Will NASCAR Return to Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville?


Over the past several months, rumors have swirled around the racing world regarding one of America's most historic short tracks. NASCAR may have a future at the famed Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. NASCAR has not sanctioned a national series event at the short track since 2000, and in 2021 they could return.

At 6 tenths of a mile in length, Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville is one of the oldest operating racetracks in America, as they broke ground on the venue in 1904. Famed events at the track include the NASCAR Cup Series from 1958-1984, as well as the Xfinity and Truck Series. Since NASCAR left the speedway, it has been home to a variety of local weekly short track racing divisions.

The potential addition of Nashville to the 2021 NASCAR schedule follows years of fans yearning for more short track races. Short track racing in NASCAR is a grassroots throwback, as a majority of the professional racers started out on a short track somewhere racing on Saturday nights. However, there are safety and facility upgrades that Nashville needs in order to be at NASCAR standards.

As a possible foreshadowing of a return to racing in the Music City, NASCAR has moved their season-ending Awards Banquet to downtown Nashville. For the past several years, this event has been held in Las Vegas.

However, the potential return of racing to Nashville may be a short lived pipe dream. Nashville's construction of an MLS stadium may be a roadblock for the track. The proposed soccer stadium would be built in the track's vicinity, and would remove much of its parking. If NASCAR does return to Nashville with any of the top 3 national series, it will certainly be a popular event among fans and drivers alike.


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