a staple of Nashville. The fairgrounds was donated for the citizens of Nashville. Not for billionaire sports executives to build public private investments sponsored by tax dollars.🤔
Kenny, you are incredible! This was a very nice treat of you. Thank you so much I never saw this race track on TV the last time any NASCAR series race there’s when I was a toddler/preschool/kindergarten. I always start watching the cup series in 2000/2001. I would love to see this track any update regarding the metro board vote and when that’s going to happen? I heard that one board did pass had to go through one more vote/approval then the process can begin?
You’re absolutely correct Herm about build residential properties around these racetracks then people complain about the noise. That’s what happened to Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale Illinois….sad so so sad…
Nice commentary, Kenny. I started going to the All American 400 in 1983. Those ASA vs All Pro races were the best. Nashville is the perfect sized short track. Just over a half mile and about 22 degrees of banking. It's disappointing to see the attendance at the recent fall 400 races, especially with all the cars and talent. Hope they can save the track from all the development.
Really enjoyed watching races at Kentucky Lakes, to bad they closed it. The good thing is in that area is the last year Paducah International Raceway reopened so we do have racing again.
It might have to do with politics and $$$. We lost our Fairgrounds Motor Speedway in Louisville, KY in 1980 for horse barns that never happened. Tragic loss to the city and racing community. I hope and pray the Nashville Speedway survives. Don't forget Marty Robbins! Many Thanks Kenny always Good!
Thanks for the tour
🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
Awesome stuff Kenny
Kenny Wallis show
In the semi is going to the show
One week you’ll be in one semi going to the track next week you’ll be in another semi going to the track talking to the drivers telling stories that be awesome never seen that on fox
Mr. Kenny I just gotta say it's a sad thing that our local Bristol TN/VA channel 5 WCYB or 11 WJHL don't show Jack shit , to put it mildly , don't show any of our Nascar Racing on Sundays or any other damn day but they make sure we see everything about the TN Titans n bout all their ball games. 100,000 people or even way more only have antenna TV not just in this area but all over the states probably millions of people. I watched the 1979 Daytona 500 at 9 years old n I was baptized into the world of Nascar... Come on man.... lol what the hell. Love you Kenny Wallace. Keep up the good work.
I drive by Kentucky Lake Speedway every few months on my way no Nashville, thanks for stopping there I always wondered what part of the track the road had over taken. Interstates / roads / commercial real estate have taken over so many tracks, just look at what is happening to the final year of the legendary Wild Horse Raceway in Arizona, Irwindale Speedway in CA is on prime real estate and on life support not to mention what is happening to Auto Club Speedway in California. It is a con job that they say they are building a smaller track on that property...that will not happen. Amazon warehouses are the new kryptonite to race tracks the same way malls and shopping centers were to tracks in the 70's and 80's. Let this be a lesson to all motorsports fans regardless if you like IndyCar, Nascar, Drag Racing...what so ever, get out and support your local tracks. Miss seeing your brother, Larry Phillips, Dick Trickle, the Ropers race in Springfield MO at the old fairgrounds