Nelson Royall and Bob Streeter constructed the original racing facility, Royall Speedway, on land leased from the Wilkerson family, opening in April 1948 as a 0.200 mi / 0.322 km paved oval. After two seasons, the surface was converted to dirt, and the track was slightly widened. Some accounts claim this reconfigured track measured 0.205 mi / 0.330 km, while sanctioning documents retained the original one-fifth-mile (0.322 km) length. Royall Speedway hosted four NASCAR Short Track Division races between 1951 and 1954 before closing at the end of 1955 due to financial strains and competition. In late 1957, developer John M. Wilkinson acquired the site and, after persuading local racers, reopened the facility on April 15, 1959, as Southside Speedway with Modified racing as the featured division. Wilkinson's wife Anna became co-owner in March 1960, continuing family stewardship for six decades.
The track hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race on August 18, 1961, when it was still a quarter-mile dirt oval. Junior Johnson won this event, leading every lap. For 1962, the track was converted from dirt to asphalt and extended to its current one-third-mile configuration. The final NASCAR Cup Series event occurred on May 19, 1963, won by Ned Jarrett. These three years established Southside's reputation as a proving ground for stock car drivers.
Throughout its history, Southside Speedway faced several threats, including condemnation of its wooden grandstands in 1983 due to safety concerns, which led to upgrades. In the late 1980s, the property was targeted for a shopping mall, but the family's commitment to motorsport prevailed with the installation of new aluminum grandstands. Financial pressures intensified in the 2000s, leading track owner Sue Clements to initially cancel the entire 2011 season due to health problems, though a shortened 11-week schedule was later salvaged.
The 1970s saw the emergence of three legendary racing families: the Hendricks, Johnsons, and Hairfields. Ray Hendrick established a significant dynasty with his burgundy Modified number 11, earning 20 victories at Martinsville Speedway between 1963 and 1975. His son, "Rapid" Roy Hendrick, dominated the Late Model Stock Car division for years, maintaining the family's burgundy number 11 paint scheme. Roy's son, Brandon Hendrick, represents the third generation, competing in Late Model Sportsman and Modified divisions. The Johnson family produced Cal Johnson, Eddie Johnson, and Chris Johnson, while the Hairfield clan included "Bugs" Hairfield and Chris Hairfield.
Wendell Scott, NASCAR's pioneering African-American driver, captured the 1959 Sportsman Division championship at Southside Speedway while also winning the NASCAR Virginia State Sportsman Championship.
Denny Hamlin began his career at Southside Speedway in the Mini Stock division in 1997. After ascending to NASCAR's premier level, Hamlin hosted the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown from 2008 to 2010, events that featured Cup Series stars like Kyle Busch and benefited the Denny Hamlin Foundation. These events brought national attention back to the track.
Throughout its history, Southside Speedway featured several distinct classes:
Late Model Sportsman: Cars built for racing, modeled after modern 4-door sedans, with fabricated bodies. These are actual racing cars with fabricated bodies and racing parts, distinct from modified street cars.
Modifieds: Open-wheel cars that were the track's original feature class. Modern Modifieds are built with the premise of becoming "Modifieds" and are used for their conceived purpose.
Grand Stock: A class for highly modified street cars, often late 1980s Monte Carlos, seen as the first level under Late Model Sportsman and Modifieds.
U-Cars: An entry-level division for American-made 4-cylinder cars, with the name being an acronym for "U Can Afford to Race."
Street Stock: An evolution of the track's earlier enduro races and "Southside Chargers" divisions, these cars have roll cages and modified rules for safety.
Following its permanent closure in 2020, recognition of Southside Speedway's cultural significance prompted preservation efforts. Former driver Lin O'Neal launched the "Save Southside Speedway" campaign. In June 2021, Chesterfield County purchased the 47-acre property to prevent incompatible redevelopment and preserve the potential return of racing. On March 11, 2025, Chesterfield County finalized a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement with Competitive Racing Investments (CRI), led by Lin O'Neill and Jeff Oakley. CRI plans to reopen racing operations by summer 2026 with modern safety upgrades, grandstand expansion, and facility renovations, aiming to transform it into a year-round entertainment destination. The "Friends of Southside" committee has formed to assist with heritage displays and volunteer marshals.
This article is based solely on the supplied corpus. No external sources were consulted; claims that could not be substantiated against the corpus were omitted under the drop-the-claim rule.