Timing is such that it falls into the calendar that way. The weather (supposedly) gives hints of warmer temperatures and nature (evidently) begins to show some color as mid-March and Saint Patrick’s Day are celebrated.
A little rain in the mix is not a problem… Right…?
Regional racing is waking up. Many tracks deeper in the south have already started a 2025 schedule. For Virginia, tracks are gearing up with open practice sessions. Southside Virginia woke up Saturday, March 15th with, what came to be, an unexpected weather situation. A storm system was coming but it was not supposed to really impact until Saturday night and Sunday. However, an open door to Saturday morning was wet, misty, foggy…
South Boston Speedway dragged tires and drove dryers to salvage an afternoon of practice. Natural Bridge Speedway sessions were already set for the afternoon. Franklin County Raceway opened up for laps a day early on Friday (3/14).
Open for actual racing business, with some training and practices thrown in, was Virginia International Raceway hosting the Mid-Atlantic region of the National Auto Sport Association. NASA and VIR also have a long history of hosting the automotive party known as HyperFest scheduled for May. This “March To Grid” opener was an early preview to some of the HyperFest racing activities.
Damp and foggy with a wet track from mist and humidity slowed the action a bit but treads and wipers kept them moving as the track dried and the clouds lifted. The classes and activities went forward as NASA turned the laps over the weekend. There was some adjustment as the real weather came through Sunday morning but the sun was out soon enough for midday onward.
Late models to Hornets and more were on the tracks for the Saturday practice laps. South Boston opens the gates for competition racing the weekend of March 21-22 with the SMART Modified Tour. The “King Of The Modifieds” race day showcases the Sentara Late Models and the STAR Super Stock Tour with the SMART Modified main event.
Franklin County has the opener set for April 5 with Sportsman, Super Street, Mini Stock, Stock 4 and Legends with kids bikes and spectator challenges.
Natural Bridge also has their opener set for April 5 with Late Model, Crate Late Model, Sportsman, Street Stock, Pure Stock. Practices are also open each weekend leading up.
Martinsville has NASCAR weekend coming up. Tracks across Virginia are waking up. Some that have been dark are opening back up. The Ararat “Rolling Thunder” Bullring is opening for dirt track action on April 26th. Southside Speedway (just inside the Richmond area) has new backers and investors but racing is likely not in the cards for 2025 but might be coming for 2026 if those cards fall favorably in place.
It’s not all green beer and clovers… Virginia Motor Speedway in the eastern part of the state is dark except for some mud bog events. Motor Mile (Pulaski County) is still dark. Richmond is hosting only one NASCAR Cup weekend… There are any number of picky reasons for tracks to stop racing but a key issue is support. There are choices, of course, but fans in the seats at a race track will go a long way to keep those green and checkered flags waving.
Support it and race it… Or lose it. The racing at the local is often compressed, pressured, fast and powerful. The big stars of NASCAR or IMSA are fun to watch but the local track offers exciting racing with seating closer to the action and drivers that are often in your own neighborhood or working a business in your own town.
Bottom line…. Go Racing, Virginia!