You can still smell the phantom scent of burnt rubber and high-octane fuel if you stand near the corner of Genito Road and Oak Lake Boulevard on a quiet Friday night. For sixty years, that patch of asphalt in Midlothian wasn't just a track; it was the heartbeat of Chesterfield County. They called it "The Toughest Short Track in the South," and honestly, that wasn't just marketing. If you could survive a 200-lap feature at Southside without ending up in the wall, you were ready for the big leagues.
Then, 2020 happened.
When the gates stayed locked during the pandemic, most people figured it was a temporary glitch. We were wrong. In December 2020, the Wilkinson family—who had owned the place since 1959—announced they were closing for good. It felt like a gut punch to the local community. For a few years, it looked like those 47 acres were destined to become another "cookie-cutter" subdivision or a bland shopping center.
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But things have taken a massive turn lately.
The Current State of Southside Speedway Chesterfield VA
If you drove past the site today, in early 2026, you'd see more activity than you have in half a decade. After years of petitions and 21,000 signatures from the "Save Southside Speedway" movement, the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) stepped in. They bought the land for about $4.5 million back in 2021 specifically to keep it from becoming a sea of townhomes.
Fast forward to March 2025, and a real deal finally hit the table.
Chesterfield County signed a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement with a group called Competitive Racing Investments (CRI). This isn't just some corporate entity. It’s led by Lin O’Neill and Jeff Oakley. These guys were rivals on the track for years. They know exactly what this bullring needs to get back on its feet.
Basically, the deal works like this:
- Rent: CRI pays just $1 a year for the first five years.
- The Catch: They have to spend millions on "upfit" and infrastructure.
- Timeline: The goal is to have the green flag dropping again by late 2026 or early 2027.
Right now, the heavy lifting is underway. Most of the old, crumbling buildings had to go. The county and the state found them to be safety hazards, so if you've seen demolition crews out there, don't panic—it’s part of the rebirth, not a funeral. They’re keeping the one-third-mile oval and the barrier wall. Everything else is getting a facelift.
Why This Track Actually Matters
You've got to understand the history here to realize why people fought so hard for a tiny asphalt oval. Southside was a proving ground for NASCAR royalty.
Richard Petty raced here. So did Bobby Allison and Junior Johnson. In 1961, Junior Johnson won a Cup Series race there back when it was still a quarter-mile dirt track. It moved to asphalt and the one-third-mile length in 1962, and that’s when it became a legendary "bullring."
One of the coolest stories, though, is Wendell Scott. He was the first African American to win in NASCAR's top series, and he cut his teeth right here in Chesterfield. He won a track championship at Southside in the Sportsman class.
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And then there's Denny Hamlin. Before he was winning Daytona 500s, he was a local kid from Manchester High School. He literally grew up in those grandstands and on that track. He even brought the "Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown" there for a few years, bringing guys like Kyle Busch to race against local heroes.
What the Future Looks Like (It's More Than Just Racing)
The "New" Southside Speedway isn't going to be a 1960s relic. Jeff Oakley has been pretty vocal about the fact that they are developing every single one of those 47 acres.
It’s becoming part of a massive sports tourism corridor. You’ve got the River City Sportsplex right down the road, and the Genito/288 Plan is turning this whole area into a destination.
CRI is looking at:
- Year-round entertainment: Think concerts and community festivals, not just Friday night races.
- Modern Amenities: New grandstands and actual plumbing (the old fans know what I mean).
- Local Economic Boost: Buck Reuss, the longtime PA announcer, pointed out that when the track is open, the nearby Walmarts, gas stations, and restaurants see a massive spike in business.
The county isn't just handing over the keys and hoping for the best. The EDA can actually terminate the lease after five years if racing hasn't returned. It's a "put up or shut up" deal. But with $591,000 already sitting in escrow and a $2 million renovation budget being tossed around, the commitment looks real.
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Addressing the Skepticism
Look, I know some people are worried about the noise. It’s a classic Chesterfield argument. The suburbs have grown up around the track since the '50s. But the track was there first. The current Board of Supervisors, led by folks like Mark Miller and Kevin Carroll, seem to think the economic trade-off is worth it.
They aren't trying to build a massive speedway that hosts 100,000 people. They're rebuilding a community hub. A place where you can take your kids on a Friday night, eat a questionable hot dog, and watch local drivers trade paint for a $500 trophy.
The biggest hurdle right now is the sheer amount of decay. The track surface itself has "deteriorated massively" according to recent engineering reports. Resurfacing a one-third-mile oval to NASCAR standards isn't cheap or fast.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Residents
If you want to stay in the loop or get involved, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just waiting for the news.
- Follow the Official Site: Keep an eye on
southsidespeedwayvirginia.com. That’s where CRI is supposed to post regular updates on construction and hiring. - Check the Board of Supervisors Meetings: Chesterfield County is very transparent about the EDA progress. You can watch the "Board Roundup" videos on the county website to see if there are any zoning or infrastructure tweaks.
- Support Local Racing Now: If you miss the smell of tire smoke, head over to Dominion Raceway or Langley Speedway in the meantime. The local racing scene only survives if people actually show up to the tracks that are open.
- Prepare for 2027: Don't expect a full season in 2026. Realistic projections suggest we might see some exhibition events or "soft openings" late next year, with a full Friday night schedule likely aiming for the 2027 season.
The era of "The Toughest Short Track in the South" isn't over. It’s just in the middle of a very long pit stop.