In September, Florence Motor Speedway welcomed Dale Earnhardt Jr. back to its 4/10-mile oval, where he raced in the CARS Tour alongside local short-trackers and drivers still building their careers. It was a reminder of what makes this South Carolina venue special. NASCAR legends can share the track with rising talents, giving tomorrow’s stars a chance to prove themselves on the same pavement where today’s Cup Series stars have raced and won. Sadly, just weeks after Dale Jr. took to the iconic venue, the speedway delivered a troubling announcement about its future.
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“It comes with great sorrow to announce that Florence Motor Speedway will not be putting out a schedule for the upcoming 2027 season, and there are no current plans for racing on the 4/10 mile oval in 2027,” the speedway announced on October 20.
The news leaves a major question hanging over regional racing. Florence may not host NASCAR Cup Series races, but it has long been an important home for grassroots competition, giving local drivers a place to develop their skills and build their careers.
Opened in 1982, the track sits roughly 15 miles south of Darlington Raceway, home to one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events. Florence built a strong reputation across the Southeast for its unique layout, featuring progressive banking and no outside walls except along the frontstretch, making it a valuable proving ground for aspiring drivers.
Florence also helped preserve the IceBreaker after Myrtle Beach Speedway closed in 2020. The event moved to Florence, carrying its history into a new home. Past winners included Ty Gibbs, Josh Berry, Lee Pulliam and Timothy Peters, underlining the event’s standing in short-track racing. The South Carolina 400 carried that tradition forward.
It kept a major end-of-season Late Model Stock Car race alive. Winners like Ty Majeski and Brenden Queen helped establish Florence as an important stop for leading regional competitors. The CARS Tour also brought competitive fields.
Its September 2026 doubleheader featured Late Model Stock Cars and Pro Late Models, with Caden Kvapil and Kaden Honeycutt winning their respective features. Earnhardt and Shane van Gisbergen also raced that weekend, as did Dale Jr., for whom returning to Florence was like taking a trip back to his younger days.
“I raced at Florence every Friday night, probably 14 times a year,” the two-time Daytona 500 winner said on his Dale Jr. Download podcast back in 2022. “I was part of that experience back in the 90s when we ran the 400 at the end of those years. I had so many amazing experiences there back in the 90s. I want this racetrack to survive. Hopefully this is a great way for them to end the season.”
Now, with the speedway confirming that it has no plans to race in 2027, his words carry a different weight. The announcement also sheds light on just how difficult the past few years have been for the people trying to keep the venue alive.
The speedway’s management has not provided a detailed breakdown of the problems behind its decision. However, its statement makes clear that the difficulties developed over several years.
“Since taking over the reigns in 2020, we have tried everything in our power to keep soldiering on, but each season has been increasingly difficult,” the announcement read.
Steve Zacharias took over operations in 2020, helping keep established events running. Yet, maintaining Florence became harder with every season, despite efforts to find a way forward.
“Unfortunately, we have now reached the point where we feel we have exhausted all possible options and it no longer seems feasible to continue,” the statement released by the speedway said.
The announcement also raises concerns about the choices available to South Carolina racers. With Florence stepping away, local competitors will have fewer in-state pavement venues for regular racing. Touring series must also account for another established track missing from their future schedules.
NASCAR has not announced any specific intervention or rescue plan for Florence. The speedway has not confirmed whether it will close permanently, be sold, or reopen. For now, there are simply no plans to race there in 2027.
The immediate focus is on finishing 2026 with three remaining events: a two-day monster truck show, the South Carolina 250 and the 34th annual South Carolina 400. That final race carries added significance because it continues a tradition that survived the loss of Myrtle Beach Speedway.
Florence’s management says it wants to end the season on a high note. Its final events will give racers and fans another opportunity to gather at a venue that has connected local competition with NASCAR’s wider racing world.
The loss would extend beyond a missing date on the calendar. Florence has offered drivers a place to develop and fans a chance to watch future stars before they reach the national stage.