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Denny Hamlin shows genuine interest taking operation control of 65 years old short track that needs 'few-million-dollar investment' from the Virginia state government

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Justin P Joy | Last updated 4/6/24

The state of Virginia has a strong history when it comes to stock car racing and it has some of the legacy tracks in the US such as the Richmond Raceway. But there is another track that is more than half a century old is going through a tough patch. The Southside Speedway right is running on life-support after ceasing it’s operations.

The track would be part of history if significant investment is not being made. It entirely cancelled its operations in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. But recently major strides have been made in an effort to resurrect the track. The future if the track is now on the hands of the satiate and Chesterfield County.

Denny Hamlin, one of the most accomplished and renowned NASCAR racers of all time, started his career at the facility. He was asked about potentially being involved in the project after his victory at Richmond Raceway. Hamlin responded to it by sharing his willingness to run the track if the re-development project goes through.

I think those are bigger conversations for the state and the county is to how much they're willing to invest because it needs some upfitting, it needs a few million dollars’ worth of upgrades and to get it back on track and back on par for other short tracks. So, I'd love to be a part of that. I'd be happy to run it for the city or the county… Denny Hamlin said via AP.

Denny Hamlin has a genuine interest in operating or owning his childhood track, Southside Speedway. @dennyhamlin X @JoeGibbsRacing pic.twitter.com/VJebM4smp5
— Racing America (@RacingAmerica) April 1, 2024

Denny Hamlin details why he is hesitant to invest his own money in the track

Hamlin also addressed the questions about potentially investing his own money at the track. While talking about it, he pointed out that it would be a big investment for him unless a multifunction facility is being built. He highlighted the importance of hosting Karts races and other series alongside concerts to make running the track sustainable.

But as far as investing my own money in it, it's just very, very hard unless you're going to build a multi-use facility there, which is what needs to be done. You can't just rely on running one night a week and that place being able to survive. You got to have go-karts there, you got to have concerts there, you got to have all kinds of different stuff that people can do. Denny Hamlin said.

Hamlin’s hesitancy to invest is reasonable considering the uncertainty over the re-devolvement plan. But, it would be the best way he could give back to community and it might also help the city to find it’s next big racing star as there hasn’t been a premiant racer that came out following Hamlin.