The Southside Speedway racetrack has been closed since 2020 and is the subject of an ongoing effort by Chesterfield County to find a developer to revamp the property. (BizSense file images)
A booster of the now-shuttered Southside Speedway is hoping to guide the property’s future as a developer.
Among the respondents to Chesterfield’s request-for-qualifications solicitation seeking a developer for the now-closed racetrack is a group that includes Lin O’Neill, a lead organizer of the Save Southside Speedway movement that has advocated for a return of car racing to the venue.
O’Neill said in an interview last week his group responded to the RFQ that Chesterfield publicized earlier this year. The RFQ is an initial step in a formal process Chesterfield is using to find what it deems an appropriate developer to revamp a 57-acre site that includes the Southside Speedway property at 12800 Genito Road.
In addition to the Southside Speedway property, the project site includes land on the opposite side of Genito Road from the track and the adjacent Chesterfield Auto Parts site, which the county intends to buy to complete the project assemblage.
The county intends to sell the project area to a developer. The Chesterfield Economic Development Authority bought the Southside Speedway property in 2021.
In its response to the RFQ, O’Neill’s group was required to submit an overview of the development team and its background, resumes for leading personnel on the project, a financing plan and other information.
O’Neill declined to share how much money his group would pay for the property. He also declined to share the names of any partners in the venture.
“Things are moving forward, I will say that,” he said
The Southside Speedway redevelopment site (outlined in pink) consists of four parcels and includes the shuttered racetrack as well as the Chesterfield Auto Parts property next door.
It’s unclear how many development teams have indicated interest in the property. Economic Development Director Garrett Hart last week declined to share how many responses the county received from the solicitation, which had a late May deadline.
“As the (Economic Development Authority) considers the submittal of information by the potential developers confidential information, we will not be releasing how many RFQ responses we received or who responded,” Hart said.
Following the RFQ, the county will initiate a request-for-proposals solicitation that would garner formal development plan pitches. Chesterfield doesn’t anticipate it will select a developer this year.
O’Neill said “major renovations” to the racetrack and a racing history museum would be part of his group’s plan, and that the redevelopment plan would be in line with Chesterfield’s stated goals for the property.
“It’s a part of Chesterfield County and it needs to stay,” O’Neill said. “That racetrack, run correctly, will be equal to The Diamond or anything else (in the region).”
Chesterfield wants to see the assemblage redeveloped to complement River City Sportsplex, a 115-acre sports complex venue that hosts youth tournaments at 13030 Genito Road. The county’s Genito/288 Special Focus Area land-use plan calls for commercial development for retail stores and restaurants, a hotel, outdoor entertainment and indoor sports facilities as well as sports-related medical offices.
Hart has previously said Chesterfield would be open to a redevelopment proposal that includes the return of racing to Southside Speedway. The racetrack, which closed in 2020, was a popular venue for car racing and was known as “The Toughest Short Track in the South.”
The Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan envisions multiple uses for the Southside Speedway property and immediate area.
While O’Neill didn’t share a cost estimate on what he thinks it will take to renovate the racetrack specifically to allow a return of racing to the property, he believed it would be less than the $10 million to $15 million price tag a consultant shared with county supervisors after a high-level study of the track last year.
O’Neill, who owns Decals Unlimited near Chester and raced at Southside Speedway and other tracks, said the racetrack has historic and cultural significance that makes it worth rebuilding.
“It’s a second home to a lot of racing people. I don’t think the county realized what that place meant to so many people,” he said. “I bet I’ve done 25 events for Save Southside Speedway and I’ve never heard someone say a bad word about it. It’s where they met their wife or their first girlfriend.”
The Southside Speedway racetrack has been closed since 2020 and is the subject of an ongoing effort by Chesterfield County to find a developer to revamp the property. (BizSense file images)
A booster of the now-shuttered Southside Speedway is hoping to guide the property’s future as a developer.
Among the respondents to Chesterfield’s request-for-qualifications solicitation seeking a developer for the now-closed racetrack is a group that includes Lin O’Neill, a lead organizer of the Save Southside Speedway movement that has advocated for a return of car racing to the venue.
O’Neill said in an interview last week his group responded to the RFQ that Chesterfield publicized earlier this year. The RFQ is an initial step in a formal process Chesterfield is using to find what it deems an appropriate developer to revamp a 57-acre site that includes the Southside Speedway property at 12800 Genito Road.
In addition to the Southside Speedway property, the project site includes land on the opposite side of Genito Road from the track and the adjacent Chesterfield Auto Parts site, which the county intends to buy to complete the project assemblage.
The county intends to sell the project area to a developer. The Chesterfield Economic Development Authority bought the Southside Speedway property in 2021.
In its response to the RFQ, O’Neill’s group was required to submit an overview of the development team and its background, resumes for leading personnel on the project, a financing plan and other information.
O’Neill declined to share how much money his group would pay for the property. He also declined to share the names of any partners in the venture.
