NASCAR HOME TRACKS
South Boston Speedway
History and family are two topics often mentioned in any conversation about Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, a pillar among NASCAR short tracks since the late 1950s. “The track’s been here since 1957. It started out as a dirt track,” said Cathy Rice, the longtime general manager at the four-tenthsmile asphalt race track. “The people who come here, they’re family. I enjoy seeing the fans and knowing that when they come through these gates, they feel like they are at home. They know everybody, including the competitors, and they are so close with the staff.” All three of NASCAR’s national series have competed at the track. “Back in the day, we had what’s known now as the Xfinity and Cup Series race here,” said Rice. “People like Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough have actually raced on this track.” South Boston’s slate of Saturday night racing continues through Sept. 4.
SOUTH BOSTON’S SLATE OF SATURDAY NIGHT RACING CONTINUES THROUGH SEPT. 4.
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STELLAR GRADS
CATHY RICE, A PIONEER AMONG FEMALE
“WE RUN FOUR DIVISIONS, NO MORE THAN
DRIVERS SUCH AS JEFF AND WARD BURTON,
short-track promoters, is in her final season as
five,” Rice said about the track’s weekly NASCAR
Elliott and Hermie Sadler, Timothy Peters and
GM at South Boston Speedway.
racing program. “We start our show at 7 and we
Stacy Compton are among those who honed their
“I’ve actually been here 30-plus years,” Rice
are out of here by 10. We have the late model
racing skills at South Boston Speedway before
said. “Yes, I am stepping down. I’m not saying
stock division, we have the limited sportsman
becoming familiar names in the upper divisions of
I’m leaving or I’m quitting, but I am going to step
division, pure stocks and hornets. Then, we’ll
NASCAR racing.
down and we’ve got some new blood here. I’ve
throw in the legendary flat-heads, the old-timers
always said we need young people involved in
club or something that represents the history of
Morris, Lee Pulliam and Peyton Sellars also
the sport so we can get this younger generation
the track.”
earned national titles in the NASCAR Advance
coming back to the races.”
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POLE POSITION 2021
Numerous special events also dot the schedule.
South Boston Speedway champions Philip
Auto Parts Weekly Series.
WORDS: KEITH WALTZ, PHOTOGRAPHY: SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY