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South Florida's popular Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), which closed its gates in 2022, is back on the market, giving hope to the local grassroots racing community that a new owner can save this historic track and once again bring safe motorsports competition back to the region. Since its closure, PBIR has been a point of focus for lawmakers, law enforcement and concerned local automotive enthusiasts, who have organized in an urgent attempt to preserve racing venues for local enthusiasts. 

The 174-acre plot was destined to become a two million sq. ft. warehouse complex with a contract agreement in 2022 to an industrial warehouse developer. But with the property returning to the market as a raceway, there is renewed hope that the historic facility can return to its glory days. The automotive community quickly took to social media to share the listing that went public in mid-January in hopes of identifying a buyer. The track is currently listed unpriced by CBRE and is open to offers. 

Efforts to save the track have been spearheaded by Madelyn Marconi, a resident of Palm Beach County and writer for Drag Illustrated. Marconi, who met her husband at the track, has organized local enthusiasts and small business owners to share their personal stories and the community impact of the track at countless county commission meetings. Marconi prioritized building relationships with local and state representatives while highlighting the massive economic impact of having an operational track in Palm Beach County. Enthusiasts also took to social media to raise awareness over its closure, garnering over 15,000 signatures on a petition and creating various social media pages to generate public interest. 

As mentioned, the automotive community was not alone in its fears over losing the iconic track. Florida law enforcement expressed concern with drivers taking their need for speed to the streets with the loss of a dedicated and safe area for racing. With the rise of illegal street racing and dangerous online trends such as "intersection takeovers," local tracks have served as a safe alternative for thrill seekers to enjoy the company of fellow speed enthusiasts. 

Currently, Palm Beach County is experiencing a lull in warehouse demand since the height of COVID-boosted e-commerce in 2020. The industrial market's overall vacancy rate has reached an all-time high at 7%, with more than 85% of new inventory still available for lease, a local industrial market report stated. On the other hand, the need for tourism has increased substantially as Palm Beach County leaders have recently prioritized tourism as a key goal for 2025. While the future of the property is still up in the air, hundreds of thousands of automotive enthusiasts are optimistic that current market trends will see that PBIR makes a comeback to South Florida.   

PRI's Washington, D.C., office and PRI News will continue to spread the word on this issue, which is important to the racing community.