Once the Local Tracks Are Gone...
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For
the past few years a local race track has been through a roller coaster ride.
Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland Tennessee, was once owned by the
legendary Joe Lee Johnson, winner of the inaugural World 600 in 1960. Joe Lee put his heart and soul into Cleveland
Speedway over the years until Cancer took him from us in 2005.
Many,
many fans flowed through the stands at Cleveland Speedway over the years, as
did drivers; legends of the sport raced here; drivers like the Fryar brothers,
Ronnie Johnson, Scott Bloomquist, Skip Arp, Dale
McDowell, the list goes on and on, of drivers who raced and won at the famed
dirt track.
A
couple years ago the track went into bankruptcy and was bought by two investors
who poured lots of money into the track to bring it up to date, and make it raceable
again. While the two owners didn’t actually understand racing, they knew what
it meant to the people of the area and they went out on a limb to try and save
it.
The
new owners brought in a team to run the track and see if it could be a viable
income for a return on their investment. At first it was… a HUGE grand
reopening, lots of fans and cars turned out to a packed house. It was great
that Cleveland was back open again!
Then
the new seemed to wear off and the car count dropped; then the fan count
dropped, and it still struggled to keep the gates open. Despite the heroic
efforts of Mike and Theresa Simmons and the team they put together, again the
track closed, and was put up for sale. It sat for 2 years with no racing, no
activity, and recently it was announced that it had been bought by a local
developer who did not reveal what his plans were for the property until people
saw the dismantling begin, and it became clear, Cleveland Speedway was soon to
be nothing but a memory.
Once
the word got out about the sale, everyone on social media began to talk about
what should have been, and how they hoped it would be saved… talking about the
great memories made at the legendary track. But when the demolition began,
hearts sank, as they were faced with the reality of what was happening…
Cleveland Speedway was soon to be gone.
Here
is where the opinions flowed, some felt it was poor management, others felt it
was the fact no one would attend races there. Some felt it was because of
rules; some felt it was lack of promotion. The list goes on and on because
everyone has an opinion, when in fact, very few know what it takes to actually
make a race track work, and to keep it open. But everyone has an opinion.
But
the fact is this, it has been sold. Yeah lots of attempts were made to save it
as a racing venue, but the final choice was made; it wouldn’t be a race track.
Now no one knows what lies ahead for Cleveland Speedway. Some say it will be a
soccer field, some say a car lot. Who knows? But the fact remains the same.
Cleveland Speedway is being torn down.
Now
who is to blame? It’s hard to say this but I can tell you, it’s everyone’s
fault, racers who drove past it going to other tracks because they wanted more
payout, or didn’t like the rules, fans who claimed they wanted to see races but
when the gates opened had other things to do. It all boils down to this; race
fans need to support race tracks in their area, or there will be more and more
tracks closing.
With
the slow downward spiral of attendance in NASCAR, dirt tracks have the prime
time to attract new fans, to put on a show that will draw the fans looking for
action in. But it really takes just one thing to make it all happen; people
coming through the gates. Racers, fans, everyone has to join in to save race
tracks. One or two can’t do it; it takes the crowds that say they want to see
racing, coming out and filling the stands to make it happen, so next time you
want to chime in on a topic you see on social media about what you think is
wrong, ask yourself this… “Have I done all I can do to support local tracks in
my area?” because if you haven’t… just keep scrolling… because you are part of
the problem.
C-ya
@ the track!