Every track, past, present, and future, has a story to tell–a storied history with some legendary moments and legendary winners. Since its inception in 1949, 179 unique speedways and tracks have been featured on the NASCAR circuit across its many distinctive series. Today, only 53 of those still remain on the schedule across all of NASCAR’s divisions, while the others often waste away. Some get sold to real estate developers. They get turned into condos or a Walmart or a parking lot or a shopping mall. Others get left to ruin, a painful reminder of their former glory. And some get torn down in order to build a new short track, but never reach beyond the blueprint and/or good idea phase of planning.
For this new series, titled Forgotten Speedways, I thought that it would be interesting to take a look back at some of the tracks that were once mainstays on the NASCAR schedule at some level but have since, for one reason or another, been left off the schedule entirely to erode to Father Time. And, with NASCAR’s more recent interest in having a presence in the Nashville area, I thought it would be appropriate to kick off this series with the long-forgotten other Tennessee racetrack that was once exclusive to the Xfinity and Truck Series, Memphis Motorsports Park.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR
A Brief History
Memphis Motorsports Park opened in 1986 by founder Ed Gatlin in Millington, Tennessee, a suburb of the Memphis Metropolitan Area. The idea was to, across 400 acres of land, build a racing complex of sorts, consisting of a 0.83-mile dragstrip, a 1.7-mile road course, a dirt track, and a go-kart track. Under this initial leadership, the park hosted the NHRA and the IHRA for their Midsouth Nationals racing events, which were held from 1988 to 2009.
But the property we’re looking specifically at today is the D-shaped oval purpose-built to attract NASCAR and their top 3 nationally touring divisions. Ground for the track broke in 1997, under the new ownership of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. However, in July of 1998, Dover Motorsports acquired the facility and held ownership of the track through the 2010 season. Beginning in ’98, the track hosted its first sanctioned NASCAR races, hosting the then-NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. The track also hosted ARCA events sporadically throughout its tenure.
After NASCAR held its final race at the track in 2009, ARCA continued to race at the facility until 2020. After NASCAR left, the property was sold to the now-defunct Palm Beach International Raceway. Now, the track is currently owned by IRG Sports and Entertainment Group.
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Track Layout
The former NASCAR oval at Memphis Motorsports Park is a D-shaped short track oval, similar to the design of Richmond Raceway and Iowa Speedway. It measures in at 0.75 miles in length and consists of a worn and abrasive asphalt surface. The banking in the wide-sweeping corners is 11 degrees. Meanwhile, the backstretch is 3 degrees in banking while the frontstretch is barely steeper at 4 degrees. When the track was built, it was built on the land where the now-closed dirt track once sat. A new dirt track was later built on the site of the defunct go-kart track.
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Featured Series
The track was an exclusive to the lower ranks of NASCAR as they never were able to secure a Cup Series date. Still, it made for a fun stand-alone weekend. The NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series raced there typically in the fall, usually in the month of October, typically when the NASCAR Cup Series was racing at Atlanta.
Both ARCA and the Trucks hosted their first races there in the track’s inaugural season, 1998. The Xfinity Series was added to the weekend festivities in 1999. The second and third-tier series raced at MMP until 2010, their last races occurring in 2009. ARCA, meanwhile, returned in 2001 but only for a one-off. In 2017, Memphis Motorsports Park became a regular fixture on the ARCA Menards schedule until 2020.
After the 2020 season, the D-shaped over was shuttered. However, the drag strip continued to host IHRA races until 2023.
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Notable Winners
The list of winners at Memphis Motorsports Park reads like the who’s-who of NASCAR racing. The driver with the most wins there in the Xfinity Series at 2 is Kevin Harvick. Harvick won there in 2000 and then again during his 2006 championship campaign. Other former Busch/Nationwide winners include Carl Edwards, Clint Boyer, Jeff Green, Brad Keselowski, Randy LaJoie, Martin Truex Jr., among others.
In the truck garage, Ron Hornaday won there three times while Jack Sprague and Travis Kvapil both have two wins apiece. Other Truck Series winners were Greg Biffle, Bobby Hamilton, and Ted Musgrave.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The Track Today
Sadly, the track today has been left to ruin. Since the closure of the drag strip in 2022, the track was sold to IRG Sports and Entertainment. Currently, it sits abandoned. It has been taken over with overgrowth and brush, especially in the in-field. There is no word as to what plans are for the land. We only know that slowly, it is being demolished.
