NORTH  CAROLINA  STATE  FAIRGROUNDS   -   RALEIGH  NC

North Carolina’s State Fairground Speedway began in 1928 on a half-mile oval dirt track used for horse racing.  Racecar fans would pack the fairgrounds to watch races and was temporarily halted in 1941 due to the outbreak of WWII.  Races commenced again in 1946 after the end of the war, but it wasn’t until 1955 the State Fairground Speedway hosted the first NASCAR event.  In that race, Tim Flock would lead the first nine laps; but fall out after losing his brakes.  Junior Johnson led the next 163 laps, and, was ahead when the race was called on account of rain.  Fonty Flock finished second and Buck Baker third.  But the race was cut short due to rain delays and Junior Johnson was declared the winner as he was leading at the time.  Then the Cup series didn't return until 1969. David Pearson would lead 65 laps early; but Richard Petty led 18 laps at the midpoint.  Then Pearson would lead the 

remaining laps to beat Petty by three laps.  James Hylton was third, eleven laps behind.  The in 1970 Cup race was the final one at the track.  This would be an historic even as it was the final Cup race held on a dirt track (for 50 years).  It was won, fittingly, by racing legend Richard Petty, a Carolina native.  Ironically, Richard had sold his Plymouth to Don Robertson and rented it back for the race.  In the race Benny Parsons held the lead the first 88 laps.  A yellow brought the field into the pits, and Petty's crew got him out in front of Parsons to take the lead.  Parsons lasted only seven more laps after that caution when his A-frame dropped on the back straightaway.  Petty went on to lead the rest of the laps and take the win by two laps.  Neil Castles was second and Bobby Isaac third.  It was the last time NASCAR’s Cup Series had completed on a dirt track until Bristol in 2021.  Although the track is no longer used as a motor speedway, the grandstand, now called the Sam G. Rand Grandstand, still remains and is used today for events held at the North Carolina State Fair.

 

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