Carolina Motorsports Park
Circuit Overview
Carolina Motorsports Park is the only purpose-built road racing facility in the Carolinas. It was built on the site of a former World War II fighter training centre, close to the town of Kershaw in South Carolina.
Opening in 1999 with a layout penned by famed track designer Alan Wilson, the circuit has become a popular facility for amateurs on track days and club racing.
Today the track hosts a wide range of events, from SCCA road racing to the Champ Car Endurance Series, Lemons 24 Hours and the PanAmerican SuperBike Championship, among many others.
Circuit History
A group of enthusiasts and racers from the south east, led by Joe Hooker and Bob Humphreys, played leading roles in getting the project built. Land acquisition was completed in July 1998 and construction began a short time later. In just 12 months the full 2.3-mile road course was open for business, with the layout penned by famed track designer, Alan Wilson.
Facilities have continued to expand over the years, with the additions of a 200 ft. diameter skid pad, registration/office building, timing tower with meeting and classroom space, race fuel station and open air garage.
In 2007, the track was modified, with a new Turn 12-13-14 complex added to spice up the racing and provide an alternative end to the lap. The new course is the one which is predominately used for racing and testing, though the original turns have been retained and still see occasional use. A 0.7-mile Kart track was added in 2010.
Weekdays, the road course is primarily used for race team practice, car manufacturer testing, TV show and commercial filming as well as law enforcement training. Weekends are busy with auto and motorcycle races, track time events and driver education.
"Carolina Motorsports Park allows drivers of all skill levels to practice, make mistakes and tune up in a safe environment," said retired NASCAR driver, Ricky Rudd, who has 23 career wins under his belt and was considered one of the better road racers in the NASCAR fraternity. "I have spent a lot of time there doing just that and given it's the only course of its kind in the Carolinas, I think it's the best kept secret around."
In October 2014, the track's owners gave notice that the track was being put up for sale as a going concern, with the right buyers sought to continue developing what is to date a profitable enterprise. It took some time to finalise a deal with the right buyer but in November of 2019, operation of the facility was taken over by Motorsports Capital LLC, followed by them taking full ownership of the facility in June 2020. The company is a financial advisory and capital raising firm serving the motorsports industry and this is their first step into facility ownership.
The new owners have not been shy of investment and the entire course resurfaced in the summer of 2020. Lynches River Contracting began the project on Monday, June 22 with Advanced Material Services serving as consulting engineers, bringing experience of resurfacing more than 30 circuits around the country. The resurfaced course re-opened for action in August 2020, with better traction reported from the new asphalt.
The following winter, new kerbing was installed around the course in response to the higher speed vehicles now electing to use the facility.
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Circuit info
- Carolina Motorsports Park, PO Box 366, Kershaw, SC 29067, USA
- + 1 803 475 2448
- Email the circuit
- Official website
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