Volunteer Speedway Mourns the Loss of Robert Walden
On a Saturday night, what many race fans consider to be race night, Volunteer Speedway lost a legend. We are heartbroken to share the passing of a true pillar of East Tennessee racing, Robert Walden.
For more than four decades, Robert was a constant presence in the dirt racing community across our region. To many, he was a journalist. To others, a historian. To Volunteer Speedway, he was family. His love for the sport and for the people in it shaped the way our stories were told and our history was preserved.
Robert dedicated countless hours to documenting races, tracking results, recording statistics, and telling the stories of drivers, teams, and events that make this sport special. If it happened at The Gap, chances are Robert either wrote about it, archived it, or remembered it. He served as a trusted record keeper and historian for Volunteer Speedway through the years, and worked in the role of PR for Joe and Phyllis Loven since they took over ownership of The Gap. His work helped to ensure that the accomplishments and memories made here would never be lost to time.
His work in motorsports journalism gave a voice to local racing and helped shine a spotlight on drivers and teams throughout East Tennessee. Week after week, season after season, he showed up with the same passion for racing and the same commitment to doing things the right way. His knowledge of the sport was deep, but his heart for the people in it was even greater.
Robert’s contributions did not go unnoticed. His recognition in the Dirt Late Model and Volunteer Speedway circles reflected a lifetime invested in promoting the sport he loved. Still, those who knew him best will remember his kindness, his steady presence at the track, and his genuine joy in seeing racers and fans enjoy a great night of competition.
Tonight, our racing community mourns the loss of a man who helped build and preserve the legacy of dirt track racing in East Tennessee. Volunteer Speedway is better because Robert Walden was part of it. His fingerprints are on the history of this place, and his impact will be felt for generations.
We ask our racing family to keep Robert’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this time. Vic & Christa Hill, along with the rest of the Volunteer Speedway family says: “Thank you, Robert, for your years of dedication, your passion for the sport, and your love for Volunteer Speedway. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.”
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