By Madelyn Marconi

provide a safe place for people to enjoy the sport of drag racing ; we just need to show them .

A grim reality is hitting the world of motorsports across the country : racetracks are closing . For those who grew up going to the racetrack for a weekend of fun with their family and friends , the thought of the next generation having that same opportunity is dissolving at a rapid rate .

To the dismay of many motorsports enthusiasts , premier racing facilities like Atlanta Dragway , Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park , and Palm Beach International Raceway have already met their demise .

The question that everyone keeps asking is , “ Why are these racetracks closing ?” Well , there ’ s really only one answer to the question : capitalism . The land on which these racetracks were built has become so valuable that developers are targeting these areas to redevelop the properties in hopes of making a profit in either the industrial , commercial , or residential markets by turning these historic racetracks into either enormous distribution centers , large-scale home developments , or commercial retail space .

Recently , land use has become a hot topic in the world of motorsports , but for many local communities across the country , it has been an ongoing battle with their local elected officials for decades .

Increased demand from homebound consumers has contributed to the construction of distribution centers in local communities for companies like Target and Amazon to keep up with their customers ’ needs . These behemoth warehouses need a lot of space and are typically constructed on the outskirts of cities due to their noise and constant activity . Unfortunately , racetracks are also typically built on the outskirts of cities . They have become clear targets for commercial developers to swoop in , buy the property , and turn it into a profit .

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MADELYN MARCONI , VAN ABERNETHY , AND NHRA