That does it for this entry of Forgotten Speedways, Daily Downforce readers. Do you remember Memphis Motorsports Park? It was a mainstay on the schedule when I was growing up and first getting into the sport. Would you like to see it make a comeback? And, if so, to what capacity? Is there room for another D-shaped short track oval in a modern NASCAR schedule? Let us know what you think! And, if you enjoyed this series and would like to suggest other tracks we can cover, let us know! Until next time, stay awesome.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) – The motorsports community is mourning the loss of Michael Printup, the former president of Watkins Glen International (WGI), who passed away unexpectedly yesterday at the age of 60. With a career spanning more than three decades, Printup dedicated his life to the sport he loved, leaving an indelible mark on the racing world.
Printup spent 15 years at Watkins Glen International, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the track’s legacy and fostering its connection with fans and the local community. After his time at WGI, he continued his work in motorsports as the Chief Operating Officer at Racing America.
Those who worked closely with Printup remember him as a humble leader who never sought the spotlight. Lee Giannone, CEO of Racing America, shared his reflections on Printup’s character and leadership. Giannone noted that Printup never put himself on a pedestal, instead focusing on building a strong team and fostering a culture that reflected his values. Even in the wake of his passing, Giannone expressed confidence in the quality of the staff Printup assembled, describing them as a testament to his leadership and vision.
Giannone also shared personal memories of Printup, highlighting his deep connection with the Watkins Glen community. Whether attending events or dining out, Printup was often stopped by fans and locals eager to greet him—a reflection of the genuine relationships he built over the years. Giannone described Printup as someone who was not only respected but also adored by those who knew him.
Reflecting on Printup’s impact, Giannone said, “We know how much Michael was adored in the community, and he was certainly a good friend for me. I joined as the CEO of Pro Motorsports Holdings, now Racing America, in February of this year. Michael was really the piece of that puzzle for me that made it possible to accomplish all that we did this year. Whether they remember Michael Printup, the man, or enjoy all the things that he helped to make permanent, I think that’s what you would know about him when you look around and you say, you know, this is a pretty special place that was helped to be put together by a pretty special man. And that’s how I would look at it. I’m sure Michael would enjoy that.”
As the motorsports world reflects on Michael Printup’s life and contributions, his legacy is evident in the relationships he built, the communities he touched, and the lasting impact he had on the sport he loved.
WENY News extends our deepest condolences to those at Watkins Glen International, Racing America and the Printup family.
We head to Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson where we find a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle that has been given a total custom Mexican makeover. In this video we meet the owner of this custom sport bike and we show off all the amazing Mexican artwork on the side of his bike, as well as his lights, the C&S Swingarm, the multiple motorcycle speakers, the big 300 back tire and many other cool features! Enjoy this close look at one of the most amazing custom Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycles we have ever seen “La Mamalona”
Seven people from northeast Indiana have been called for statewide service.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Friday announced his appointments to 30 state boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Motorsports Commissioner and the State Board of Dentistry.
The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities is meant to advance social and policy changes that lead to meaningful inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of life, the state’s website said.
Baun has appointed Fort Wayne City Clerk Lana Keesling and Corinna Wyss, The League’s financial controller, to that council. Their terms expire in September 2028.
The Indiana Motorsports Commission was created in 2013. It finances construction of and lease of real estate and personal property improvements for the benefit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, according to the state’s website.
Tom Kelley, president of Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne, was reappointed to that commission. His term ends at the end of 2029.
The state’s website said the State Board of Dentistry grants licenses related to dentistry to individuals and facilities in the dental field.
Matthew Kolkman, a dentist with Grabill Family Dentistry, was reappointed to the board. His term expires at the end of November 2029.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission regulates electric, natural gas, steam, water and wastewater utilities.
Braun appointed former state Sen. Andy Zay of Huntington to a four-year term on the commission that expires at the end of March 2030. Zay announced his resignation from his Senate seat last month because of his appointment to the commission.
The Behavior Analyst Committee establishes rules, sets standards and oversees licensing for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, according to the state’s website.
Jill Forte, CEO of the Children’s Autism Center, from Huntington County, was named to the committee. Her term expires at the end of 2029.
Indiana code says the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee supports local domestic violence review teams by collecting and analyzing data, providing needed expertise and establishing and sponsoring training programs for members of local domestic violence review teams.