“Things are moving forward, I will say that,” he said
The Southside Speedway redevelopment site (outlined in pink) consists of four parcels and includes the shuttered racetrack as well as the Chesterfield Auto Parts property next door.
It’s unclear how many development teams have indicated interest in the property. Economic Development Director Garrett Hart last week declined to share how many responses the county received from the solicitation, which had a late May deadline.
“As the (Economic Development Authority) considers the submittal of information by the potential developers confidential information, we will not be releasing how many RFQ responses we received or who responded,” Hart said.
Following the RFQ, the county will initiate a request-for-proposals solicitation that would garner formal development plan pitches. Chesterfield doesn’t anticipate it will select a developer this year.
O’Neill said “major renovations” to the racetrack and a racing history museum would be part of his group’s plan, and that the redevelopment plan would be in line with Chesterfield’s stated goals for the property.
“It’s a part of Chesterfield County and it needs to stay,” O’Neill said. “That racetrack, run correctly, will be equal to The Diamond or anything else (in the region).”
Chesterfield wants to see the assemblage redeveloped to complement River City Sportsplex, a 115-acre sports complex venue that hosts youth tournaments at 13030 Genito Road. The county’s Genito/288 Special Focus Area land-use plan calls for commercial development for retail stores and restaurants, a hotel, outdoor entertainment and indoor sports facilities as well as sports-related medical offices.
Hart has previously said Chesterfield would be open to a redevelopment proposal that includes the return of racing to Southside Speedway. The racetrack, which closed in 2020, was a popular venue for car racing and was known as “The Toughest Short Track in the South.”
The Genito/288 Special Focus Area Plan envisions multiple uses for the Southside Speedway property and immediate area.
While O’Neill didn’t share a cost estimate on what he thinks it will take to renovate the racetrack specifically to allow a return of racing to the property, he believed it would be less than the $10 million to $15 million price tag a consultant shared with county supervisors after a high-level study of the track last year.
O’Neill, who owns Decals Unlimited near Chester and raced at Southside Speedway and other tracks, said the racetrack has historic and cultural significance that makes it worth rebuilding.
“It’s a second home to a lot of racing people. I don’t think the county realized what that place meant to so many people,” he said. “I bet I’ve done 25 events for Save Southside Speedway and I’ve never heard someone say a bad word about it. It’s where they met their wife or their first girlfriend.”
This place would be perfect for the CARS Tour if we could get back up and running.
Lots of NASCAR drivers raced or got there careers started at Southside.What a history this place has,and very family oriented.Lots of race fans in the surrounding areas,love to see the stock cars return.
In my opinion car racing will be in the rearview mirror when the EDA makes its decision. The location is a perfect complement to the River City Sports Complex. Chesterfield and Henrico are competing for sports tourism, and this is a perfect fit for Chesterfield County. The addition of a hotel is equally as important, since there is a room shortage in the vicinity of the Sports Complex.
Booooo! Leave our racetrack alone!
I refuse to see my local track have the same demise as other tracks across the country. Nimby’s and Karens move into the neighborhood and complain about noise when they should have known what they were moving near.
PS: The EPA and CAFE laws all need to be abolished too.
Karen is a racist and classist term. It’s even sexist.
You lose your credibility with me when you start labeling everything as
“racism”. Grow up.
Sometimes honesty hurts.
We need this to happen and the County needs to help make this happen it has been a total mess for close to 3 years now.We want are RaceTrack Back so let’s make this Happen .🏁🏁🏁🏁
Automobile racing is a sport, good fit for the complex.
I am going to go out on a limb here and predict a future of uninspired “luxury” apartments and yet another mega gas station for this area if Chesterfield County is involved.
The only thngs people will see racing around are dump trucks.
OH NO!!! Not THAT stuff!!!
Southside Speedway was once a big part of my life. I chose my home to purchase because of so close to the racetrack. I want to be there. I want to hear it when I can’t make it there. I want Southside Speedway to be back in my life.
A motorsports park may be a good fit; allowing for the revival of the racetrack, an area for off-road racing (for example, Unadilla Motorcross in upstate NY), as well as a hotel, a parking lot for spectators, an area for participant equipment, and possibly some commercial buildings (food, as there is a gas station already in progress).
That’s my 2 cents, do with it what you will.
Racing is a perfect addition to the sports tourism corridor the county has started with the Sportsplex…there’s a lot of revenue potential in the Southside Speedway!! Let’s do this!! Save Southside Speedway
So super excited for this track. We need to definitely have racing back in Chesterfield!!!
I would love to see Southside Speedway reopen. I feel the track was a staple for the area. It brought people together who have a common interest. That’s racing. This track generated revenue for local businesses. Especially, Styles Bi-rite along with graphics, tire suppliers and more who contribute. I wish the county would get the point. The track will generate thousands of dollars. It will bring people who love racing from all across Virginia and other states too. The track was not losing money. It closed because of the pandemic. The owners decided to sell. The county purchased it. Why… Read more »