Christian Southworth, 2, inspects the cars as Lin O'Neill (background, right), of Competitive Racing Investments, speaks at a press conference announcing the reopening of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
The track’s new operator aims to reopen as soon as next year.
Chesterfield County officials announced an agreement Tuesday to refurbish the aging Southside Speedway in an effort to bring racing back to the southside Richmond area for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was definitely a hidden gem in this county,” said Lin O’Neill from the racetrack oval. He’s the head of racetrack operations at Competitive Racing Investments, the company planning to operate the track. “Me and [CRI Chairman] Jeff [Oakley] plan on polishing it.”
CRI and the county struck a 20-year lease-to-own arrangement that would involve the company refurbishing the track during the next year. Those upgrades would include grandstand improvements and a resurfaced track. Under the deal CRI would lease the property for $1 per year for the first five years, and then spread the $5.9 million cost over the remaining 15 years of the deal.
Shaban Athuman
/
VPM News
People leave following a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Southside Speedway’s last race was in 2019; it closed in December 2020, a casualty of the pandemic. The Chesterfield County Economic Development Authority bought the track in 2021.
CRI rehabilitation costs are unclear — as is a firm opening date. But O’Neill said races could return as soon as 2026.
He said the track will hopefully attract the NASCAR circuit.
Several hundred people came out to watch the announcement — some saying they’d watched Friday night races since the track first opened in 1959.
“They got a lot of support from the citizens of Chesterfield, and we’re getting ready to run races again,” said Jack Borinski, a fan who said he’d watched races at the track over the course of several decades.
1 of 7 — Elected officials joined by others officials give remarks at a podium
Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, left, listens along Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll as Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Jim Ingle gives remarks, center, joined by Southside Speedways new operators Jeff Oakley and Lin O’Neall during a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
2 of 7 — People arrive at a press conference
People arrive for a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
3 of 7 — Southworth ispects cars as Elected officials joined by others officials give remarks at a podium
Christian Southworth, 2, inspects the cars as Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, left, listens along Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll as Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Jim Ingle gives remarks, center, joined by Southside Speedways new operators Jeff Oakley and Lin O’Neall during a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
4 of 7 — Southworth ispects cars as Elected officials joined by others officials give remarks at a podium
Jeff Oakley gives remarks as Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, left, listens along Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Jim Ingle and Lin O’Neall during a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
5 of 7 — Community members listen
Community members listen during a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
6 of 7 — Southworth ispects cars as Elected officials joined by others officials give remarks at a podium
Christian Southworth, 2, inspects the cars as Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, left, listens along Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll as Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Jim Ingle gives remarks, center, joined by Southside Speedways new operators Jeff Oakley and Lin O’Neall during a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
7 of 7 — An aeriel view of Southside Speedway
People leave following a press conference announcing the reopening of the long-closed site of the Southside Speedway on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Midlothian, Virginia.
BizSense Beat is a weekly collaboration between VPM News and Richmond BizSense that brings you the top business stories during NPR's Morning Edition on Fridays.
BizSense Beat is a weekly collaboration between VPM News and Richmond BizSense that brings you the top business stories during NPR's Morning Edition on Fridays.
