Virginia International Raceway Famous Oak Tree Falls
The famous Oak Tree at Virginia International Raceway has fallen, broken at the base.
Located at the south end of the race track, the iconic tree has broken due to natural causes and has stood tall in its place long before the track opened in 1957. As construction of the track took place, VIR built its circuit around it, and it became a symbol for the raceway, even incorporated into its logo.
The track and its owners are looking for ideas to give the tree an appropriate send off and is looking for suggestions from fans as well.
“We are in shock and mourning,” said track owner Connie Nyholm on Tuesday, July 2. “We’re too busy right now trying to get the racetrack cleared of debris. We are grateful no one was at the corner station or on track when she fell and that there is no damage to the track surface. Tomorrow we’ll begin to get our arms around what this really means, but I can tell you that it means more than any of us want to think about today.”
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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