|| *Comments on North Carolina State Fairgrounds:* View the most recent comment <#8> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Brian R. posted: 03.15.2010 - 12:14 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) The final Grand National/Cup series race ever run on dirt was run here in 1970. 2. Cooper posted: 03.15.2010 - 1:57 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) State Fairgrounds Speedway, located at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina, was a half-mile oval dirt racetrack which was the site of auto races for NASCAR's top series in 1955, 1969, and 1970. The race on September 30, 1970 was the final Grand National race ever held on a dirt track. It was won by Richard Petty in a Plymouth that had been sold by Petty Enterprises to Don Robertson and rented back for the race. 3. RaceFanX posted: 12.03.2012 - 2:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Racing has long been discontinued at the fairgrounds and this track has been largely removed as such, however its grandstands are still in place and used for fair events. 4. Andy U posted: 12.08.2018 - 2:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) LAST NASCAR RACE ON DIRT! Historical marker essay: A former track that is not overgrown is the old Fairgrounds Speedway, part of the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The grandstand remains and sections of the old track are used each October. Dirt track racing appeared in the South just prior to World War I with Indy-style (or open-wheel) cars the standard for a generation. Interest grew in the 1920s when the open-wheeled cars competed in events sanctioned by the American Automobile Association. When the fair moved to its present site in 1928, the increasingly popular sport came with it. As a premier venue with access to fairgoers from across the state, the speedway boosted the racing phenomenon. During World War II, Sam Nunis emerged as a major promoter of races featuring the Indy-style cars. Indeed he promoted several events at the fairgrounds. But a competitor, Bill France's National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, soon arose. Likely lost on modern fairgoers is the fact that the speedway was the site on September 30, 1970, of the last NASCAR sanctioned race on a dirt track. The first NASCAR event at the Raleigh track in 1955 was called due to rain while Junior Johnson was leading. The next one was fourteen years later in 1969 in the North State 200 which James Hylton won. The 1970 race, billed as the Home State 200, was won by Richard Petty. 5. Spen posted: 12.08.2018 - 2:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Pearson won the '69 event, not Hylton. Hylton's only wins were at Richmond Fairgrounds and Alabama. 6. Corey posted: 12.08.2018 - 2:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) ^As Post 1 says, it's the last grand national/cup event on dirt. Not the last NASCAR race on dirt. That is currently held by Eldora in the truck series. 7. GoPM21 posted: 12.08.2018 - 2:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Your statement isn't even remotely true. They've been racing at Eldora for several years. 8. A posted: 07.10.2020 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like it is still used for tractor pulls and the like. The track is located very close to Carter Finley Stadium, home of NC State football and PNC Arena, home of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: