SOUTH BOSTON, Va. — It’s a new year and new milestones are on the horizon as South Boston Speedway celebrates its 65th anniversary.
South Boston Speedway kicks off a new era with a change in leadership, first-time events, new ticketing opportunities for fans, a bigger push into digital marketing and livestreaming and a month-long celebration of the track’s 65th anniversary celebration in August.
After having served as South Boston Speedway’s general manager for the past 21 years and having been involved in the speedway’s operation for more than three decades, Cathy Rice retired from the post at the end of 2021. Helen Barksdale, the track’s long-time office manager, also retired.
Chase Brashears is taking the reins of South Boston Speedway, stepping into the general manager’s role, and his wife, Carly Brashears, will serve as director of marketing and administration for the speedway.
“South Boston Speedway’s history and tradition of being one of NASCAR’s premier short tracks is well-known across the nation,” said Chase Brashears. “Our goal is to take the speedway to the next level, continuing to build upon South Boston Speedway’s tradition of providing fans the best in racing at a quality facility with a family-friendly atmosphere.”
Brashears is bringing new events to South Boston Speedwa. Drifting, a different form of motorsports, will be featured on March 5. The fastest cars on asphalt, 410-winged sprint cars, will visit the track for a two-night event on April 29-30.
Last year South Boston Speedway implemented an online ticketing system that enabled fans to purchase advance tickets as well as race-day tickets on the speedway’s website. In December, fans had the ability to purchase tickets for the next season’s events prior to the Christmas holidays.
South Boston Speedway is looking to expand its livestreaming platform heading into the season. The speedway began livestreaming events in May.
While the track’s 65th anniversary will be touted throughout the season, the speedway will stage a month-long celebration in August that will include vintage races by drivers in the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club on Aug. 6 and the East Coast Flathead Ford Racing Association on Aug. 20.
The first of four special events will take place on April 2 when the SMART Modified Tour returns for the second straight year. Last season’s SMART Modified Tour race at South Boston Speedway was a thriller as Ryan Preece held off Chuck Hossfeld and Burt Myers in a seven-lap dash to the finish to win the 99-lap race.
The Sentara Healthcare American Sprint Car Weekend on April 29-30marks the second special event of the season with the track hosting winged 410-sprint cars for the first time.
A full slate of racing featuring the winged 410-sprint cars, the fastest cars on asphalt, will be held both nights. South Boston Speedway’s limited sportsman, Budweiser pure stock and Budweiser hornets division competitors will compete as part of the Friday night action. The track’s NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division teams and the drivers of the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club will be featured on Saturday night along with the winged 410-sprint cars.
South Boston Speedway will hold its pre-Fourth of July showcase event – the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 presented by Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort– on July 2. Along with the 200-lap late model stock car division race, the first race of the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown, fans will see the track’s limited sportsman division, Budweiser pure stock division and Budweiser hornets division competitors in action.
South Boston Speedway will close out its regular season of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series points races with championship night on Sept. 4.
In another special event, the CARS Tour will return to South Boston Speedway on Oct. 22 featuring its late model stock car division competitors in a 125-lap race and its pro late model divisions teams in a 100-lap race.