Needmore Speedway: South Georgia Dirt Track Racing

By the time I arrived at Needmore Speedway it was an hour after the scheduled starting time. The scheduled opening had been rained out two weeks earlier with those race attendees being given a rain check in the form of the bracelets received on paying admission. I expected a large crowd but was not prepared for the onslaught of race fans still pouring into the track in this isolated south Georgia countryside.

The entrance road leading to the Needmore Speedway racetrack was two lanes wide and started immediately as I turned in. By the time I reached the sign pointing the way to the pits or grandstand area, the staff began indicating that we would simply have to park along the side of the entrance road itself.

The parking areas were packed and every available space, even up close to the surrounding cotton fields, was taken. I had a long hike still to go but I was determined to see some dirt track racing on this extremely muggy evening. Apparently, this venue still appeals to many people as there were race fans from quite a distance away.

While some of you may think the term “redneck” is a disparaging remark, nothing could be further from the truth in this part of our great country. We celebrate our own particular brand of freedom in the ways we know best. Part of this is our love for fast cars, hunting and fishing, and other great sports we are privileged to enjoy in this part of the south.

We are not mired in concrete cities and love the wilderness areas in these parts. This comes from tradition and environment. We love it, despite those who try and disparage our lifestyle. This video clip is a short segment of Needmore Speedway and its first races along with the fun and excitement experienced by those of us lucky enough to live in southern Georgia.

Segments from different heats and races have been edited to let you get a glimpse of the format and the fans. The sound, sights, and smells, of the place cannot be truly duplicated on a video, of course. You must visit Needmore Speedway in person to fully appreciate the atmosphere of dirt track auto racing at its best1

Needmore Speedway seems to fill a void which was sorely needed in this area. If you’ve never attended an oval dirt track race, you cannot understand the excitement engendered by this traditional southern entertainment. There are usually local drivers in the mix of race car divisions which adds even more drama and thrills to the heats and races.

When finally reaching the grandstand area, I was lucky enough to find my friends with an extra seat space to watch the many heats for the racing divisions. Since this was the first night of racing at Needmore Speedway, I was impressed by the way the facility was handled under the huge crush of racing fans. Sure, there were delays, but the racetrack had received another dowsing from mother nature not long before race time was to begin.

In fact, I was surprised at how fast the cars were able to go with the obvious moisture on the track. The infield resembled a gigantic Georgia red clay pit with water standing on much of its area. But still the race cars flew around the 3/8ths mile oval. The race fans were clearly having a great time at Needmore Speedway as evidenced of their shouts of approval during the races.

Because of the many race cars entered in the events, and of the recent rainfall, the races continued on into the night. I left around midnight while my friend stayed on until 3 AM. He said there was still races to be held when he finally ran out of beer. I don’t know when the final race ended but I certainly got more than my moneys worth. (grandstand bracelets cost $10.00.

The atmosphere at Needmore Speedway is similar to attending a fair or carnival. The aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs being grilled, the sweet smell of funnel cakes being made, and of course, the smell of gasoline fumes wafting through the hot Georgia evening, somehow seemed fitting to the spectacle being played out on the dirt track oval itself.

The diversity of the race fans in the crowd was also surprising. Among the proudly proclaimed “red necks” in attendance there were also many others from all walks of life. Dirt track racing seems to appeal to a wide array of personalities which have in common this love of fast machines and their drivers. I witnessed no problems with anyone causing trouble at Needmore Speedway and instead encountered a feeling of camaraderie among the excited fans.

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening and it will surely get better as the Needmore Speedway management gets more acquainted with handling the unexpected large attendance at the race track. I wish to commend them on reintroducing the great sport of dirt track racing to this area. And for building it only a few miles from where I live. If you love dirt track racing, be sure to visit Needmore Speedway for some fun!

Needmore Speedway is located 7 miles west of Interstate 75 of exit 49. The address 1134 John Vickers Road Norman Park, Georgia. For more information on this great race track, call Chris @ 229-873-3046 or LAVON @ 229-921-6626. They will be glad to assist you with your queries.

The track itself is a 3/8 mile oval with 9-11 degree banking through the track. The width of the track is 90 feet and is a very fast track. Call the track for any enquiries as to rules and regulations if you would like to enter a particular racing class. Good luck and enjoy the races at Needmore Speedway!