Checkered flag flies on Clarksville Speedway Saturday night

When the final lap is run Saturday night, the checkered flag will wave on the Clarksville Speedway.

For more than 60 years, quarter-mile dirt track has been treating racing fans to a show on Saturday nights from March to October. Due to the development of neighborhoods around the track, the City of Clarksville has purchased the site for more development and the track is going to close and be torn down

Clarksville Speedway Owner William Scogin, who has operated the facility for the last 26 years, said the gates will open for “The Final Race” at 2 p.m. and hot laps will begin at 4. Southern Thunder Late Models will race for $10,000 to win, although Scogin plans to have a full racing card plus other special events on Saturday.

Scogin said the track is rare with a high-banked red clay surface. Over the years, it has seen some famous drivers capture the checkered flag including Tony Stewart, Jeff Purvis, Billy Moyer, and Scott Bloomquist.

Don Young, a Hopkinsville driver who began his racing career at the track nearly 40 years ago, said the track always provided good racing for drivers and fans.

Tyrone Dossett, who passed away last year, was a track favorite for years. His sons JT Dossett and Dustin Erwin have carried on in his footsteps.

JT Dossett said he has many memories of working on his dad’s race car and growing up with the track. Losing Clarksville Speedway hits at his heart.

The Clarksville Speedway has been a place where generations of families chased the checkered flag. They include Johnny Young and his son, Trent, brothers Alan and Larry Still, Big Mike Neighbors, his son Mike, and Mike’s son, Chandler, and Tommy Harris, who passed down his love of the track to his son, Zach.

Zach Harris said the loss of Clarksville Speedway may not be felt until next spring.

Tickets to Saturday’s race are $30 for general admission and fans ages 65-and-older can get in for $20.

Scogin said he is emotional about Saturday’s last race.

Dirt track racing began in Clarksville in 1950 at the old baseball field site at Austin Peay State College. After a few years it was relocated to Averitt Saw Mill Road off Dover Highway and then in 1963 it moved to its current location off Needmore Road.

Clarksville Speedway follows other tracks who have closed. They include Trenton Speedway, Twilight Speedway off the Butler Road in Hopkinsville, a track that was located on the other side of Riverside Cemetery in Hopkinsville, Morton’s Gap, and Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City.

Local drivers will still be able to compete next year at Paducah International Raceway, West Kentucky Speedway in Nebo as well as Windy Hollow in Owensboro and Cedar Ridge in Morgantown.

Photos provided