Short-Track Racing in North Carolina

North Carolina short tracks, from quarter-mile paved bullrings to half-mile dirt ovals with sweeping turns, host a variety of race cars and events from spring to fall. There’s one close to wherever you are, making it easy to fill a Friday or Saturday evening with racing excitement. You might even see one of NASCAR’s future stars.

1 Bowman Gray Stadium

1 Bowman Gray Stadium

Winston-SalemSee on mapSee on map

Bowman Gray Stadium draws more fans – about 17,000 each Saturday night – than any other weekly racetrack in the U.S. The track is a flat, quarter-mile oval around a football field, just like the one you ran on in high school. The track’s tight confines encourage contact and stoke tempers among drivers, which brings fans to their feet. That’s how the stadium earned its nickname: "The Madhouse." The first race here was held in 1949, and at one point, NASCAR’s top series raced at Bowman Gray. Today, the weekly program includes modifieds, sportsman, street stocks and stadium stocks. Most Saturdays the stadium gates open early, allowing you to go inside and use a cushion or blanket to save your seat. The stadium closes to racing by mid-August, when the Winston-Salem State University Rams open their season.

2 Caraway Speedway

2 Caraway Speedway

SophiaSee on mapSee on map

Caraway Speedway is a little tricky to find. But it’s worth your time to wind along the narrow country roads that lead to the half-mile track with tight corners. Its Saturday evening program includes late model, stock and sportsman divisions. If you don’t want to sit in the modern grandstands – those in the first turn have seats with backs – you can tailgate behind the backstretch and turn three. Park anywhere in the grassy field, including against the track’s outside wall, where you’re right next to the action.

3 Carolina Speedway

3 Carolina Speedway

GastoniaSee on mapSee on map

Just west of Charlotte, Carolina Speedway is a half-mile dirt oval where several divisions, including late models, race on Fridays. The track hosts several traveling series each season. Austin and Ty Dillon, grandsons of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress raced late models here. It’s close to Gastonia Municipal Airport, which NASCAR team owner and former driver Tony Stewart has used, flying in on more than one occasion to drive his sprint car.

4 East Lincoln Speedway

4 East Lincoln Speedway

StanleySee on mapSee on map

East Lincoln Speedway is a tight-cornered third-mile dirt oval that is co-owned by Ray Evernham, who was Jeff Gordon’s crew chief before engineering Dodge’s NASCAR return. Limited sportsman, open-wheel modifieds, late models, micro-sprints and U.S. Legends are the weekly divisions on Saturday nights from April through September. The track doesn’t forget about its youngest fans. Treats and events, such as bicycle races complete with trophies, are offered weekly for children.

5 Fayetteville Motor Speedway

5 Fayetteville Motor Speedway

FayettevilleSee on mapSee on map

Late models are the top division at Fayetteville Motor Speedway, a small half-mile dirt oval where Dale Earnhardt won several races. Saturday nights here are race nights. The regular racing program also includes open-wheel modifieds, super street and pure stocks.

6 Hickory Motor Speedway

6 Hickory Motor Speedway

NewtonSee on mapSee on map

Hickory Motor Speedway is called the Birthplace of NASCAR Stars. Harry Gant was a track champion here, as were NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees Jack Ingram, Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett. It’s about a third-mile long, banked and hasn’t been repaved in a long time. That means you’ll see a lot of passing in the Saturday night races run March through October. Weekly divisions include late models, 4-cylinders, street stocks and super trucks.

7 Orange County Speedway

7 Orange County Speedway

RougemountSee on mapSee on map

Some of NASCAR’S top stars have raced at Orange County Speedway, including Jimmy Johnson, Bobby Labonte and Jeff Burton. The paved track is 3/8-mile long and high banked. Races for late models, sportsman, pure stocks, street stocks and modifieds are held select Saturday nights from April through October.

8 Rockingham Dragway

8 Rockingham Dragway

RockinghamSee on mapSee on map

If you get tired of watching oval-track racing, head to Rockingham Dragway. It’s a quarter-mile drag strip that hosts weekly events March through mid-December. Shows include International Hot Rod Association nitro-methane burning funny cars, National Hot Rod Diesel Association truck and tractor pulls, motorcycles and even International Model Drag Racing events, where remote-control cars are raced.

 

Updated September 21, 2021
About the Author
Pete M. Anderson

Pete M. Anderson

Pete M. Anderson is a Gastonia-based writer whose work also has appeared in Business North Carolina, Carolina Sportsman and Thousand Islands Life. He enjoys exploring North Carolina, especially its diverse fishing holes, local race tracks and world-renowned barbecue joints.

Top of Page