We, the undersigned, request that the Pickens County Council recognize the  Greenville Pickens Speedway as a historic site and protect it from demolition or changes that would alter its historic character.

The Speedway is a unique piece of our county’s heritage and should be preserved for future generations.  Greenville Pickens Speedway is more than an old racetrack—it is one of the most important pieces of American motorsports history, a cornerstone of Pickens County, and a place that has brought generations of families together for more than 85 years. 

Built in the 1940's, Greenville Pickens Speedway has witnessed more than eight decades of racing history. It is recognized as the second-oldest NASCAR-sanctioned racetrack and is the site of the first-ever televised stock car race—a milestone that helped shape the future of American motorsports. Few places in the country can claim such a remarkable legacy.  The speedway’s historic retaining wall still displays the names of champions dating back to 1957. Every name represents a story, a family, a dream, and a chapter in the rich history of stock car racing. Those names are not just painted on a wall—they are part of the heritage of our community and of NASCAR itself.  But Greenville Pickens Speedway is about much more than racing. For generations, it has been where grandparents introduced grandchildren to the sport they loved. It is where lifelong friendships were formed, where local drivers chased their dreams, where families spent Saturday nights together, and where countless memories were made. Nearly everyone in Pickens County knows someone whose life has been touched by this historic track.

Historic places like this cannot simply be rebuilt after they are gone. Once they are demolished, the stories, traditions, and authenticity that made them special disappear forever.  Across America, historic venues have been restored instead of destroyed. Communities have discovered that preserving their history strengthens local pride, attracts tourism, supports small businesses, creates jobs, and gives future generations the opportunity to experience living history rather than read about it in books.  Greenville Pickens Speedway deserves that same opportunity.  Preserving this landmark is not about preventing progress. It is about ensuring that progress includes protecting the places that define who we are. Growth and historic preservation can—and should—exist together.

Saving Greenville Pickens Speedway means preserving a nationally significant piece of NASCAR history while creating opportunities for education, tourism, economic development, community events, youth programs, and future generations of racers and fans.  This is about protecting something that can never be replaced.

We ask the Pickens County Council to officially recognize Greenville Pickens Speedway as a historic landmark and support every available effort to preserve its historic integrity for future generations.  History belongs to all of us. Once it is destroyed, it is gone forever.  If Greenville Pickens Speedway mattered to you, your family, or your community—or if you believe our history deserves to be preserved—please sign this petition today and share it with your friends, family, fellow race fans, and anyone who believes that historic places should be protected, not erased.  Every signature sends a message that our history matters.  Together, we can ensure that one of America’s most historic speedways remains standing—not just for us, but for every generation that follows.