NASCAR’s been on a tear lately, bringing back racetracks that fans thought were gone for good. North Wilkesboro Speedway, a North Carolina gem that sat crumbling for over a decade, roared back to life with major renovations and hosted the All-Star Race in 2023 and 2024. Dale Earnhardt Jr. called it a “bucket list” moment, and the packed grandstands proved fans agreed. Rockingham Speedway’s another one. Once a ghost town, it’s seen grassroots racing return, sparking whispers about a bigger NASCAR comeback. These revivals aren’t just nostalgia trips; they’re proof NASCAR’s willing to dig into its roots to keep the sport’s heart beating.

Now, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is stealing the spotlight. Word’s out that a deal between Metro Nashville and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), the heavyweights behind Bristol and Charlotte, is just days away from being announced. Jasper Hendricks, chair of Metro’s Board of Fair Commissioners, dropped the bombshell, saying the agreement to overhaul the historic track and bring top-tier NASCAR racing back to South Nashville is “nearly ready to announce.” Unlike past proposals that fizzled over money, this one’s got a game-changing twist: the city reportedly won’t foot the bill. That’s a massive hurdle cleared.

Why’s this a big deal? Nashville Fairgrounds is no ordinary track. It’s the second-oldest continuously operating racetrack in the U.S., slinging dirt and dreams since 1904. It hosted NASCAR Cup races from 1958 to 1984, with legends like Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip tearing up its 0.596-mile oval. The plan’s to modernize it, with new safety features, fan amenities, and noise control to meet today’s standards, while keeping its gritty soul. If it pans out, it could mean Cup Series or All-Star Race action returning to a track that’s been a sleeping giant for decades.

But not everyone’s popping champagne. Neighborhood groups, environmentalists, and community advocates are pushing back, arguing the land should be used for affordable housing or green spaces instead of roaring engines. The Metro Charter’s a wrinkle. It mandates racing as a use for the Fairgrounds, so scrapping the track entirely would require a tough-to-pass citywide referendum, likely not before 2026. That legal bind keeps the door open for racing but fuels a heated debate between tradition and redevelopment.

The economic upside’s hard to ignore, though. Supporters say a revived Fairgrounds could rake in millions, just like North Wilkesboro’s All-Star Race did for its local economy. “It makes the fairgrounds prosper and adds to the economy of Nashville,” one longtime backer said. With SMI’s muscle and no cost to Metro, it’s a tantalizing pitch. Still, the deal needs Metro Fair Board and Council approval, and public sentiment’s split. Racing diehards are hyped, but community planners are digging in.

Fans on Reddit are buzzing, and their reactions run the gamut from shock to skepticism to straight-up excitement. If this deal seals, Nashville Fairgrounds could join the ranks of revived tracks, blending NASCAR’s past with its future. But with politics, money, and local pushback in play, it’s a high-stakes gamble.

Fan Reactions

Reddit’s lit up with fans processing the Fairgrounds rumor, and the vibes are all over the place. One user was floored: “Oh wow, wasn’t expecting that. Especially with so many F1 tracks nearby.” It’s a fair point. Nashville’s already a motorsports hub with IndyCar’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix and F1’s growing U.S. footprint in Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin. Adding a NASCAR crown jewel to a track that hosted Cup races from 1958 to 1984 feels like a bold flex, especially with Atlanta, Bristol, and Talladega already packing the Southeast schedule.

Another fan couldn’t believe the news: “Honestly thought this was a dead duck. Genuinely shocked.” That shock’s earned. The Fairgrounds has been a tease for years. Back in 2021, a $75 million Bristol-led renovation plan had fans hyped, but local resistance and funding snags killed it. By 2023, talks seemed buried under Metro Council delays and neighborhood noise complaints. Hearing in 2025 that a no-cost-to-Metro deal is nearly done feels like a plot twist nobody saw coming.

Then there’s the worry about collateral damage: “This seems awesome to hear and want to be excited, but I’m also terrified about what track they’re going to inevitably kill to replace it on the schedule. Please don’t take away Dover or Loudon.” Fans have seen this movie before. Dover lost a Cup date in 2021 when Nashville Superspeedway returned, and New Hampshire got cut to one race in 2018 for Las Vegas. The fear’s real that squeezing Fairgrounds onto the schedule could boot a smaller-market track like Dover or Loudon, both already on shaky ground.

Skepticism’s running high too, with one fan saying, “Dale Jr replied to this with a gif of Ron Burgundy saying ‘don’t believe you.’ I’m inclined to agree with that until an official announcement is made. It would be fucking sick though if it does happen.” Dale Jr.’s been a Fairgrounds cheerleader forever, pushing for its revival on his podcast and calling it a “dream” back in 2019. But he’s seen the political roadblocks, neighborhood pushback, and council hesitancy. His gif captures the vibe: believe it when it’s official. If it happens, though, Jr.’s all-in for another short-track revival like North Wilkesboro.

Finally, one fan’s playing Nostradamus: “2027 prediction. Nashville Superspeedway date goes to Dover, back to a points race. All-Star race moves to Nashville Fairgrounds for 2027 and 2028.” It’s a sharp guess, given NASCAR’s recent love for rotating venues. The Clash bounced from the LA Coliseum after two years, North Wilkesboro’s All-Star stint may wrap after 2024, and Chicago’s street race is on thin ice post-2025. A two-year All-Star run at Fairgrounds by 2027 makes sense. It gives time for renovations and fits NASCAR’s experiment-happy approach. Plus, it could let Dover reclaim a points race while keeping Nashville’s market hot.