Historic former NASCAR racetrack in SC just spared the wrecking ball — for now. What’s next?

The fight to save Greenville Pickens Speedway lives on as the Pickens County Planning Commission turned down a request for developers to use the property for warehouses or retail.

The development would be part of a three-phased project. Phase 1, which is under construction, and Phase 2, which the planning commission approved Monday night, are on property adjacent to the racetrack.

Greenville-Pickens Speedway is the second oldest short track in the country. Bowman Gray in Raleigh is the oldest.

Greenville-Pickens is for sale for $5.8 million. Two years ago before the sales offer was made, track supporters thought they had reached a deal to lease it, but the deal fell through.

RealtyLink owns the property where the warehouses are being built.

The 83-year-old racetrack has not operated for two racing seasons.

Mark Blackwell, whose family owned the track for decades before selling it to current owner and car dealer Kevin Whitaker, said Tuesday the track is deteriorating from lack of use, but it can be restored and be a profitable enterprise.

The Blackwell family bought the dirt track in 1955, the same year NASCAR began sanctioning races there. The track, later paved, hosted various Winston Cup races through the years.

Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt and his son Dale Jr.. raced there. Many of the legendary racers’ names remain painted on the walls surrounding the track.

The application for the development of the racetrack site says it covers 33 acres and would be used for nine buildings. The total industrial park development would be 289 acres.

The developer said it intended to memorialize the track and its history with flags and monuments.

The planning staff recommended approval of the proposal.

But some planning commissioners felt the people wanting to save the track should be given more time, especially considering the track development would not likely be underway for a year.

The timing of when the developer could reapply was left uncertain. The county’s senior planner could not be reached for comment.

“It’s a long shot,” Blackwell said. “Everybody’s interested but nobody has $6 million.”

He said the track could draw on its history while embracing new technology and offering events. It’s been done at other tracks, most notably North Wilkesboro in North Carolina, where besides stock car racing there is entertainment, RV camping in a charming small town.

Blackwell and Jackie Manley, a racer whose family worked for decades at the track, would be willing to run it or offer advice to the buyer.

“This was a great family place,” Blackwell said.

Manley spearheaded a fundraising campaign to operate the track two years ago.

The group raised $60,000, which was donated to Shriners Hospital., and had commitments for the rest, but Manley’s lawyer advised him not to sign the proposed lease without a few changes. A deal could not be reached.

Greenville Pickens Speedway opened in 1940 as a half-mile-long dirt track. When racing resumed after World War II on Independence Day, fans saw two horse races and a car race promoted by Bill France Sr., who two years later founded NASCAR.

“Until they bring a wrecking ball out there, we’re going to keep fighting for it,” Blackwell said.

This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM.