August 18, 2025
Easley, SC — Dozens of racing fans gathered and peacefully took to the streets of Easley, South Carolina on Sunday, August 17th to rally and show support for Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
Race fans marched down U.S. Highway 123 for approximately a mile before stopping just short of race track property. Attendees carried signs with messages of support for Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
The historic racing facility has sat dormant since it was listed for sale by Kevin Whitaker in 2023, with the surrounding land serving as an ongoing construction zone for what’s being called the Speedway Industrial Park.
The land where the speedway itself resides has been listed for $5.8 million, but no offers made for the land by groups or individuals with the intent to restore the track have been successful.
The land surrounding the race track is owned by RealtyLink. Ground officially broke on the industrial park in 2024, with the ever-growing development casting both literal and figurative shadows onto Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
Race fans gathered for the march on Sunday with the goal of spreading awareness for their cause. The specific intention of the supporters is to get the plot of land where the speedway resides to be labeled as a historic landmark by the local government.
The facility’s most historic accolade came in 1971, when it was the site of the first ever NASCAR race to be streamed from start to finish on national television.
One of the organizers behind the event, Connie Johnson, touched on the legal issues that the coalition of speedway supporters are having to navigate in order to preserve the track through governmental means.
“We are trying to get it deemed as a historical site. I’m working with a member of the city council for the terminology, language, the things that are required to deem something as a historical landmark,” said Johnson.
Another individual behind the rally was Tasha Porter Kummer, the first woman to win a late model race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Kummer led a valiant effort to promote the rally, despite what the final turnout might have looked like.
“There were definitely supposed to be a lot more people, but I am so appreciative of the people that did show up. It means a lot, and it makes me want to keep fighting for Greenville-Pickens,” said Kummer.
Kummer and other speedway supporters attended the zMAX CARS Tour race at nearby Anderson Motor Speedway the night before the rally, where they passed out promotional material and helped spread awareness over the current state of the speedway.
“The feedback was really good. We passed out 200 flyers. A lot of people want the race track and are for it opening back up.”
While the quantity of the event’s attendees might have been less than ideal, the determination and love for the facility that each individual showed was undeniable.
One such attendee was Walter Tapp, an established short track announcer from the area. Tapp’s testimony of what the facility means to him was representative of many individuals in the local racing scene.
“Being a kid here, growing up here, I never thought I’d see [Greenville-Pickens Speedway] left in this kind of disarray. It just blows my mind that you have one of the most historic race tracks in the country just left to rot,” said Tapp.
“Some of the biggest races in the history of South Carolina took place here. Seven or eight years ago we had the PASS series here, there have been K&N races here. With the industry that’s popping up behind it and losing the fair that used to come too, it’s just interesting in how all this is going to move forward.”
The path forward is most certainly a cloudy one for Greenville-Pickens supporters. But, they’re not losing hope or planning on stopping anytime soon.
Speedway supporters have said that they intend to hold another rally in September, hoping to continue with more and more traction behind each upcoming event.
As far as the local government’s attitude towards the track, recent decisions have hinted that they could be open to what speedway supporters have to say. In January of this year, The Pickens County Planning Commission denied a proposal for retail and restaurant businesses to be built at the site of the track.
In an era where grassroots short tracks are having to struggle and fight to merely exist at an astonishing rate, Greenville-Pickens Speedway serves as a harsh reminder that even the most historic and revered venues are far from protected.
The message is clear for both Greenville-Pickens Speedway fans as well as fans of short tracks across the country: short tracks only survive when communities embrace and rally around them.
Support your local short track.
*Liberty Racing Review was unable to reach GPS owner Kevin Whitaker for a comment.
Liberty Racing Review’s 2025 coverage is presented by Patriot Media & Marketing Services.
Patriot Media & Marketing Services was founded in 2018 by racers who want premium branding for an affordable price. They offer a full suite of marketing services and have the experience and resources to make sure your brand is reaching its full potential. Whether you’re looking for graphic design, social media management, or apparel development, they can help. Patriot’s team is passionate about what they do, and they are dedicated to providing quality service at an affordable price. Contact them today to learn more!
Photos: Reid Scott
Liberty Racing Review 