Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Supporters Step Up Legal Fight to Protect Historic Track

Supporters of the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway are taking legal action to block efforts to limit or eliminate racing at the facility, marking a major escalation in the ongoing debate over the track’s future in downtown Nashville.

On February 24, 2026, former racer Neil Chaffin filed a lawsuit challenging a proposal aimed at putting a motorsports ban before Nashville voters in the November election. The lawsuit alleges that the ballot language in the initiative contains multiple clerical errors that could mislead voters about its true impact.

The amendment would remove “auto racing” from the list of protected activities in the Nashville Fairgrounds charter and replace it with language prioritizing affordable and workforce housing. Chaffin argues that this contradicts the 2011 referendum that enshrined racing as a protected use of the Fairgrounds property.

The lawsuit claims the ballot language improperly references the Tennessee State Fair, which

no longer takes place at the Fairgrounds, rather than the local Nashville Fair, as well as ignoring relevant state law and jurisdictional boundaries. Chaffin’s legal team argues that the proposed amendment could confuse voters and effectively impose a total ban on racing that the current charter, upheld by voters in 2011, was intended to protect.

If the court strikes down the current version of the amendment proposal due to these issues,

proponents would need to collect roughly 50,000 signatures in Davidson County to get the

revised proposal on the November ballot.

In a related development, Tennessee House Bill 1660, sponsored by Representative Jake

McCalmon (R), would limit legal actions against historic racetracks on noise or nuisance grounds if the track predates surrounding development. Under the proposed bill, local governments would also be prohibited from adopting regulations that restrict ongoing track operations inconsistent with past use.

Supporters of the Speedway have faced repeated noise complaints from nearby residents. The proposed legislation would reduce legal liabilities tied to such complaints and potentially

safeguard the Fairgrounds Speedway based on its longstanding presence since 1904.

The fight over the Speedway comes as Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) pursues plans to

revitalize the track, which include infrastructure upgrades and potentially bringing NASCAR

national touring races back to the historic half-mile oval. Realizing that vision would require a

long-term partnership with the city of Nashville.

Currently, the track is promoted by Track Enterprises, led by Bob Sargent, and hosts regional

events and touring series races. NASCAR Cup Series events were last held at the Fairgrounds Speedway in 1984, though the track remains active with local racing and regional series, including a scheduled CARS Tour event this spring.