Denny Hamlin took a remarkable victory in a three-way fight to the end between three JGR drivers at Nashville Superspeedway. While Hamlin walked away with the plaudits, it was the Superspeedway that was the real winner. 

For a fourth year in succession, Nashville Superspeedway has recorded a sell-out attendance, ever since its return to the calendar. All but one race has been sold out. 

The only outlier was 2022, when rain caused major delays. But part of how Nashville Superspeedway is making a case for becoming NASCAR’s new home comes from something that happened that same year. 

While track attendance was about 30,000 compared to the usual capacity of 38,000, the rain delay pushed the start of the race in 2022. This meant part of the race would be run at night.

Ever since then, the races at the Superspeedway have been run under lights. But even beyond that, Music City has embraced NASCAR like few other cities have managed to. 

Charlotte may be the epicenter of NASCAR, and while teams are unlikely to shift bases to Nashville, the track offers a concert-like experience with celebrated musicians performing right through the week. This unique blend of sport and culture beyond the racing makes it a one-of-a-kind race. 

The debate that NASCAR is shifting away from its roots and various aspects of the changes through time might be true, but the fans at Nashville turned up with excitement and welcoming hearts to provide an atmosphere that would put many tracks to shame. 

The Other Nashville Tracks makes an Additional Case for Regional Fans

While Charlotte Motor Speedway has the history, the facilities, and NASCAR’s longest race to boast, Nashville has the fans. While the sold-out race days prove that, the passion of Nashville fans has been seen even in the context of Nashville’s other track. 

The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is a highly politicised track at this point, with its future unclear. But Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s CARS Tour event this year showed the true passion of the Nashville community. Over 12,500 people turned up to watch the race. And it wasn’t even a Cup race.

Conversations regarding the track's future remain in a deadlock as some members of the community want the track turned into an affordable housing project. 

On the other hand, Bristol Motorspeedway has a deal in place, waiting to be signed, that would see them take the track on a 30-year lease, redevelop the facilities, add sound barriers, and make it fit to host NASCAR races. 

But sell-out crowds point to Nashville making a solid case to become NASCAR’s new home. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore