Several tracks which been a part of NASCAR’s rich history sit idle in this millennium. No major series has competed at such tracks for a decade or more, and a NASCAR insider has urged the governing body to revive one such track: the Hickory Motor Speedway.

The 0.363-mile short track was inaugurated in 1952 as a dirt track and hosted its first NASCAR race in May 1953. However, in recent years, due to issues such as insufficient seating capacity, financial issues, and other issues, NASCAR has been absent.

Meanwhile, the track has been hosting weekly races for ARCA and the CARS tour. Veteran reporter Matt Weaver recently spoke about how the track can be revived and host the All-Star Race.

"Let's take it (All-Star race) to Hickory Motor Speedway,"Weaver said in conversation with Charlie Marlow. "I know you can only fit in 5000 people, but it's made for TV. It's a TV show, right? Let's say we are going to go to Hickory, you then give Hickory an advance, here's your share of the TV money."

Weaver further explained how this could just be a one-off deal from NASCAR's side. The influx of money would help revive Hickory for decades to come.

"You get 1/38th of our TV package, and you take whatever that number is, and you can now modernize Hickory Motor Speedway, and you have to use it for whatever NASCAR says we have to do. I don't know if Hickory needs safer barriers, but whatever the infrastructure is that they need, do that. And it's one and done, and you're out. And now you've got a modernized Hickory for short track racers, up and coming racers to use for the next 30-40 years," added Weaver.

Last year, the track hosted its 75th anniversary 40-lap feature race with the Late Model Stocks, along with Limited Late Model, Street Stock, Super Truck, and Renegade races. 

It remains to be seen if NASCAR will take up on this suggestion to revive the short oval.

Historic NASCAR track saved by locals 

Just like Hickory Motor Speedway, Greenville Pickens Speedway has been a part of NASCAR history. Known as the oldest sanctioned NASCAR track, the speedway faced the danger of being demolished for a project.

Earlier this year, news broke out that the track was under threat of being torn down due to the surrounding area going through an industrial development project. However, the locals stepped in to preserve a part of the history as they voted against the demolition.

"This track is not just old pavement," said a woman during a local council meeting on May 4. "It's one of the oldest NASCAR-sanctioned tracks in the country and holds decades of history ... You can't recreate that. You can't replace that, and once it's gone - it's gone forever."

Moreover, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also came out in support of the same. He vowed to get the CARS tour as the first event at the speedway, with him as the first entrant, if the track survived. 

The push to preserve tracks like Hickory Motor Speedway and Greenville-Pickens is much needed and, as a pleasant side effect, also unites fans from the racing world.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yask Kotak