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Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently voiced support for Greenville-Pickens Speedway as the future of the historic NASCAR track remains uncertain.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has never hidden his love for short track racing. Now the NASCAR Hall of Famer is making it clear where he stands on the uncertain future of Greenville-Pickens Speedway, one of the sport’s historic venues.
As discussions continue about what will happen to Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina, Earnhardt spoke up publicly in support of keeping the track alive.
“If @GPSpeedway1 can survive, the @CARSTour will be first in line to return and I’ll be the first entry,” Earnhardt wrote on social media.
Earnhardt’s comment quickly spread among racing fans and figures across the NASCAR community. For many, it reinforced how much the historic track still means to the sport’s culture and its grassroots foundation.
Greenville-Pickens Speedway’s future remains uncertain
Greenville-Pickens Speedway first opened in the 1940s and played an important role in the early growth of stock car racing in the Southeast. The track hosted NASCAR-sanctioned events during the formative years of the sport and became a regular stop for regional competition.
In recent years, however, the facility’s future has been unclear.
Developers proposed plans to demolish the speedway and redevelop the property for industrial use. The proposal sparked debate among local officials and racing supporters who believe the venue deserves to be preserved because of its place in NASCAR history.
Earlier this week the Pickens County Planning Commission rejected key elements of the redevelopment proposal. The vote slowed the project and reopened discussion about whether the track could still remain part of the local racing landscape.
The speedway sits along a heavily traveled corridor between Greenville and Easley, making the property valuable for development. At the same time, longtime fans and members of the racing community have continued to advocate for protecting the site.
Earnhardt’s comments added one of the most recognizable voices in NASCAR to that conversation.
Earnhardt points to possible CARS Tour return
Earnhardt’s statement carried additional weight because of his involvement with the CARS Tour, a Late Model Stock Car series he co-owns with fellow NASCAR veterans Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Justin Marks.
The series focuses on short track racing across the Southeast and has gained significant momentum in recent seasons as interest in grassroots racing continues to grow.
Earnhardt indicated that if Greenville-Pickens Speedway survives, the CARS Tour would eagerly bring an event back to the historic facility.
His comment about being “the first entry” also reflects Earnhardt’s continued passion for getting behind the wheel in Late Model races. Although he stepped away from full-time NASCAR competition in 2017, he still competes occasionally in grassroots events.
A speedway tied to NASCAR’s early history
Greenville-Pickens Speedway occupies a special place in NASCAR’s history. The venue hosted some of the sport’s early races and helped introduce stock car competition to a wider audience during NASCAR’s formative decades.
The track is also remembered for hosting one of the earliest NASCAR races broadcast flag to flag on television.
While major NASCAR national series no longer race at the speedway, the facility has remained active in regional competition and continues to hold strong meaning for many fans.
For supporters of the track, the debate surrounding Greenville-Pickens Speedway represents something larger than one property. It reflects a broader effort to preserve the short tracks that helped build the foundation of NASCAR.
Earnhardt’s public support highlighted that connection.
And if the speedway ultimately finds a way to continue operating, one of the sport’s most recognizable figures has already made his intentions clear. He wants to be part of its return to racing.
Maggie MacKenzie Maggie MacKenzie covers NASCAR for Heavy.com. She previously worked for NASCAR.com, where she reported, wrote, and edited race-weekend coverage and traveled to key events throughout the season. She has more than ten years of experience in sports media and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. More about Maggie MacKenzie
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