60 Years After

The Jackson County Speedway as it sits today. The 129 Bypass cuts right across the front and backstretch of the track.

That was the end of racing at the Jackson County Speedway. Over the years, drivers from the time and historians sought out the old track, which is now on privately owned land.  C.L. and Harold Pritchett said they visited the site a time or two, and could clearly see where the track was.  At one point, according to Mike Bell, a company grew vegetables on the land for restaurants in the Atlanta area.

When the Damon Gause bypass was built, the lanes traveled over the speedway’s front and back chutes, cutting the track in half.  The banking where the front stretch stands sat can clearly be seen, as can the banks of the north turns.

But for almost 60 years, the track has sat silent, and mostly forgotten.  Doubtless thousands have traveled over and past the site, never knowing of its history.

But occasionally, an older passenger car with a loud, raucous, racy engine will streak down the four-lane, and across the site.

And for just a second, the old track lives again.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in the September 12, 2007 edition of The Jackson Herald.

Brandon Reed is the webmaster and editor of Georgia Racing History.com.

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