Fight To Save Local NASCAR History

The Upstate of South Carolina — especially Spartanburg County has deep roots in stock car racing. Sure, seemingly every small town in Appalachia can lay claim to being where NASCAR started. In the end, Daytona Beach, Florida is the only one that can actually say that, since the organization was founded at the Streamliner Hotel in 1948. But, the case can definitely be made that without the Upstate of South Carolina, the sport would look dramatically different.

Imagine a world without Cotton Owens, Bud Moore, David Pearson, James Hylton, etc. Now imagine a world where Dale Earnhardt (whose Cup career began driving for Bud Moore) and David Pearson never got a chance to race. Such a world would have been reality without the Upstate of South Carolina — in particular a couple of historic race tracks, one of which is in grave danger.

Arguably the greatest driver in stock car racing history, and a native of Spartanburg, David Pearson became interested in the sport thanks to climbing a nearby tree just to get a glimpse of NASCAR’s Grand National Series (now the Cup Series) run at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds Speedway.

The dirt track at the Spartanburg Fairgrounds, which was promoted by Joe Littlejohn — a friend of NASCAR founder “Big Bill” France Sr, hosted 22 races from 1953 to 1966. Ned Jarrett, Lee and Richard Petty, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Tim Flock, Ralph Moody, Marvin Panch, Wendell Scott, etc, all were among those to race and win in the Hub City before the track ceased regular racing operation in 1966 — now lost to time save for bits of the old grandstand and guard rails.

Naturally, Pearson won at his hometown track as well, and turned a lot of heads, ultimately getting the chance to shine at the highest level after winning the 1959 track championship at the aforementioned place in peril — Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

Pearson is not the only one to have roots tied to Greenville-Pickens. The backstretch wall is covered from the entrance of turn three to the exit of turn two with the names of past champions. Ralph Earnhardt — who had a pretty famous son (who also has a pretty famous son), Butch and Mardy Lindley, Robert Pressley. Even some of the current NASCAR Cup Series stars have raced on the rough old asphalt at GPS, including Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, William Byron, and Josh Berry.

The half mile oval just outside of Easley, as its name says near the border of Pickens and Greenville Counties, opened in 1946 — two years before the founding of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. The speedway held Cup Series races in 1955 and 1956, and annually from 1958 to 1971. Twenty five years of holding only dirt races came to an end when the track was paved in 1970. A year later, it held the first-ever flag-to-flag televised NASCAR race — the Greenville 200.

By the year 2000, Greenville-Pickens was one of just a few asphalt tracks in South Carolina still hosting races every week. But, after 20 years under the ownership of Greenville-based car dealer Kevin Whitaker, attendance declined, the track fell into disrepair — eventually closing its doors in 2023. Now, with the area around the track part of an industrial development, there is very real danger that the historic speedway will be bulldozed — which has one person with a deep connection to it fighting like Hell to give it not just a puncher’s chance, but a whole new life.

Enter Tasha Porter Kummer — the first female to win a late model race at GPS, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to save the track since it closed its doors three years ago.

“I started attending races at Greenville-Pickens to see my brother drive when I was three or four years old,” said Kummer. “I spent a huge part of my life at that race track, eventually becoming a driver there myself when I was 10. I eventually raced late models, earning rookie of the year, finished third in the points standings, and became the first female to win in the Limited Late Model division.”

When the future of the track she essentially grew up in became uncertain, Kummer was quick to act, assuming the mantle as the face of the movement to save it by starting a facebook page and creating an online petition that is still active today with over 4,700 signatures.

“This was not just an old building or piece of property for me”, said Kummer. “I knew what had happened on that asphalt. I knew the generations of families connected to it. I knew its significance to NASCAR history. When it became apparent Greenville-Pickens may actually be demolished, I could not sit back and watch it happen. What started out as merely speaking up became a three-year fight.”

Eventually, after making very little headway towards her attempts to get the Pickens County Council to file for the track to be named a historic site, Tasha changed her approach.

“Purchasing the track has always been the best possible outcome in my mind”, Tasha stated. “But for a long time, it simply was not an option available to me. At some point, I think everyone realized the fight to save the track was going to be endless, and the momentum was growing.”

“A lot has changed since March”, said Kummer. “I have continued fighting for the speedway, but have also held several conversations behind the scenes trying to find a solution that worked for everyone involved. Eventually, the conversation shifted from simply fighting redevelopment to asking ‘What would it actually take for me to purchase the speedway?’ Then I formed the Real Historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway Movement, the non-profit, and Historic Greenville-Pickens LLC to partner and create organizations capable of supporting preservation, restoration, education, and community programming.”

As mentioned earlier, Greenville-Pickens is currently owned by Kevin Whitaker, who despite what a select few might say, was actually open to someone giving the speedway a second life and was equally open to conversations with Tasha about buying it, which ultimately led to a price and a purchase agreement.

“I have known Kevin Whitaker since I was a teenager racing at Greenville-Pickens”, Tasha stated. “He understands that my interest in this property is genuine and that it has never been about publicity for me personally. He is aware of my love for GPS, and after a series of conversations and meetings, we were ultimately able to reach terms on a price that would allow me the opportunity to purchase the speedway.”

“I have recently signed a purchase agreement, which was a major turning point”, Kummer later added. “After three years of fighting to keep the track from disappearing, there is finally a real path forward towards controlling its future. Once Kevin and I began having serious conversations about a purchase price and what would have to happen to make a sale possible, it went from something I hoped could happen to something tangible. When I signed that purchase agreement, everything changed. Now this is not just a campaign asking someone else to save the track. Now, I am actively working to acquire, restore, and reopen it.”

