Pahrump Valley Speedway Closes
Pahrump Valley, Nevada loses one of its local race tracks this week.
Pahrump Valley Speedway (PVS), the track where Kurt Busch began racing as a teenager in dwarf cars in the early ’90s, has announced its final race will be held on December 8th after 22 years of operation.
The tracks web page gives no reason for the closure with only the following note from the tracks promoter:
To all Fans and Drivers Of The Pahrump Valley Speedway, with a Heavy Heart and Deep Regret, I am Informing you all that the P.V.S will be Permanatly Closed, Effective Dec 9th … Thank You For Years Of Support And Loyalty, And God Bless You All.Sincerely,
Joe Rogers Jr
A little digging turned up the expected reason, the property is worth more as a commercial enterprise than it is as a race track. Low car counts and declining ticket sales over the last three years didn’t help.
By the end of 2008 a 25,000-square foot automotive center will be constructed on the site. And by 2010, Patrick Gaffney, an Irish-born Las Vegas real estate developer said there will be a 10,000- to 12,000-square foot restaurant in operation.
R.I.P. Pahrump Valley Speedway.
NASCAR, Sports, Pahrump Valley Speedway, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
The Pahrump Valley Speedway may be closed, but it is not gone. The track surface, stands and buildings are all still standing although windows have been broke out, plus some items have been stolen and are now being used at another track. The owner of the land, Mr. Gaffney ran into some roadblocks in his plans for developing the land into what he would liked with the Nye county planning and board of commissioners. This happening and the down turn of the local economy has led Mr. Gaffney to publicly announce that all development plans for the land are on hold indefinitely. Hopes are being held onto by dozens of local racers and many fans that the track may be able to have a re-birth if only for a few more years until the future plans for the land move forward. Since the land has not been used for any other purpose since it was used as a race track it is grandfathered as far as zoning and business operation permits go. So if there could be enough support generated and Mr. Gaffney could be approached with a proper business opportunity proposition then maybe the track could operate once again. It would be in the best interest of the town of Pahrump and the Nye county commission to support this happening since the county of Nye is very much strapped for revenue and needs to have any and all public events that can generate local business support to happen right now. Anyone reading this and who would like to show support to trying to make this happen can contact me at stinger.racing@gmail.com and we can work together. Hope is still alive for this wonderful old track from us locals.
While it’s nice to keep the faith, with the track worth more as a commercial enterprise than a race track I seriously doubt it will return.
OK!!! There is now a new private lease on the old Pahrump Valley Speedway property for it to be re-opened as a race track this year! Tentative word on the street says that racing will resume sometime in May, as soon as the permits are finalized and renovations are complete. I know I will be willing to once again donate my time and whatever needed to help it happen. Commercial property values have plummeted in Pahrump in the last couple of years and most commercial property is worth about 50% less than it was in 2007. So the value of land at the current time is in the fact that there is an almost turn key racing facility already there. Just goes to show what positive attitudes can accomplish, negativity is 90% of what made the track close down to begin with. We just love that old track and can’t wait to get our race cars back out on it and sling some Pahrump clay once again!
So glad to hear of the track opening up again. My husband and I are planning on moving to Pahrump and considered the race track a big “plus” to the area.
The track re opens today, Now lets support it and see some cars guys and girls.