Chester, Virginia
Chester is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, 15 miles south of Richmond with population of 23,000. The town sits 75 miles from Virginia International Raceway and 35 miles from Dominion Raceway, providing excellent access to Mid-Atlantic road racing facilities. Chester's position near I-95 and I-295 intersection enables efficient travel to VIR, Summit Point (155 miles), and regional autocross venues. The area benefits from Richmond motorsport community including SCCA Richmond Region, PCA, BMW CCA, and marque clubs. Local car culture includes Cars and Coffee events and proximity to Richmond Raceway for NASCAR events and autocross programs.
Virginia International Raceway (75 miles south, 1.25 hours) operates as primary track destination. VIR's Full Course (3.27 miles, 17 turns) features Climbing Esses, elevation changes, and speeds exceeding 140 mph. The facility hosts 200+ track days through NASA, Chin, TrackDaze, PCA, BMW CCA, and clubs with pricing $400-650. VIR operates Patriot and North courses for smaller vehicles. Paddock includes 140 acres with garages, fuel, and camping. Professional racing includes IMSA and Trans-Am bringing national competition within easy drive from Chester.
Dominion Raceway (35 miles north, 40 minutes) provides closest track access with 2.0-mile road course plus oval, drag strip, and drift pad. Modern facility opened 2017 with SAFER barriers and extensive run-off. Track days cost $300-450 through NASA, TrackDaze, and clubs. Proximity enables frequent participation. Summit Point (155 miles, 2.5 hours) offers four circuits hosting 100+ track days annually with pricing $250-450. Richmond Raceway (20 miles) provides NASCAR entertainment and autocross venue.
SCCA Richmond Region hosts monthly autocross at Richmond Raceway lots attracting 80-120 competitors. Events feature courses 40-60 seconds with electronic timing. Membership $115 annually, events $50-60. PCA Potomac organizes autocross and track days. BMW CCA hosts driver schools. Classes ensure fair competition across modification levels. Novices receive briefings and loaner helmets. Petersburg Motorsports Park (15 miles) offers drag racing with test-and-tune nights and bracket racing.
Karting at GoPro Motorplex (150 miles in NC) features 0.7-mile outdoor circuit. Indoor facilities in Richmond provide year-round access. Rally through SCCA RallyCross at regional venues. Chester benefits from I-95 corridor access and Richmond proximity. Performance shops and automotive businesses serve community. Cars and Coffee events occur regularly. The town provides motorsport access with suburban living and reasonable costs appealing to enthusiasts seeking track participation without urban intensity.