No racing at this historic SC racetrack for first time in decades. Here’s why
No racing at the historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway this year despite a major effort to raise enough money to save it.
Racer Jackie Manley was spearheading an effort to bring racing back to the 83-year-old track in Easley, a track where he not only raced but also grew up at when both his parents worked there. He had support from 100 or so drivers as well as a member of the family of the former owners and a similar group that saved the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina.
A post on the Save Our Speedway Facebook page said, “We’re truly saddened and disappointed to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, our fight to salvage a 2023 racing season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway has unfortunately come to an end.”
But it also said the effort to stage races in future years will continue. When Manley took up the cause, race fans said they feared if the track missed a season, racing would never return.
Manley could not be reached for comment.
The Facebook post did not specifically explain why the effort stopped, other than to say they could not accept the terms of the lease offered by racetrack owner Kevin Whitaker, a Greenville car dealer.
“Despite repeated efforts to negotiate for a few key terms that were necessary to facilitate the 2023 racing season, however, Jackie was told that the lease was offered on a take-it-or-leave-it basis,” the Facebook post said.
Several people on Facebook blamed Whitaker for the deal falling through and urged people to boycott his dealerships.
Whitaker has not been available for comment on the track’s past, present or future.
Manley had promised that money raised would be given to Shriners Hospital. The last amount he told The State was they had raised about $60,000 of the $100,000 goal.
The 300-acre property that includes the track is under contract with Realty Link, a Greenville-based commercial real estate firm that wants to build an industrial park. A 100,000-square-foot building is on the site.
Greenville County Councilman Stan Tzouvelekas is the broker in charge of the industrial park project.
The Save our Speedway Facebook page said, “If the potential sale of the property goes through, we look forward to working with new ownership to attempt to preserve and revive the racetrack.”
Greenville Pickens Speedway opened in 1940 as a half-mile-long dirt track. It closed the next year due to World War II and reopened in 1946, Independence Day, offering fans two horse races and a car race promoted by Bill France Sr., who two years later founded NASCAR.
The Blackwell family bought the track in 1955, the same year NASCAR began sanctioning races there. The track, later paved, hosted various Winston Cup races through the years.
Family member Mark Blackwell was working with Manley to raise money for the track to open this season.
After nearly 50 years, the Blackwells sold the property to Whitaker, a long-time sponsor.
Manley, who owns J&J Gutter, raced late model cars at Greenville Pickens from 2008 until 2015, when he started running his #28 Ford Fusion at other tracks around the region. He still does.
But his ties to Greenville Pickens brought him home.
“We wish you could’ve experienced all that we had planned,” the Facebook post said.
