Diamond Lakes Park holds remnants of oft-forgotten NASCAR track

Revisiting the forgotten NASCAR track in the Diamond Lakes Regional Park of Augusta, Georgia may seem like a stroll through a regular park, but for Harvey Tollison, it’s a trip down memory lane.

Tollison reminisces about the potential that the old Augusta International Raceway held as the home of the Augusta 510.

According to Tollison, the track was meant to host a major race in the summer, but due to financial and construction setbacks, the event was delayed until mid-November 1963.

Unfortunately, the race faced poor weather and a reduced turnout of just 15,000 fans, well below expectations.

Furthermore, the limited daylight hours led to a shortened race, with Fireball Roberts emerging as the victor.

Roberts, a popular figure who designed the track and was a founding partner, tragically passed away in a crash just six months after his win in Augusta.

Tollison speculates that if Roberts had not died, the track might have seen a resurgence, but subsequent fatalities of top finishers led to the track’s decline.

The dream of a second Augusta 510 never materialized after Roberts’ untimely death, and nature is slowly reclaiming the 60-year-old asphalt.

Tollison ponders the missed potential, suggesting that the track could have rivaled the Masters if circumstances had been different.

As the years pass, the once-thriving NASCAR track fades further into history, leaving behind the question: What if?

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