Lost and abandoned america

Construction began on the North Carolina speedway in 1945 as the Second World War drew to a close. Situated to the east of Wilkesboro Township, the short track speedway could accommodate an impressive 40,000 motor racing fans – more than half of the 69,000-strong population of Wilkes County, in which it was located.For decades, North Wilkesboro Speedway remained at the heart of local life in the small community, drawing racing fans from miles around. But by the 1990s, the circuit’s infrastructure was beginning to show its age, and in some ways its popularity contributed to its downfall. Crowds still flocked to North Wilkesboro, but its amenities were dated and poor car parking facilities meant that traffic jams were common on nearby roads. On New Year’s Day, 1996, the Staley family sold their 50 per cent stake in the speedway to racing track developer Bob Bahre. In the autumn of that year, the circuit closed completely, much to the sadness of loyal fans whose memories had been shaped at North Wilkesboro. However, the end wasn’t yet night. As Morris wrote: “When the circuit initially closed down in the 1990s, a grassroots effort to save it quickly emerged. A Save the Speedway campaign was started and people tried their best to bring back racing. Sadly, though, times had simply moved on. While 2010 saw a brief renaissance, the abandoned speedway was closed once again less than a year later.”