Would the Reading Fairgrounds Survive Today?

The shopping mall boom of the 70s is a subject worthy of a college thesis. Thousands of open-air spaces were cleared to support the demand of enclosed retail experiences. As life shifted, so did the demand for local dirt racing. For the Reading Fairgrounds, it closed as a byproduct of the modern (now vintage) consumer.

Back in 1980, the roar of modified engines were replaced with the nostalgic tunes of pop music and arcade chimes. The Fairgrounds Square Mall was erected on top of the razed ½ mile dirt oval. Over 50 years of Motorsports history wiped away. 

It’s hard to imagine what life was like before Amazon next day delivery but malls were for physically shopping. You know, walking into a store, browsing the rack, and buying a shirt (for the Gen Z readers).

All kidding aside, we still have malls but Berks County had 2 of them plus the Vanity Fair Outlets. None of which are around today. 

The Fairgrounds Square Mall was demolished in 2020. All that’s left is a few anchor stores and a movie theater, which begs the question, “Would the Reading Fairgrounds survive in today’s economy?”

My short answer is a resounding YES. 

Let’s dive into why. 

The Modern Dirt Track Economy

Think of it this way. When the Philadelphia Phillies are good, the Reading Fightin’ Phils get a positive trickle down impact.

NASCAR viewership is actually on the rise due to streaming. Unlike the way of the mall, NASCAR pivoted their broadcast model. A mid-season stretch of racing is on Prime, which skews heavily to the younger demographic. Prime averaged 2.29 million viewers per race. 

Due to streaming, local races have more exposure than ever before. FloRacing doesn’t release numbers, but the all access channel streams over 2,000 local races. 

That’s not something the Reading Fairgrounds could do in the 70s.

NASCAR is also improving grassroots racing with its 2026 “NASCAR Local Racing Series” rebrand. The release states:

 “The NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts will continue to sanction weekly racing at tracks across North America, serving as a critical entry point for emerging drivers and a cornerstone of NASCAR’s driver development pathway” 

All of those streamed on FloRacing.

Dirt track racing is still alive and well at neighboring tracks like Grandview, Port Royal, and Williams Grove. They’re partnering with NASCAR for the local racing series. They also partnered with High Limit Racing, which is a Sprint Car series founded by five-time World of Outlaw champion Brad Sweet and 2-time NASCAR champion Kyle Larson.

If the Reading Fairgrounds were still around today, I guarantee that stars like Kyle Larson, Rico Abreu, and Kasey Kahne would be visiting the track. 

Since Reading already has 2 minor league teams and an NHRA drag strip, why couldn’t a stock car dirt track coexist? 

It’s a fun debate to have over a few beers on a Friday night. 

The reality is we probably will never get the Reading Fairgrounds back. Between noise and infrastructure challenges, it’s a pipe dream. 

Motorsports have outlived malls and will continue to thrive if people support local racing. Let’s take every chance we can get to appreciate the tracks that still stand today.