Florence, South Carolina – The Florence Motor Speedway, located in the Pee Dee area, has recently been purchased by the people who were renting it for a long time.
The track is getting a makeover with new paint and signs by the new owners.
Steve Zacharias, now the owner, shared that he moved to Florence after he lost his job in Myrtle Beach.
“People were struggling just to have a hobby like this,” Zacharias said.
Steve, who grew up in a racing family, was previously the boss at Myrtle Beach Speedway until it got sold for development.
He mentioned that his family had limited options for racing jobs nearby, leading to this change.
“We had to decide are we going to try to find a real job or are we going to stay racing,” Zacharias said. “And my family decided to stay in racing.”
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Zacharias explained that he began with a lease-to-own deal for the Florence Motor Speedway.
Since 1984, this racetrack has been a fixture, originally owned by former racer Charlie Powell, who passed away in 2020.
“He was 83 years old at the time,” Zacharias said. “He was ready for someone to come in with new life and new energy that he had towards it.”
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Recently, Zacharias announced that his company, Melmoa Investments, completed the purchase of the track, with support from Carolina Bank in Florence.
He highlighted the track’s upgrades, including modernized bathrooms and seating. It has attracted well-known racers, like Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“We’re starting to get to the point where our car counts are up,” Zacharias said. “Our crowds are getting better, but that doesn’t end what we’re trying to do.”
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Zacharias mentioned that attending races, like the upcoming one on February 10th, is a great way to support the speedway.
