County: Speedway Owners Will Be Held Accountable

Under new ownership and management last year, the Natural Bridge Speedway went through some “growing pains.”

This point was driven home Monday as the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors received an annual report on the speedway’s operations as required under the business’s special exception permit.

Chris Slaydon, the county’s director of community development, said his office issued three zoning violation letters in 2022. Violations cited in those letters included two instances of not controlling dust, one of not picking up trash, one of not having an ambulance crew during a race, one of racing past curfew and one of racing after the season had ended.

The speedway’s owner, Joseph Glassford of JCG Adventures LLC, and the lease holder who manages the races, Tiffany Kidd, were present at Monday’s meeting. They acknowledged the issues raised and promised to do better in the upcoming season. Kidd took charge of the track for the last half of last season and is leasing and managing it in the new season that gets underway in April.

Slaydon noted that he gave warnings last year but plans to impose fines this year for any violations that occur. He and the supervisors said the track’s operators would be held accountable for future violations.

Dale Moore, a neighboring resident, shared photos of dust and trash at the track last year. He pointed out that some motorists leaving the venue after a race would drive at excessive rates of speed. “I’m not here to shut down [the speedway],” he said. “I just want to help bring it under control.”

Frances Ruley, a long-time supporter of the speedway whose daughter and son-in-law used to operate it, said she has been and will continue to advise Kidd on the track’s operations. Saying she wants the speedway to succeed, she asked, “What else do our kids have to do in the county?”

Echoing sentiments expressed by his colleagues on the Board, Natural Bridge Supervisor David McDaniel said the speedway “is a vital part of the community. We want to support you, but you have to address the issues [that have been raised].”