Who Owns Atlanta Motor Speedway? A Local’s Guide to the Track’s Ownership and Role in Atlanta

Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the most recognizable sports and entertainment venues in the Atlanta area, especially for racing fans in Henry County and the south metro region. If you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or just want to understand how this major track operates, it helps to know who actually owns Atlanta Motor Speedway and how it’s run.

Below is a clear breakdown of who owns Atlanta Motor Speedway, how it fits into the larger NASCAR world, and what that means for you as a local resident or visitor.

Who Owns Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Atlanta Motor Speedway is owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a major U.S. motorsports entertainment company that owns and operates several NASCAR tracks around the country.

Speedway Motorsports is a private company based in North Carolina that focuses on:

• Owning and operating large race tracks
• Hosting NASCAR and other motorsports events
• Managing year-round events, concerts, and attractions at its facilities

Atlanta Motor Speedway is one of the tracks in its portfolio, which also includes venues like Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

Is Atlanta Motor Speedway a Public or Government-Owned Facility?

No. Atlanta Motor Speedway is privately owned and operated. It is not owned by the City of Atlanta, the State of Georgia, or Henry County.

That means:

• Decisions about events, improvements, and management are made by Speedway Motorsports.
• Local governments generally interact with the speedway through permits, zoning, transportation planning, and public safety coordination, especially on major event weekends.

Where Is Atlanta Motor Speedway and How Does It Connect to Atlanta?

Even though it carries the Atlanta name, the track itself is located in Hampton, Georgia, in Henry County, about 25–30 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, depending on your starting point and traffic.

Basic location details:

• Name: Atlanta Motor Speedway
• City: Hampton, Georgia
• General Area: South of Atlanta, off US-19/41
• County: Henry County

For Atlanta residents, the track is a familiar landmark along the south side of the metro area and is often part of conversations about traffic, tourism, and big event weekends.

How Is Atlanta Motor Speedway Managed Day to Day?

While Speedway Motorsports is the owner, Atlanta Motor Speedway has its own local management team responsible for:

• Event operations: Running race weekends, concerts, festivals, and track rentals
• Facility maintenance: Maintaining the track surface, grandstands, suites, and infield
• Local partnerships: Working with Henry County, the City of Hampton, local law enforcement, and Georgia tourism offices
• Community use: Coordinating non-race events like charity runs, car shows, and driving experiences

This structure is typical for large sports venues: a parent company owns the facility, while local leadership handles daily operations and community relationships.

Who Owns the Land and Buildings?

For practical purposes, when people ask “Who owns Atlanta Motor Speedway?” they are usually referring to who controls the land, the track, and the facilities.

In this case:

• Speedway Motorsports is the owner of the track, buildings, and main facility grounds.
• That includes the oval track, grandstands, suites, infield area, and various support buildings.

From a visitor’s point of view, you can think of the entire complex—parking lots, track, and most visible structures—as being owned and managed under the Speedway Motorsports umbrella.

How Does NASCAR Fit Into the Ownership Picture?

A common point of confusion for Atlanta residents and visitors is the role of NASCAR.

Here’s how it works:

• NASCAR does not own Atlanta Motor Speedway.
• Instead, NASCAR sanctions races (like the NASCAR Cup Series and other divisions) that are hosted at tracks owned by companies like Speedway Motorsports.
• Atlanta Motor Speedway works with NASCAR to schedule race dates, prepare the facility, and run major race weekends in coordination with NASCAR’s rules and structure.

So, the short version:
Speedway Motorsports owns the speedway; NASCAR runs the racing series that compete there.

Why Ownership Matters for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

Understanding who owns Atlanta Motor Speedway can help you make sense of who to contact and who makes decisions that affect your experience and the surrounding area.

1. For Event Information and Tickets

If you’re in Atlanta and want to attend a NASCAR race, a concert, or a special event:

• Contact the speedway itself, not the City of Atlanta or Henry County offices, for:
  • Ticket information
  • Event schedules
  • Parking details
  • Hospitality and suite options
  • Track tours or special experiences

Because it’s privately owned, Atlanta Motor Speedway controls its own ticketing and event policies.

2. For Local Residents Near the Track

If you live in or near Hampton, McDonough, or the south metro area, ownership affects:

• Noise and traffic planning: Speedway Motorsports and the local management team coordinate with Henry County and GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) to handle road closures, detours, and traffic patterns on big weekends.
• Local input: Concerns about noise, lighting, or major changes (like new construction) are typically addressed through local government channels, which then work with the track’s management.

3. For Atlanta-Area Businesses

If you run a business in the Atlanta metro area and want to partner with the track:

• Sponsorships, vendor opportunities, and corporate events are usually arranged directly through Atlanta Motor Speedway’s corporate or sales offices, under Speedway Motorsports’ policies.
• The track often collaborates with local tourism groups and chambers of commerce to bring visitors into the region for race weekends and special events.

Quick Reference: Who Controls What?

Below is a simple summary of how ownership and control are divided:

If You’re Planning a Visit from Atlanta

If you’re coming from Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, the privately owned status of the track doesn’t change your travel route, but it does shape what you should pay attention to:

• ✅ Check event details through Atlanta Motor Speedway, since they set parking rules, gate times, and allowed items.
• ✅ Watch for traffic advisories from GDOT or local news on big race weekends—traffic patterns are often adjusted, especially on I‑75 and nearby state routes.
• ✅ Look for official speedway information for things like camping policies, infield access, and special experiences such as driving experiences or track tours.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

• Atlanta Motor Speedway is privately owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC.
• It is not a government-owned facility, and it is not owned by NASCAR.
• NASCAR races at the track, but the ownership and operation belong to Speedway Motorsports and the local speedway management team.
• For anything related to tickets, events, or using the facility, your primary point of contact is Atlanta Motor Speedway itself, not the City of Atlanta or state offices.
• For traffic, noise, and public safety issues around race weekends, local governments and state agencies coordinate with the track’s private ownership to manage the impact on the Atlanta region.

With this in mind, if you live in Atlanta or are visiting the city and planning a trip to the speedway, you now know who owns it, who runs it, and how it fits into the broader Atlanta area.