Promoter Vic Hill announced that Volunteer Speedway has been sold to new ownership and it will not continue as a racetrack.
Volunteer Speedway is a 4/10-mile high-banked oval in Bulls Gap, Tennessee often called “The Gap” located near Exit 23 on I-81. The track was built by Hugh and Louise Goan and opened in 1974. The track was purchased by Joe and Phyllis Loven in 1998 from Ed Turner who had owned it since 1989 and promoted it himself through 1995 before leasing it out. The Lovens operated the facility for 20 years and were even named RPM Southeast Promoters of the Year in 2014.
At the beginning of the 2016 season, Loven sought help to run and operate the facility as he turned 77 and doing so had become more difficult for him and his family. Mitch McCarter, the owner of 411 Motor Speedway leased the facility and operated it between 2017 and 2018. Stan Lester would operate it under the Lovens in 2019.
The Lovens sold the track in the middle of 2019 to Landon Stallard, who operated the track. However, by 2021, he put it up for sale as he was having problems balancing the operation of the track with his construction business. The Lovens bought the track and put Hill and his wife in charge of operating and promoting it.
Under Hill’s management, the track put on one of the greatest races in Dirt Late Model history as Kyle Larson battled with Jonathan Davenport during the Kyle Larson Late Model Challenge race back in April 2023.
This past year Hill introduced the weeklong event Gauntlet at the Gap and had even announced that it would return as a two-day show for 2027. Alas that will not happen with the track being sold.
Hill shared in a statement that the Lovens sold the track. He wrote, “The facility has been sold, and it will not continue as a racetrack. Racing at Volunteer Speedway is over.”
“Despite all the work that has been done, we were not able to reach the point where the operation could support the purchase of the property. The new owners have plans for this property that do not include racing. Because of that, we have to be honest with everyone who cares about this place.”
To that point, the last race held at the track will be the FloRacing Night in America series race on Thursday, October 22nd.
Hill stated, “The race scheduled for October 22 will be the last race ever held at Volunteer Speedway. This is not something we say lightly. The thought of 52 years of racing history coming to an end is heartbreaking. But we believe everyone deserves to know where things stand.”
“We ask everyone who loves Volunteer Speedway to come out on October 22, support the racers, support the event, and help us make it a night to remember. It will be the final chapter in this track’s history,” Hill added.
Hill also expressed his gratitude to the racers, fans, and everyone who made Volunteer Speedway special, “We want to thank every driver who has unloaded a race car here, every crew member who has worked long nights, every sponsor who has supported us, every employee who has helped keep things moving, and every fan who has bought a ticket, watched a race, shared a post, or supported this facility in any way.”
“You are what has made Volunteer Speedway special,” Hill continued. “A racetrack is more than dirt, grandstands, and buildings. It is the people, the competition, the memories, and the community that come together here.”
Finally, he thanked owners Joe and Phyllis Loven, “And to Joe and Phyllis — thank you for giving Christa and me the opportunity to fight for this place and for allowing us to do everything we could to keep it going. We sincerely appreciate what you have made possible.”
The track added in a separate post, “Thank you to Vic and Christa for all of their sacrifices and risks. They gave this ol’ gal more life than she probably should have. See ya at The Gap October 22nd for one last bang!”
The FloRacing Night in America race set for October 22nd will pay $20,000 to-win and will also feature a 100-lap Enduro race. The event is likely to attract some of the best drivers in the country and likely some of the best regional talent given the announcement of the track’s closure and teams wanting to be there for the last race.
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