As one might expect, the price tag just to purchase the property is steep, much less the cost to restore the track to being able to host events. But, Tasha has been actively working to raise the funding and has a plan in place to use the track’s many supporters to help with the cleanup and repairs needed.

“The amount needed to make the purchase is $3.7 million”, said Kummer honestly. “I cannot disclose exactly how much has been committed or raised at this point as there are active private conversations involving potential sponsors, donors, and other partnerships. Some of those parties wish to remain anonymous. But I can say that things are moving. I am encouraged by the response, and working everyday to secure what is needed to close the deal.”

“Restoration is actually one of the areas where we have an enormous advantage”, Tasha added. “I have over fifty businesses that have offered services, labor, equipment, or materials. They range from construction, electrical, and plumbing to paving, landscaping, pressure washing, and other trades. Basically anything and everything that would need to be done has a business ready to do the work. That kind of community support can dramatically reduce the amount of cash required for the restoration side of things.”

As bad a shape as the track currently looks to be in, Tasha says that there is not as much work needed as one might think, which is a plus for hopefully getting some events lined up for a potential reopening — even if it has to happen while work is still being done.

“My intention after closing is to begin work as soon as possible. Not every part of the property has to be completely restored before the public can begin using it. If inspections, permitting, and safety requirements are passed, acquired, and met, I would like to begin introducing appropriate events while the restoration is ongoing rather than waiting until every long-term improvement is complete.”

While the momentum is rolling for a potential purchase to happen, it is important to stress that nothing is finalized or set in stone, which means the fight to save the track is far from over. But, the question is begged — what happens if the sale does not work out?

”This is the part I really want people to understand — this purchase matters”, said Kummer. “For three years, so many of us have fought against demolition and redevelopment. I don’t want people assuming that if this purchase does not go through that we will simply go back to where we were and continue fighting indefinitely. I don’t believe anyone should count on the government stepping in at the last minute to save the track. Greenville-Pickens WILL be bulldozed if this purchase does not close.”

“That is why I am treating this opportunity with so much urgency”, Tasha added. “We finally have a path to save the speedway though ownership, and I intend to do everything I can to make sure the deal closes.”

As far as the type of events that we could see held if the speedway is reopened, Tasha has plans for far more than just more good old-fashioned short track Saturday Nights. In fact, her vision goes far beyond just being an entertainment venue. It involves education and investing in the future of youth in the community.

“This is probably the biggest misconception I want to change. I am not trying to reopen Greenville-Pickens just to hold races on Saturday nights”, emphasized Kummer. “Racing will always be at the heart of GPS, but the property has the potential to be a year-round motorsports, automotive, and community event venue. We could host car shows, truck meets, drift car events, festivals, Christmas lights, small concerts, charity events, 5Ks, veterans and first responder events, community gatherings, etc.”

“One of the things I am most passionate about is STEM {Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics} education and workforce development”, Tasha later added. “Motorsports is an incredible way to introduce young people to engineering, fabrication, welding, mechanics, electrical systems, technology, and other skilled trades. I would like to partner with schools, career/technology centers, colleges, and businesses and allow students to see those career paths in a real-world environment.”

I asked Tasha about what kinds of racing events in particular we could see should the track re-open — especially knowing the support it has gained from throughout the NASCAR world in the last six months that includes a promise from Dale Earnhardt Jr to run a CARS Tour race should the series make a stop at the track.

“Many drivers have voiced their support for the track on social media, and there has been tremendous interest from the racing community”, said Kummer. “I do not want to announce anything as confirmed until an agreement is in place. But, Dale Jr’s public support has been huge. Having someone with his connection to NASCAR and its history recognize what this track means has helped bring national attention to the effort to save it.”

“My vision includes CARS Tour events as well as strong grassroots weekly and special-event racing”, she later added. “Late models are obviously an important part of Greenville-Pickens’ identity, but I want a diverse racing schedule that gives different divisions, series, drivers, and fans a reason to come here. But, obviously the first priority is to acquire the property and get the facility safe and operational. Once we own it, the conversations about what racing series to host here can be more concrete.”

Ultimately, Tasha’s goal is to preserve Greenville-Pickens Speedway’s rich history without reducing it to a museum or a roadside historical marker showing where it once stood.

“My vision is to preserve the track’s history without turning it into a museum. I want people racing on that asphalt again. I want kids to learn there. I want businesses holding events there. I want families coming through those gates again. I want the property to generate economic activity for the surrounding area throughout the year. Saving Greenville-Pickens Speedway is not about trying to re-create what it was thirty years ago. It is about taking everything that made it historically important and building a sustainable future around it.”

If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved with the effort to save the track — whether through signing the petition, donating to the fundraising effort, or pledging to donate equipment or labor for any future restoration work, Tasha provided that information.

Right now, the biggest need is to get the acquisition across the finish line”, Kummer stated. “I do have a contractual deadline, and that window is short. I am intentionally not publicly discussing every detail as this is an active business transaction. But, there IS urgency. This is not an open-ended fundraising effort. It is a very real agreement with a very real deadline.”

There are several ways for people to help. Individuals who want to donate can contribute through our nonprofit campaign (https://givebutter.com/Therealhistoricgreenvillepickensspeedway). Businesses interested in becoming sponsors or making larger contributions without becoming a partner can contact Tasha directly at tashaporterkummer@gmail.com.”

The effort to save Greenville-Pickens still feels like an uphill climb, but nonetheless, for all it holds, it is worth the while to keep the last bastion of stock car racing’s history in the Upstate from being erased for good.

“I truly never imagined when I started this fight that I would eventually be sitting across the table negotiating to purchase the place where I grew up racing”, said Kummer. “But, here we are. And I am going to keep fighting for it like Hell.”