CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City of Clarksville has expressed interest in buying the Clarksville Speedway, but an agreement on any such purchase is far from done, says Speedway owner William Scogin.

The City of Clarksville included in their FY23 budget $7 million for the purchase of property to construct a new regional community center. The Parks and Recreation Budget in particular requests funding to purchase the Speedway, located on Needmore Road, for this purpose.

Public documents with that money itemized have been circulating, raising questions around Clarksville about whether the city is buying the Speedway.

Clarksville Chief Financial Officer Laurie Matta told Clarksville Now that while the city is interested in the Speedway property, the requested funds, if approved, would not necessarily have to be used on that specific piece of property.

‘We have no deal in the works’

Clarksville Now reached out to Scogin, who said selling the Speedway is far from a done deal.

“They (the city) are trying to get funding ready so they can come to me and try to buy the racetrack,” Scogin said. “We have no deal in the works. We’ve talked about it, but we haven’t even negotiated a price. It’s a negotiation, and we have to sit down and figure things out. … It’s going to be a little while.”

The Speedway, a popular Clarksville entertainment venue, was once in a remote area far from any homes. Over the last several years, several housing developments have been built nearby, leading to noise complaints from the racetrack’s new neighbors.

Scogin said that if he decides to sell, it would not be immediate, but rather a slow phasing out of the Speedway. He also said the city has expressed interest in keeping certain events if they were to purchase the property.

“It’s not going to close straight down; it would be a phased-out situation. There’s a lot of things I have to look at before I say yes,” Scogin said. “It would be a three- to five-year phase out if the trigger were pulled.”

“We still have the fair in July. We still have the Christmas Lights this year,” added Scogin’s wife, Laura.

Scogin made clear that if a deal is reached, he would make a public announcement alongside the city

“When this is totally done … me and the mayor will have a meeting and tell everybody,” Scogin said. “We are nowhere near that, though.”

First reading and public hearing for the FY23 City Budget is scheduled for June 9th with second reading to follow on June 14.