Hundreds of small, grassroots facilities create the foundation for the motorsports industry in the United States. These facilities provide up and coming racers a cost-effective option to sharpen their skills. They give local racers a chance to get in front of their hometown crowd. These facilities bring communities together and create an impact on their local economy. They exist in every corner of the country, on the outskirts of small towns and amongst farmlands. With a passionate fanbase and small town atmosphere, local tracks are the heart of the racing community in every variation of the sport. While they may not be featured on TV or in magazines, nor headlining events with big touring championships, grassroots motorsports venues are vital components to the continuation of racing in America.
Small facilities exist in every form of motorsport: small road courses provide track time for independent teams and local car clubs; eighth-Mile dragstrips offering weekly events and points series for local hot-rodders; unpretentious dirt tracks with passionate fans rooting on their local heroes. All of these facilities share similar challenges and characteristics for their owners and operators: maintaining and improving their track for future generations to enjoy. It’s no wonder that so many of them are struggling to survive, but supporting them is imperative!
Operating these facilities is often a thankless endeavor. With the mounting costs of insurance and operations, it’s a full-time job running a small track. Owners and operators serve multiple roles and rarely going a day without time spent trying to promote or improve their facility, from maintenance to mowing to marketing to infrastructure support. But the return for fans, spectators, racers and crew cannot be denied.
Recently, I took my six year old son to a local dirt track. An evening of entertainment cost us $15 and he was welcomed with a goodie bag, given to every kid that comes through the gate. The local racers put on a great show, the cheeseburgers were tasty, and the folks that joined us in the wooden bleachers were more than happy to have us join them. It seemed like everyone in the stands knew someone in competition that night.
We had a great time. A kid seated next to us was loudly cheering for one driver in particular. My son asked, “Is that your dad?” The kid turned around with a big smile on his face and said, “That’s my school bus driver.” Before we knew it, the whole section around us was pulling for the school bus driver, who went on to finish third and making one young bus rider very proud. By the end of the night, my son had made some new friends, sharing candy and playing in the dirt with their toy cars.
Collectively, the smaller race tracks with their weekly events turn just as many laps, welcome just as many racers and fans and deserve just as much of the spotlight as the mega facilities. There are some things that small tracks flat out do better. I can’t tell you the name of the gate lady at any major facility. Across the country there are thousands of people on a first name basis with the folks welcoming them to the races every weekend.
These local grassroots tracks offer you the opportunity to get your foot in the door. They provide you the chance to compete on a regular basis and build your racing resume. New racers are welcomed with open arms, with track staff and fellow competitors happy to see new faces gracing the facilities that mean so much to them.
I give credit to the big facilities, doing their part in bringing motorsports to mainstream media. The national touring series are the pinnacle of motorsport and deserve to be highlighted. But when it comes to the future of the sport, you can find it at your local grassroots track. I encourage you to visit your local track, find a seat in the stands, and appreciate what these venues contribute to the wider landscape of racing. Build a car, take it to your local track and get in on the fun. You’ll be greeted with folks that are happy to have you.
You can find a list of events near you here on RacingJunk (Events Near Me) and plan your next trip to the track. Contact your local track and see how you can get involved as a racer, track personnel or opportunities to learn more about their facility. Check out a list of our partner tracks and go see for yourself what grassroots motorsports facilities mean to the racing community.
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