HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Growing up right across the street from Richmond International Raceway, Reggie Johnson would always get a jolt of excitement when NASCAR's spring and fall races would come to town.
"I have very fond memories watching the people come, watching the trailers come in, going, 'Hey there's my favorite driver!'" Johnson said.
When CBS 6 broke the news to Johnson Wednesday afternoon, he was shocked.
"It's always been two races a year. I never thought the day would come when they take one away," he said.
He said over the years, residents would often complain about traffic concerns from thousands of fans coming in for race weekend.
IN-DEPTH: What Richmond loss of NASCAR race weekend means for community
Other residents, like Mary Wood, would open up their yards or parking lots to charge for parking.
"Before COVID-19, I used to park, fill my yard up, and there would be people who would camp out in the backyard, and that kind of stuff," Wood said. "One thing I've noticed is that the crowd has diminished quite a bit."
Wood and Johnson said over the past few years, they've seen fewer and fewer visitors coming to the raceway.
"I'm sure a lot of business owners are like, 'Oh, no,'" Wood said.
CBS 6 spoke with Harry Sharma, who manages Race Track Market.
"That day we do a lot of business," Sharma said about each race.
With the loss of one race, Sharma said it could have a major impact.
"We lose $5,000 to $10,000," he said. "They should do more. The reducing, it's bad."
Johnson said he understands the move, though he worries about the economic impact it could have on Henrico County and Richmond.
“I can understand it once a year, if they’re trying to expand, go international. There are international drivers in NASCAR now, so why not? You have to go with the punches."
CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
-
-
Why a Petersburg dad initially thought his kid's school lunch was a 'funny meme'
Petersburg City Public Schools will hold a series of community discussions about school lunch quality following some social media posts that drew criticisms of their lack of visual appeal.Harris talks about her plan to help small businesses
Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a new piece of her economic plan Wednesday that she says will help cut red tape for small businesses.ABC sets mic policies and other rules for next week's presidential debate
ABC has announced the complete set of rules for its Sept. 10 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.Israel's Netanyahu demands open-ended control of Gaza's border with Egypt
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel must keep open-ended control of Gaza’s border with Egypt.USDA report shows 13.5% of US households are food insecure, up from 2022
A new USDA report shows that food insecurity is on the rise nationwide, with 13.5% of households being food insecure at some point during 2023.Richmond Finance Director gives 'most honest' report after months of controversy
Richmond's Finance Director Sheila White gave her most comprehensive public report to the city council since her department was the target of an influx of complaints.
-
EAT IT, VIRGINIA restaurant news and interviews