389 Country
Staff Report
A staple of the western North Carolina racing scene, Tri-County Race Track is set to make a triumphant return in 2025. After sitting idle throughout 2024, the quarter-mile dirt track, nestled near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will reopen under new management with extensive upgrades and a renewed commitment to the racing community.
J&J Promotions, led by Tennessee’s Jason Welshan and North Carolina’s Jamie Oliver, has taken the reins of the facility with ambitious plans for its future. Welshan, a seasoned racer and businessman, expressed both excitement and nerves about the endeavor.
“I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m all points in between, but this is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Welshan said. “With a great business partner like Jamie Oliver and unbelievable support from our families and the racing community, it’s now a reality. We are reopening Tri-County Race Track, and we’re working around the clock to make a lot of improvements for the grand reopening.”
Over the past few months, the team has been steadily working on upgrades, including leasing additional property to expand the pit area to four times its previous size. Other enhancements include new fencing, LED lighting, new bathrooms, and a remodeled concession stand. Welshan is confident that the changes will leave fans and racers impressed.
Weather permitting, Open Practices are scheduled for March 1, 8, and 15, with a grand reopening event tentatively set for Saturday, March 22. The track will feature a variety of weekly divisions, including Late Models, 604 Late Models, 602 Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives. Special events are also on the schedule, including races sanctioned by the Southern Thunder Late Model Series and the Topless Outlaw Series.
J&J Promotions has committed to running races every other Saturday night, coordinating with nearby Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Georgia, to prevent scheduling conflicts.
“It’s very important to us to work in conjunction with Sugar Creek (Raceway), so we’ve been in close communications with them as we make plans for the season to make sure we aren’t stepping on one another’s toes,” Welshan explained.
A full 2025 schedule will be released soon, and a new website and social media channels are in development to keep fans and racers informed. Welshan emphasized that his new role with the track will not impact his other businesses—Savage Chassis, Competition Racing Equipment, Inc., and Jason Welshan Racing—stating that this endeavor is a natural extension of his racing-related work.
Welshan credited Oliver as a key figure in ensuring the track’s success.
“Jamie is not only a great friend and well-respected racer, but he lives just a few miles from Tri-County Race Track, and he knows that community and that race track as good as anybody. He’s going to be very hands-on in the day-to-day operations, and I’m thankful to be teamed up with him,” Welshan said. “My family and his family are committed to making this work and doing all we can to make Tri-County Race Track a top-notch facility.”
For those interested in becoming a marketing partner or learning more about the reopening, Jason Welshan can be reached at Competition.Racing@yahoo.com.