The Greenville Speedway is ready to start racing again just as soon as it gets the green flag from Washington County officials.
Charity Kilgore, who runs the speedway with her husband Carl, has submitted a reopening plan to the Washington County Board of Supervisors. She said this plan includes making sure the speedway reopens under proper social distancing and safety guidelines. Noting that there are already two similar tracks like Greenville’s that have already reopened in Mississippi, she said she is hoping she will be allowed to open the race track up even before the board of supervisors meets again early next month.
“I think the Board of Supervisors has the safety of the public in mind and that is a good thing, but we believe we can open back up in a way that is safe to the public,” Kilgore said.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the Greenville Speedway has had to cancel or postpone eight events, four of which are the larger late model and super model shows.
The Speedway, which is on property owned by the county, employs about 20 people, who are mostly part-time. The Kilgores began operating the speedway last year and made several improvements during the offseason. These improvements included building a new officials tower, upgrading the bleachers and improving the embankment of the racetrack.
The Kilgores believed, before racing began this year, that they were headed for one of the best and most exciting racing seasons the race track had ever seen. Now, they are just hoping to get back to racing soon so they can make up for some of the losses they have occurred during this health crisis.
“This racetrack is important to this community,” Kilgore said. “We not only have a lot of locals who love coming out here, but it also brings in so many people from outside of our community who come here and spend their money.”
“If we can start racing again in the next few weeks, I believe we will be OK,” she said.
