A former race car driver sued Friday to challenge the proposed Metro charter amendment to ban auto racing at the Nashville fairgrounds.

Why it matters: The push to ban auto racing comes at the same time that Speedway Motorsports Inc. is pursuing a plan to revamp the speedway in hopes of bringing NASCAR races back to Nashville.

• A coalition of neighborhood groups and environmental groups wants to put the racing-ban measure on the November ballot. The lawsuit calls into question whether they will be able to do so.

Driving the news: The challenge was filed by Neil Chaffin, who used to race at the fairgrounds speedway and currently owns cars that race there.

Between the lines: Chaffin's lawsuit, filed in Chancery Court, zeroes in on a technical issue. The suit argues the proposed ballot language inaccurately uses the terms Tennessee State Fair and Tennessee Fairgrounds instead of Nashville Fairgrounds.

• The State Fair, which once took place in Nashville, is now held in Wilson County.

Zoom out: The anti-racing coalition's proposal seeks to do two things.

• It would replace auto racing with affordable housing on the charter's list of required programming at the fairgrounds.
• It would also ban auto racing on the property. Lead owner of the Nashville SC and powerful businessperson John Ingram supports the plan.

The other side: Mike Kopp, a spokesperson for the group seeking to ban racing, said the term "Tennessee State Fair" is open to interpretation, based on an earlier Chancery Court ruling.

• "We anticipated this kind of frivolous lawsuit by racing special interests. This is yet another example of how North Carolina-based Speedway Motorsports seeks to undermine the will of Nashville voters," Kopp said.

What's next: If the ballot measure survives the legal challenge, the group will have 90 days to collect about 50,000 Davidson County voter signatures in order to get the charter amendment onto the November ballot.

• Voters would then decide whether to ban racing at the fairgrounds.

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A historic house in East Nashville that was previously home to The Groove record store was razed without proper approval, according to a Metro Council member.

What he's saying: "It was demolished unlawfully," Metro Nashville Councilmember Clay Capp said, per the Tennessean. "And it's an extremely outrageous violation of our city's rules."

State of play: The Calvin Street building, which was part of a historic overlay, was home to The Groove until New Year's Eve 2025, when the business moved out with plans to relocate.

• The owners abruptly demolished the structure last week. The store, which did not own the property, posted a picture last week showing the house reduced to rubble.
• "It's a sad day," the post read.

☎️ A Nashville comedian set up a fake deportation tip line as a prank, then it got nearly 100 calls, including a teacher reporting a kindergarten student's parents. (Washington Post)

🪾 The ice storm created a logistical problem for Nashville: where to put thousands of truckloads of debris. Some of it will end up as mulch. (Tennessean)

A new state bill would allow Tennessee foster children to be housed in jail-like facilities. (WPLN)

🔍 After a confusing back-and-forth, ICE continues to look at acquiring a detention facility in suburban Lebanon. (Tennessee Lookout)

Nate here. My earlier stint as the music business reporter at the Tennessean served as an education in how African American artists altered the course of music history from right here in Nashville.

• I learned about the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the reason we earned the reputation as Music City.
• I was taught by Lorenzo Washington, curator of the Jefferson Street Sound Music Museum, about how that road was Nashville's original and authentic Music Row.
• I learned how Dobie Gray recorded "Drift Away" in what was then called Quad Studios (now Sienna Studios) in Midtown.

Why it matters: We didn't want Black History Month to pass without paying respect to Nashville's heritage.

• The very seeds of rock and roll were planted in Nashville when Little Richard played in clubs on Jefferson Street and up-and-coming guitarist Jimi Hendrix had a short stint as a hired hand in his band.
• It's a history that stretches back to DeFord Bailey playing regularly on the Opry stage and one that continues today, with an artistic revolution in the country and Americana genres spearheaded by Black women like Mickey Guyton, Yola and Allison Russell.

This week's Music Monday playlist celebrates Black History Month in Nashville by featuring artists with ties to the city.

🏆 Adam's top track: I recently fell in love with Brittney Spencer's 2024 debut album, which offers a fresh take on several of country music's most enduring themes.

• My favorite is "Night In," an ode to introverted homebodies that might as well be this newsletter's theme song.