After nearly five years of silence, the roar of engines and the cheers from racing fans will fill the air at Southside Speedway again. " "It was a Friday night rush," said former racer Eddie Johnson recalled.

With an agreement now finalized to reopen Southside Speedway, Chesterfield officials and the track’s new operating group took a victory lap on Tuesday to mark the milestone.

Chesterfield County last week finalized a 20-year lease-to-purchase agreement for Competitive Racing Investments, an investor group, to take over Southside Speedway. Why it matters: The deal will bring Friday night car racing back to Chesterfield for the first time in six years.