Trying to Resurrect a North Georgia Gem

One of the saddest sights a racing fan can see is an abandoned racetrack. Unfortunately that is a sight that is way too common across the country. A couple of years of a bad economy or poor track management is all it takes to kill a track.

The truth of the matter is it was a perfect storm that took out Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, GA. The clay oval that once packed in fans on Friday nights now sits as an empty dirt pit being choked out by weeds. The downward turn of the economy was the first shot to hit the track and put it on life support. A chain of promoters that either didn’t understand how to properly run a track or simply didn’t care was enough to pull the plug and kill the track.

But now someone has potentially grabbed the paddles and hopes to shock the track back to life. An investment group is currently looking at the track as a possible venture. The group has been in talks with the property owner and also with other area promoters to discuss exactly what needs to be done to the facility. A source close to the situation said, “We really want to bring it back to what it once was but it needs a lot of work.”

If and when the group is ready to drop the green flag again, they plan on designing their schedule so it doesn’t conflict with other local tracks. This will guarantee a higher car count, higher attendance and will allow the group to recruit experienced staff from other tracks. Having people in place that know how things should be would give the track a solid foundation and legitimize it.

Right now, that day seems light years away. Money and time is simply not on the group’s side. But they think they might have a way to have racing back in Blue Ridge and make track improvements at the same time. “We are thinking about making a go kart track to start with which will let people know the track is back in action and also give us extra funding and time to work on the big track.”

While the planning and talk is there, for right now that’s all it is…talk. “Nothing is set in stone.”, said the source.

Sure it may be way too much to ever become a reality but the thought of dirt slingers having another place to chase their dreams in north Georgia gives us all hope for the future of small town racing.