Leslie Dowden of the Adams County Coroner’s Office will serve on the statewide committee. Dowden’s term expires at the end of 2027.
Braun announced 66 appointments to state boards and commissions Friday from different parts of the state. Each had varying term lengths with the shortest term running until Aug. 31 and the longest term being Zay’s on the utility regulatory commission.
Jamey Price is one of the world’s top motorsports photographers. You’ll see his work from Formula 1 and IMSA tracks in dozens of publications during the year, but you’ll have to buy a book to get his coolest shots.
Price has been carrying around a $10 NASCAR novelty film camera and taking shots at many of the events he covers. He’s now collected them in a new book, “Racing Unfiltered: A Year in Motorsports Captured on Film.”
He joined Gary Gastelu and Alex Nunez on the latest edition of The GAS podcast to talk about the project and what the life on the road and track is like as he shoots thousands of photos each day trying to capture perfect shots of cars flying by at up to 200 mph, while also looking for the intimate images behind the scenes.
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Logan Sargeant (pictured), the American racing driver born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 31, 2000, competed in Formula 1 with Williams from 2023 to 2024. Over 36 Grand Prix starts, he scored a single point, finishing 21st in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship. His tenure ended mid-2024 after a heavy crash in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Williams replacing him with Franco Colapinto for the remainder of the season.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Following his F1 exit, Sargeant took time away from full-time competition in early 2025 before returning to racing later that year. He made his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in the LMP2 class, contesting the final two rounds with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in an Oreca 07 Gibson, achieving a best result of fourth in class at the Motul Petit Le Mans.
#52: PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports, ORECA LMP2 07, LMP2: Benjamin Pedersen, Naveen Rao, Logan Sargeant. Image by LAT for IMSA
As of early 2026, Sargeant has shifted his focus to sports car racing in the IMSA series. On January 2, 2026, Era Motorsport announced his participation in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, marking his debut in the iconic endurance race. He will drive the No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson in the LMP2 class, sharing duties with Ferdinand Habsburg (a multiple LMP2 champion in WEC, ELMS, and Asian Le Mans Series), Naveen Rao (full-season driver), and a yet-to-be-confirmed fourth driver (provisionally listed as James Roe in earlier entries). Era Motorsport, a team with two prior Rolex 24 LMP2 victories, fields a strong lineup for the event, which kicks off the 2026 IMSA season on January 22-25.
Sargeant, a Florida native from the same town as IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity: “I’m super excited to be tackling my first-ever Daytona 24 with Era to kick off 2026. It’s a race I’ve always wanted to be part of, with how close it is to home. It’ll be great to get acquainted with my teammates at the Roar and push hard to come away with a Rolex at the end of the race.”
This move aligns with a broader pivot to endurance racing for the 25-year-old, who comes from a prominent family—his uncle is billionaire businessman Harry Sargeant III, involved in shipping and oil. Despite this background, Sargeant has pursued a professional racing career, progressing from a 2015 CIK-FIA Karting World Championship win (the first by an American since 1978) through junior formulas to F1 and now sports cars.
While many former F1 drivers transition to IndyCar or other series, Sargeant has chosen IMSA’s endurance format. Speculation about a potential World Endurance Championship (WEC) program persists, including past links to programs like Genesis Magma Racing (which he withdrew from) and a 2025 Bahrain rookie test in a Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3, but no confirmed full-season WEC entry has been announced as of January 2026. His current commitment is the Daytona one-off, with potential for further IMSA races.
Sargeant, known for his competitive junior record and clean-cut appearance that has drawn fan attention, aims to rebuild his reputation in the team-oriented world of sports car racing.
Racing America is devastated to confirm the sudden passing of Chief Operating Officer Michael Printup at 60 years of age. Michael was an icon in motorsports, a great partner and a friend. His passion for racing and commitment to the industry made a lasting impact on the sport. He will be deeply missed. Racing America sends our thoughts and condolences to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues.
Michael first joined Racing America in July 2023 as the President of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). In January 2024, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, as well as all racing operations. A native of Hamburg, N.Y., Michael spent nearly three decades working for NASCAR, most notably in the role of president of Watkins Glen International. He was also president of Americrown and oversaw the Levy food service contract for 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks.
Michael leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, two boys Brendan (and wife Caitlin) and Matthew, and two granddaughters, Sophia and Vivienne.
A memorial service for Michael will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 2-4 p.m. at James A. Dyal Funeral Home (303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483)
