Occoneechee Speedway facts for kids
Revitalized flag stand - 2010 Car Show
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| Location | Elizabeth Brady, 0.3 N of US 70 Business, Hillsborough, North Carolina, United States |
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| Owner | Classical American Homes Preservation Trust |
| Opened | May 5, 1947 |
| Closed | June 1968 |
| Former names | Orange Speedway |
| Major events | Hillsboro 150 (1949–1968) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 0.9 mi (1.5 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
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Occoneechee Speedway
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 Location in North Carolina
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| Area | 44 acres (18 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000435 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 2002 |
Occoneechee Speedway was one of the very first NASCAR race tracks ever built! It was a super important place for racing history. This track closed in 1968. It is the only dirt track left from NASCAR's first season in 1949.
You can find it just outside the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Contents
Racing History at Occoneechee Speedway
From Horse Track to Race Track
Long ago, in the late 1800s, the land where the speedway sits was a big farm called Occoneechee Farm. The farm got its name from the Occaneechi Native American tribe who lived in the area. The farm owner, Julian S. Carr, loved horse racing. He even built a half-mile horse racing track on his land.
Later, a man named Bill France saw the old horse track and the wide-open land from his airplane. Bill France was the person who started NASCAR! He decided this was a great spot for car racing. In September 1947, he built a 0.9-mile (about 1.5 km) dirt track right where the horse track used to be. This was two months before NASCAR officially began.
Early Racing Legends and Firsts
In the early days, brothers Fonty Flock, Bob, and Tim were amazing drivers at Occoneechee. They won many races! Something really special happened here in 1949. Louise Smith became NASCAR's very first female driver at this track. Imagine being the first woman to race in such a big sport!
Many other famous stock car racers competed at Occoneechee Speedway. These included legends like Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, and Junior Johnson. For many years, it was one of the most important tracks in NASCAR.
Why the Track Closed
The races at Occoneechee Speedway were usually held on Sundays. Some people in Hillsborough didn't like this. Because of this local opposition, the track eventually closed. The very last race was on September 15, 1968. Richard Petty won that final race.
After Occoneechee closed, Bill France looked for a new place to build an even bigger and faster track. He wanted a track where cars could go faster than at Daytona International Speedway. He eventually found a spot in Alabama and built the Talladega Superspeedway. Talladega opened just one year later and took over Occoneechee Speedway's spot on the racing calendar.
Occoneechee in Movies and TV
Occoneechee Speedway, along with another old track called North Wilkesboro Speedway, helped inspire a track in the Pixar movie Cars 3. In the movie, the character Strip Weathers is voiced by the real-life racing legend Richard Petty!
The track was also featured in a TV show called Lost Speedways. This show is on the Peacock streaming service. It's hosted by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., who explores old, forgotten race tracks.
Exploring the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail
A Walk Through History
Today, the Occoneechee Speedway site looks very different. It's now covered with tall pine and sycamore trees. It's a popular place for people in Hillsborough to go for a walk. You can still see parts of the old grandstands where fans used to sit. Much of the mile-long oval track is also still visible.
The site is now a National Historic Place. It covers about 44 acres (17.8 hectares) and has over 3 miles (4.8 km) of walking trails. A special walking trail was built in 2003. It crisscrosses the old clay track, letting you explore the historic grounds.
Keeping the History Alive
A local group called The Historic Speedway Group is a non-profit organization. They work hard to organize volunteers who help fix up the old buildings and keep the track and trails in good shape. This group has also collected many old videos, photos, and facts about the speedway.
In 2022, the land was given to the state of North Carolina. It is now part of Eno River State Park, so even more people can visit and enjoy this special piece of history.
Famous Winners at Occoneechee
Many incredible drivers won races at Occoneechee Speedway. Here are just a few of the champions who raced here:
- Bob Flock won in 1949.
- Fireball Roberts took home a win in 1950.
- Lee Petty won multiple times, including in 1950, 1959, and 1960.
- Fonty Flock was a winner in 1951 and 1952.
- Herb Thomas won races in 1951 and 1954.
- Tim Flock won in 1952 and 1955.
- Buck Baker was a three-time winner in 1956, 1957, and 1958.
- Curtis Turner won in 1953 and 1959.
- Richard Petty, one of NASCAR's most famous drivers, won in 1960, 1967, and the very last race in 1968.
- Ned Jarrett won in 1964 and 1965.
These drivers and many others made Occoneechee Speedway a truly exciting place to watch racing!
Images for kids
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The horse racetrack on Occoneechee farm, 1938
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Aerial view of Occoneechee Speedway in 1955
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Former ticket office
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Former outhouse location
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Pepsi coolers at the concession area
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View of the grandstand lights
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Stairs leading from the track level through the grandstands
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Overgrowth covers the remains of the grandstand
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The track around the start/finish line
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Grandstands back in use – 2010 Car Show
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A rusted car that was modified for racing on the speedway
