Southside Speedway in Midlothian, Virginia, known as “The Toughest Short Track in the South,” will reopen after closing in 2020, and Legends Nation has confirmed Bandoleros and Legends will return to the track when it reopens.
After 60 years of racing action, the track was ready to kick off their 2020 racing season, however, within days from their season opener, the Covid crisis happened, which affected everywhere in the entire country, including Central Virginia. The track continued to hope they would be able to still open during the year, however, it was just not meant to be. In December of 2020, track officials made the difficult decision to announce the closing of the track.
Over the next few years, supporters of the facility rallied together and approached the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors to try and get the track reopened. The search began to find a new operator to reopen the facility. Buzz online ramped up over the last year, and in February, 2025, the buzz hit a fever pitch as details started to emerge of a lease-to-purchase deal to reopen the track, which was reported by Richmond BizSense as being inked (click here for the article and details).
On Monday, March 3, Lin O’Neill, President and Promoter of Southside Speedway, told LN that when the track reopens, INEX Racing Series cars will be there.
“I can tell you that Legends and Bandoleros will be a big part of racing at Southside Speedway when we reopen,” said O’Neill.
The track is scheduled to have a press conference on March 11 at 2:30pm Eastern, which is when details of the reopening are expected to be announced.
Photo credit: Chris Stone