SPARTA, Ky. — For 20 years, some of stockcar racing's greatest drivers made annual pit stops in Sparta, Ky.

Kentucky Speedway hosted its last Quaker State 400 race in 2020, which was held without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NASCAR's departure left some county officials and business owners disappointed due to the loss of economic impact from fans who would typically flood the area for race weekend.

"A lot of the drivers I got to know, and they would eat here," said Justin Mylor, owner of Jewell's On Main in nearby Warsaw. "And now that's all gone."

Mylor said that on a typical race weeknight, he might have two or three billionaire owners sitting at his bar.

The track remains privately owned by Speedway Motorsports, which said, in a statement, that there are no plans in the immed

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