| Lanier Raceway | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hall County,Braselton,Georgia |
| Coordinates | 34°9′12″N83°48′45″W / 34.15333°N 83.81250°W /34.15333; -83.81250 |
| Owner | High Octane Trackside, LLC (2022–present) |
| Operator | High Octane Trackside, LLC (2022–present) |
| Opened | 1982 |
| Architect | Bud Lunsford |
| Former names | Lanier Raceplex (2012–2021) Lanier National Speedway (1997–2011) Lanier Raceway (1982–1996) |
| Major events | Former: Pro All Stars Series (2019) NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour (1991, 2008–2009) CARS X1-R Pro Cup Series (2009) ARCA RE/MAX Series (2005) ASA National Tour (2000, 2003–2004) NASCAR Southeast Series (1991–2000, 2004) NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (1988–1992) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.375 mi (0.604 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
Caffeine and Octane's Lanier Raceway[1] (formerlyLanier Raceplex andLanier National Speedway) is a 0.375 mi (0.604 km) paved oval racetrack located just outsideBraselton, Georgia. The track opened in 1982 as a dirt track, and was paved in the mid-1980s. It is currently owned and operated by High Octane, LLC, an auto events & multimedia business conglomerate. The track was under theNASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner with superlate models, SuperTrucks, Junkyard Dogs, outlaw late models, mini stocks, INEX RaceCeiver/zMaxlegends cars and INEXbandolero cars. The track ended weekly racing at the end of the 2011 season, but remained open for larger events. In 2022, High Octane resumed weekly car events at the raceway for the first time since 2011.
ThePro All Stars Series hosted a national super late model event at Lanier on November 15–16, 2019. This served as the PASS National Championship final.[2] On 1 January 2022 it was reported that the track had been sold to Caffeine and Octane.[3] C&O's Lanier Raceway is located across from theNASCAR ownedRoad Atlanta motor racing circuit.
In 2012, Lanier National Speedway was purchased by Jim Downing and renamed "Lanier Raceplex". The new venue was to host concerts and serve as a race track[4] August 12 photos emerged showing the infield walls, buildings, and facilities being razed in preparation for a complete "black lake" paving job of the entire infield and oval. Track amenities also received major renovations. The track reopened January 2016 and features "arrive and drive" karting, as well as hosting oval track (legends series), and drift events.
In 2021, the Lanier Raceplex functioned as an arrive and drive go-kart track and is hosted a four-race legends car series in July that was broadcast on NBC Sports Gold Trackpass. A ten race series was also held for arrive and drive go karts that year.
In 2022, the now-formerly Lanier Raceplex was sold to High Octane Events, a multimedia motorsports event business headquartered inAtlanta, GA who also own the largest monthly car show in the world,[5] Caffeine and Octane. C&O announced upon purchasing stated it intends to create a more actively used event space for drifting, racing, burnouts, car meets, driving competitions and other auto events with all makes and models of cars. Since then, Caffeine and Octane has resumed weekly events at the Lanier Raceway, including Friday Night Drift. As the only short, oval bank, paved track within 50 mi (80 km) of the city of Atlanta, Caffeine & Octane's Lanier Raceway has become a major hub for grassroots drifting and competition driving within the state of Georgia and across the Southeastern United States.
TheNASCAR Busch Grand National Series ran five races at the track between 1988 and 1992.[6]
| Season | Winning driver | Car | Laps | Average speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Tommy Houston | Buick | 200 | 84.191 mph (135.492 km/h) |
| 1989 | Ronald Cooper | Buick | 200 | 77.474 mph (124.682 km/h) |
| 1990 | Chuck Bown | Pontiac | 200 | 74.033 mph (119.145 km/h) |
| 1991 | David Green | Oldsmobile | 200 | 73.250 mph (117.884 km/h) |
| 1992 | Bobby Labonte | Chevrolet | 300 | 77.735 mph (125.102 km/h) |
Lanier Raceplex hosted weeklyNASCAR Whelen All-American Series races.
The track hosted 17NASCAR Southeast Series races between 1991 and 2004. The track also hosted 2NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour events: one in 2008 and the other in 2009.
TheARCA Re/Max Series had run one event at the track, in2005. The race was won byDavid Ragan.
The facility hosted threeASA National Tour races between 2000 and 2004. One race was won byScott Wimmer and the other two events were won byMike Garvey.
CARS X1-R Pro Cup Series ran one race at the track, in 2009.
Bruce Piefke of Caffeine and Octane, which took over ownership of the raceplex at the start of the year, said he's excited for the event, and ensured they will have ample security.
