Entering the motorsports world was an easy decision for Kyle resident Sean Folsom.
While working as a photographer at what was Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle six years ago, Folsom grew tired of seeing his race car driver friends have all of the fun on the track.
As a result, Folsom invested in his own racecar and regularly competed at the venue, later known as Central Texas Speedway.
But Folsom and many others were shocked when CTS officials announced they were shuttering the track, raising a red flag on one of the last short-track asphalt speedways in Texas.
“It’s sad to see CTS die and go away,” Folsom said. “I would love to see it reopen, but the way it sounds, I don’t think it’s going to.”
CTS demise began when Tim Self, the previous leaseholder, and his company, AM Racing, chose not to renew for 2017, said Rick Coleman, who owns the property CTS is located on.
Coleman said Self came to him and gave up his lease 15 months before it expired.
Once Self chose to not renew, Coleman said he didn’t seek another suitor, as he feared the liability a racetrack presented.
“I didn’t care to have it. I didn’t want the liability of something happening to someone on the track and I was liable for them ... CTS had insurance for that, but I didn’t want that problem.” Rick Coleman, CTS property owner
Coleman added that he would have allowed Self to run the track “for as long as he wanted to,” but Self was “tired of it” and was “moving on.”
Coleman began the demolition process earlier this year, removing bulidings, including the press box, which was damaged during a March storm.
Rodney Rodriguez, a generational racecar driver who was an announcer and competitor at CTS, said the decision to close the track left him “crushed,” as there are few asphalt short tracks left in the state.
Kyle resident and former racecar driver Christine Molis said the closure “hurts” as there are many local drivers who competed at CTS.
“There’s a lot from Kyle, Buda, the Manchaca area and Austin,” Molis said. “This is their home track. Now with it being gone, they have a car in the garage doing nothing.”
With CTS gone, drivers now must go elsewhere.
Folsom said the nearest tracks in the area, located in Pleasanton and Paige, are dirt tracks. Molis said dirt tracks are gaining popularity due to affordability.
The nearest asphalt short-tracks that operate consistently are located in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
For many weekend-warrior racecar drivers, the prospect of traveling out-of-state to find an asphalt track isn’t feasible. Folsom estimated costs ranging from $600 and up for a driver when they add in travel expenses, pit passes, gasoline and tires for the hauling vehicle and racecar.
The loss of the speedway created an impact on Kyle as well. Julie Snyder, Kyle Chamber of Commerce CEO, said the speedway drew tourism due to the racing, as well as go-karts that were offered at the circult. In addition, the land was also used as a music venue, with the Kyle Fair and Music Festival held at the location.
In 2016, CTS claimed the Kyle Chamber’s “Business of the Year” award.
“Anytime we lose a business, it’s a loss for us. Not only services they provide, but the financials we receive,” Snyder said. “From a visitor’s side, it’s tough to lose an activity such as that, which was family oriented.”
For Rodriguez, the chance to race on a unique, last-of-its kind venue was worthwhile.
“Because the asphalt group is so limited, it felt like a very distinct group of racers out there,” Rodrigiez said. “There’s a lot of tracks, but there’s few of us that could do that.”
For Folsom, the unique track is something that he will miss.
“It was a great track,” Folsom said. “I loved racing there and I met a lot of great friends and people.”
