Kenny Wallace has been singing Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s praises for bringing racing back to Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway. But not everyone in NASCAR world shares that same optimism. Ken Schrader, a veteran who raced at the Fairgrounds over four decades ago, has a blunter read on where things actually stand.
Ken Schrader on Dale Jr’s contribution and racing in Nashville
“They’re not gonna keep that place open because of Dale Jr. being there and selling it out once a year,” Schrader said on the Herm and Schrader podcast. There’s been talk for years about expanding the Fairgrounds to host a NASCAR Cup race. Speedway Motorsports has a plan on the table. However, the pushback from the surrounding neighborhoods has been intense. And Schrader doesn’t see a path forward.
That’s exactly why Dale Jr. brought the CARS Tour to the Fairgrounds earlier this month. He wasn’t just there as a promoter either but also suited up and raced. While the event was sold out, Ken Schrader has a harder-hitting truth for a possible NASCAR race.
Schrader has firsthand experience with the track. He raced there in 1984 and says it was already too small back then. This makes it quite apparent that the situation would have only gotten worse over the years…