Next Public Meeting - 08/20/08

Please join us on Wednesday evening, August 20, 2008, for a presentation of some of the different ideas for the future use of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.  Representatives of four respondents to a Request for Information will take about 20 minutes each to present their ideas/concepts for the future use of the Fairgrounds.  A question and answer time will immediately follow the four presentations.  For a detailed look at all of the responses to the RFI, click here.

Plan on joining us from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, August 20, 2008 in Wilson Hall at the Fairgrounds for this important and informational meeting.  Invite your friends and neighbors!

Petition Reopened

In anticipation of the forthcoming recommendations from Markin Consulting, I’ve reopened the online petition. You can access it by clicking this link or by clicking on the link with the petition count.

If you didn’t sign this petition before, and you want racing to continue in Nashville, please sign it… especially if you live in Davidson County.

Clint Ivey #52 NASCAR Grand National Sportsman

#52 Clint Ivey, NASCAR Grand National Sportsman, Music City Motorplex, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN

Photo courtesy: www.ronfoxphotos.com

Fairgrounds Fact - 1998

Joe Buford - 1998 Nashville Speedway USA Champion

Joe’s first ever championship. Buford won the Heartland Region championship of the Winston Racing Series, becoming the second consecutive driver to win that title. Joe joins his father, James “Flookie” Buford as only the second father-son combination to win the coveted Nashville Speedway premier division championship in the speedway’s 40 year history. The Bufords etch their names in the record books alongside Coo Coo and Sterling Marlin. Buford won nine features, one pole, 14 top 5’s, 16 top 10’s in 22 starts.

David Ring #44 Dwarf

2008 Music City Motorplex

#44 David Ring, Columbia, TN, Dwarf, Music City Motorplex, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN

Photo courtesy: www.ronfoxphotos.com

Fairgrounds Fact 1996 - 1997

A. W. “Andy” Kirby - 1996 & 1997 Nashville Speedway USA Champion

1996, Kirby won eight features, four poles, 17 top 5’s, 20 top 10’s enroute to championship number two at Nashville. He was the 1996 runner-up in NASCAR Winston Racing Series Blue Ridge Regional points. Kirby competed in select NASCAR All Pro Series and Southern All Star events.

1997, Kirby became only the third driver to win three championships  (1994, 1996 & 1997) joining Sterling Marlin (1980, 1981 & 1982) and Coo Coo Marlin, who won four (1959, 1963, 1965 & 1966). Kirby won the NASCAR Heartland Region Winston Racing Series Championship. Won seven features, three poles, 15 top 5’s, 16  top 10’s in 20 starts. Kirby has 28 career wins at Nashville. He competed on the NASCAR Busch Series in 1999 driving for Nashville based LAR Motorsports.

2002, Kirby ran periodically in the 2000, 2001 and 2002 season for Jay Robinson Motorsports team in the NASCAR Busch Series.  Tragically, Kirby died from injuries on July 18, 2002 from a motorcycle accident near his White House, TN home.

Jason Adams #42 NASCAR SuperTruck

2008 Music City Motorplex 

#42 Jason Adams, Murfreesboro, TN, NASCAR SuperTruck, Music City Motorplex, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN

Photo courtesy: www.ronfoxphotos.com

Fairgrounds Fact - 1995

Chad Chaffin - 1995 Nashville Speedway USA Champion

The second championship for Chaffin at the historic Nashville speedplant. 25 starts, 15 wins, 4 poles, 20 top 5’s, 22 top 10’s, finished 8th in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Eastern Seaboard points standings. The family purchased two cars and equipment from the former Alliance Racing Busch Series team. Chaffin ran Hooters Cup Pro Series and competed in six Late Model Stock Car events in 1996 at Nashville with one win. Chaffin has a total of 38 career wins at Nashville, fifth on the all-time winners list. Chaffin drove Joe Nemechek’s Busch car in the BellSouth Mobility/Opryland 320 Busch race at Nashville, April 19, 1997.

Fairgrounds Fact - 1994

A. W. “Andy” Kirby - 1994 Nashville Speedway USA Champion

Kirby won six times in 1994 enroute to his first championship in the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car division.

Ricky McIllwain # 21 Dwarf

#21 RIcky McIllwain, Antioch, TN, Dwarf, Music City Motorplex, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN

Photo courtesy: www.ronfoxphotos.com