Riverview Speedway
Visited 11/19/23
It is advertised as the fastest 1/4 mile race track. In the beginning, it was a motocross track, but due to a freak accident, it was closed down. Shortly after, it was redesigned as a dirt track and then later as an asphalt track. With a banking of 21 degrees, there is little to no room to pass without a little rubbing of the bumpers, earning it the nickname of 'Little Bristol'.
I I couldn't find the exact date of the closure, but it happened sometime during the 2000s. There were several reasons behind the closure, but the primary one was its location. Being close to the Cumberland River, it suffered severe damages in 2010 floods, which were difficult to keep up and fix. It's sad that the place had to be closed down due to such uncontrollable circumstances.
FromFrom all the things I've read and gathered, there's no doubt that this track was the place to be on weekends, and it is deeply missed by drivers and fans alike. When I asked Eric Watson, who used to race here back in the day, what his favorite thing about racing here was, he said, "that's an impossible question." I feel like all die-hard race fans would say the same, but he added, "if he had to pick one thing, it would be the feeling you get when strapped in the car, coming out of the corner onto the track, in a car that accelerates so hard it takes your breath away."
While I walked the track I could only imagine how it felt racing here and could understand why it’s nickname was Little Bristol.
Although there were no No Trespassing signs, and the entrance wasn't blocked by barricades, I wasn't allowed to stay for long as a sheriff pulled up. I was expecting to get in trouble for being there, but it turned out to be a different situation. The sheriff was kind and wanted to know what I was doing there. He informed me that the owner doesn't allow people to visit and explore around due to past damages. I apologized for being there without permission. I just love racing, and when I found out about Riverview Speedway, I knew I had to go see it in person.
I enjoyed my visit here, but was disappointed to see broken glass windows and graffiti everywhere. The office, Tech Garage, stands, and even the booth at the top of the stands were covered in graffiti. Although the place is abandoned, it still holds sentimental value as it was once fans' home away from home. It would be great to see this track come back to life and be loved by people once again..