Track officials have confirmed that Peach State Speedway, the half-mile raceway outside of Jefferson, is up for sale.
An advertisement appeared last week in the Athens Banner-Herald listing the track and the 53 acres it sits on for $2.5 million.
Track promoter Vince Whitmire says, however, everything is business as usual.
“The track has actually been for sale since the end of last year,” he said. Whitmire has a two-year lease on the property, and said that if the track were to sell, his lease would continue, as will the Georgia Asphalt Series, which is headquartered out of the track.
“We’re going to keep racing and everything is going to continue just like we’ve been doing.”
Whitmire said there have been questions from worried racers and fans about the track’s future, but he insists things will go on as usual, including scheduled GAS events, and the World Crown Weekend in November.
Owner Paul Kegel bought the facility in 2006. The track was built in 1967 under the name “Jefco Speedway,” a combination of the town names of Jefferson and Commerce. The track hosted two NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) events, one in 1968, won by Cale Yarborough, and again in 1969, won by the late Bobby Isaac.
The track was re-christened Georgia International Speedway, and ran the inaugural World Crown 300 in 1983. The track played host to several touring series, including the American Speed Association and the NASCAR All Pro Series.
Previous management at the track had planned an extensive reconfiguration of the track in hopes of luring NASCAR teams to the facility to test. That plan didn’t materialize, however, and the facility remains in its current configuration.
The track has seen good crowds and car counts this year, as tracks all over the country struggle against rising gas prices.
“I think the deal with us cutting the ticket prices back and keeping the racing closer to home has helped the crowds here,” Whitmire said. “Plus, we keep our concessions reasonable and affordable for the family. I think the key to keeping the crowds coming with the economy being what it is will be keeping ticket prices as low as possible.”
Events scheduled for later this year at the track include the GAS series season finale, a visit from the ASCA Sprint Car Series, as well as an event for the ASA Late Model tour.
The next event for the track will be July 3, featuring the GAS series, local divisions, and a fireworks display.
