The forgotten Occoneechee Speedway is full of NASCAR history. Active for 20 years, the one-mile oval was the last remaining dirt track from the sport’s inaugural season in 1949 but is now a shadow of its former self. What was once a bustling venue full of cheering fans has become ‘wild’, with overgrown bushes surrounding faded concrete stands and rusted vehicles, showing glimpses of a bygone era where technology and stock cars didn’t mix and match.

Owned by none other than Bill France Sr. himself, the Speedway has seen some of the biggest names in the sport drive their vehicles across the track. However, the track has seen no action in half a century, but its legacy lives on despite its dilapidated state.

A part of NASCAR’s history is obscured in the wilderness

On the banks of the Eno River and out in the woods, the last remaining remnants of the Occoneechee Speedway are there for all to see. Rusted race cars can still be found near what was once a speedway, while the asphalt track has now disappeared, covered by overgrown bushes and trees. The land was used for racing long before the France family even thought about bringing NASCAR to North Carolina, but instead of engines, horses competed on the track which was owned by Julian Carr.

It all began in the late 19th century when Carr bought a home by James Hogg, a trustee of the University of North Carolina. He renamed the land to Occoneechee Farm, a tribute to the Occoneechee tribe that once occupied the area, and began using his property to organize horse races. Decades later, Bill France Sr. identified the dirt track as a valuable piece of land that could be used to run car races, to expand NASCAR to the Hillsborough area, and the rest as they say is history.

Eventually, North Carolina became somewhat of an epicenter for NASCAR, with tracks popping up at Wilkesboro, Raleigh, Rockingham, and others. While some survived, Occoneechee Speedway wasn’t as lucky as it fell victim to pressure being applied by local officials, who criticized fans for going to the races instead of attending church on Sundays. Ultimately, the issue became too big to ignore, and the one-mile oval featured its last race on September 15, 1968, with seven-time Cup Series winner Richard Petty securing a victory.

While other tracks such as Raleigh Speedway have disappeared because of redevelopment, Occoneechee Speedway remains dilapidated but untouched. That’s because the land has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and is being preserved by the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. The venue is a popular destination for hikers and motorsports enthusiasts, who can visit the remnants of the once-popular speedway and witness an important part of NASCAR history with their own eyes.

Can Occoneechee Speedway follow North Wilkesboro’s route?

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There are few feelings better than the roar of an engine on a track that was once on the verge of death. The locals of Wilkes County know the feeling better than most, after seeing North Wilkesboro Speedway being restored and repaired by NASCAR in their 75th season. After a 27-year hiatus, the paved oval short-track was brought back to its former glory for the 2023 All-Star race and returned to the calendar the following year for the same event. Giving credit where it is due, RFK Racing team owner and driver Brad Keselowski said, “It feels like this is NASCAR saying, ‘We want to do this and we want to do it right.”

Just like Occoneechee, North Wilkesboro can be considered NASCAR’s roots. The track opened in 1947 and soon became an iconic venue, hosting 93 cup races over five decades. However, with the sport looking to expand its horizons, its oldest tracks became the first victims, and the two races assigned to the venue were given to Texas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire. Just like Occoneechee Speedway, the track sat dormant for almost three decades, being left for dead until restoration plans restored it to life.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his crew cleaned the track just enough to scan it for a video game in 2019, which started somewhat of a domino effect. Subsequently, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper allocated $18 million for the speedway in 2021, which proved to be instrumental in renovation and repairs. While the Occoneechee Speedway is in far worse condition, almost unrecognizable for the days it was fully operational, the land has not been used for other purposes, which might leave the door open for a potential comeback one day. Even though millions will go into restoring the track, North Wilkesboro’s story will instill hope in fans that it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.

Do you think Occoneechee Speedway could be restored in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!