For the current NASCAR track in Charlotte, North Carolina, see Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...

.

Charlotte Speedway was the site of NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

's first Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) series race on June 19, 1949. The Daytona Beach Road Course

Daytona Beach Road Course

Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set...

 held the first race sanctioned by NASCAR in 1948. The track was a few miles east of the proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame

NASCAR Hall of Fame

The NASCAR Hall of Fame honors drivers who have shown exceptional skill at NASCAR driving, all-time great crew chiefs and owners, and other major contributors to competition within the sanctioning body. NASCAR committed itself to building a Hall of Fame and on March 6, 2006, the city of Charlotte,...

 site.

Event details

Charlotte Speedway was a three-quarter mile long dirt track

Dirt track racing

Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...

. The first event in 1949 was a 150 miles (241.4 km) race. Other events were 100, 113, or 150 miles (241.4 km) long.

NASCAR history

Twelve events were held at the track between 1949 and 1956. Winners at the track include: Jim Roper

Jim Roper

Christian David "Jim" Roper was a NASCAR driver. He lived in Halstead, Kansas. He is most known as the winner of the first NASCAR Strictly Stock race. He was the father of Dean Roper and grandfather of the late Tony Roper.-Racing career:Roper lived at his grandfather's horse farm in Halstead...

 (1), Tim Flock

Tim Flock

Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...

 (1), Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...

 (2), Herb Thomas

Herb Thomas

Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...

 (2), Dick Passwater

Dick Passwater

Richard "Dick" Passwater is a retired American racecar driver who raced in NASCAR and USAC.Born in Indianapolis, Passwater started racing after World War II, and was active in the 1950s and 1960s. He won the fifth race of the 1953 NASCAR Grand National season at Charlotte Speedway in his 1953...

 (1), Buck Baker

Buck Baker

Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...

 (3), Fonty Flock

Fonty Flock

Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...

 (1), and Speedy Thompson

Speedy Thompson

Alfred Bruce "Speedy" Thompson was a NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National series from 1950 to 1971; capturing 20 wins along the way.-Racing career:...

 (1).

1949

Bob Flock

Bob Flock

Robert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...

 won the pole. Glenn Dunnaway

Glenn Dunnaway

Henry Glenn Dunaway was an American auto racer noted for initially winning, and then being disqualified from, what is today recognized as NASCAR's first-ever race. He lived in Gastonia, North Carolina.-1949:...

 was declared the original winner, but a post-race inspection revealed that his car was fitted with illegal springs, causing NASCAR to disqualify him. Jim Roper

Jim Roper

Christian David "Jim" Roper was a NASCAR driver. He lived in Halstead, Kansas. He is most known as the winner of the first NASCAR Strictly Stock race. He was the father of Dean Roper and grandfather of the late Tony Roper.-Racing career:Roper lived at his grandfather's horse farm in Halstead...

 was declared the official winner of the event. Roper would only compete in one more NASCAR event in his career. Other famous drivers to finish in the Top 10 include: Fonty Flock

Fonty Flock

Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...

, Red Byron

Red Byron

Robert "Red" Byron was a NASCAR driver who was successful in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock champion in 1949.-Background:Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began...

, Tim Flock

Tim Flock

Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...

, and Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner

Curtis Turner was an early NASCAR driver. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying...

. Famous drivers to finish outside of the Top 10 include: Buck Baker

Buck Baker

Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. , better known as Buck Baker, was an American race car driver.-Racing career:...

, Jack Smith, Lee Petty

Lee Petty

Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:...

, Herb Thomas

Herb Thomas

Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:...

, and Bob Flock

Bob Flock

Robert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...

. Sara Christian

Sara Christian

Sara Christian was the first woman driver in NASCAR history. Her fifth place finish at Pittsburgh reigned as the highest female finish from 1949 until 2011, when Danica Patrick finished fourth.-1949:...

finished 14th to become the first female to start in a NASCAR race.

External links

• Track history and details at racing-reference.info