NASCAR ovals and speedways have always been a lot more than just racetracks. With innumerable memories attached to each one of them, it’s hard for fans to let go of them. This is the reason why some NASCAR fans are still recovering from the news of the Fontana Auto Club renovation. However, now, less than a month after the Auto Club announcement, another historic track is on its way to redevelopment.
As reported by Charlotte Business Journal, a Hendrick Motorsports-affiliated entity recently bought over 82 acres of land from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Based on the information available, the land will be used by Rick Hendrick and his organization to develop two advanced manufacturing projects.
"An entity affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports bought just over 82 acres from Charlotte Motor Speedway LLC [for $22.6 million]. A portion of the land is expected to include the sites of two advanced manufacturing projects led by Hendrick." – @CBJHuguley https://t.co/RzfhZQqvd2
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) March 10, 2023
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Since the news surfaced online, NASCAR fans began expressing their concern over Charlotte Motor Speedway turning into Fontana 2.0.
NASCAR fans make conjectures about HMS’s plans
Speculating what exactly the land will be used for, a few Twitter users said that they felt the manufacturing facilities would be built to aid chassis production.
My guess is, NASCAR has realized their subcontractor of choice for the Next Gen car ain't getting it done. Gonna move it to Charlotte. Build X amount of chassis and teams do a random draw.
— Gail Taylor (@ktmlew) March 10, 2023
Whereas, a few others conjectured that Rick Hendrick’s new military project—STEED Military Cart is the reason why the NASCAR race team owner decided to expand his manufacturing facilities.
It’s for ricks new military defense company https://t.co/DUJ4cNp1UU
— Ty (@TM_Parabellum) March 10, 2023
However, some were just hoping for it to be an inbound Indycar program, majorly owing to the talks that Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson has been having with Indycar for 2024.
Hendrick Indycar program inbound
— Brandon Wilcox (@wrandonbilcox) March 10, 2023
indy + imsa = 2 good projects for Hendrick 😎
— thefifthturn (@thefifthturn5) March 10, 2023
Hendrick Indycar program notification gonna be a movie pic.twitter.com/0CgFBmXiFd
— Brandon 🇪🇸 (@SkoColorado) March 10, 2023
But, there were also a few other speculations that deserve special mention. A Twitter user shared his theory of Hendrick Motorsports probably building a Jeff Gordon statue on the purchased land.
Giant jeff gordon statue? I think yes
— Sam hall (@samh8876) March 10, 2023
Another one said that maybe the race team owner would build a Snowboard park for his driver Chase Elliott who was recently injured while Snowboarding.
He's building a Nerf Snowboard Park for Chase
— Dame (@Big_Head_Dame) March 10, 2023
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From witty to concerned, fans came up with all sorts of responses to the news. However, it does not look like the Charlotte Motor Speedway will see something similar to the Auto Club. According to the plans, the 2-mile track at the Auto Club will be torn down and replaced by a shorter, half-mile track. Whereas, the rest of the land will be used for commercial development.
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Since only a fraction of the land at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is being sold, it’s safe to assume that the track itself will not see any revamping.
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