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Sinkhole at North Wilkesboro digs into track’s history
During a cleaning and inspection of the grandstands last week in preparation for the upcoming NASCAR All-Star weekend in May, cracks were discovered in the original concrete in section N towards Turn 1. Crews started removing seats to assess the extent of the damage, revealing a 700-square-foot open area beneath the aging concrete that could be the location of a rumored moonshine still. Stories of an old moonshine still operating at North Wilkesboro Speedway intrigued Steve Swift, senior vice president of operations at Speedway Motorsports. Although no still has been found yet, a small cave and interior wall hint at a hidden past of illegal liquor production and evasion from the law under the grandstands. With approximately 600 seats removed in sections N and O, Speedway Motorsports is now planning foundation repairs and concrete replacement before the all-star weekend. The historical significance of North Wilkesboro Speedway dates back to 1947, becoming one of NASCAR’s original tracks hosting races until its closure in 1996, only to see a revival with Truck Series races last season and the annual All-Star Race.
