Full Throttle

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 9^th … 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.