OUR HISTORY
| TRACK LENGTH | 1/4 Mile |
|---|---|
| TRACK TYPE | OVAL |
| SURFACE | ASPHALT |
| BANKING | FLAT |
| CAUTION SPEED | TBD |
HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
Richard Childress’ love for motorsports began as he sold peanuts and popcorn as a child at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Many NASCAR legends have competed at Bowman Gray Stadium, including Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, and others. The track has also been a part of racing dynasties including the Pettys, the Allisons, the Myers, and the Earnhardt’s.
Current NASCAR Cup Series drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, and Bubba Wallace have all competed at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Built in 1937, Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile short track (paved in 1947), holds a special place in NASCAR history as the longest-running weekly racetrack.
In 1949, Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, two founding fathers of NASCAR, brought motorsports to the facility as the first weekly racetrack and first paved racetrack that NASCAR competed on.
On May 18, 1949, the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was held with Fonty Flock winning the race.
The racetrack hosted 29 NASCAR Grand National, now NASCAR Cup Series, races from 1958 to 1971.
Richard Petty won his 100th NASCAR Grand National race in the 1969 Myers Brothers 250 at the racetrack.
Ben Kennedy, great-grandson of Bill France Sr., won an East Series race at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2013.
The East Series raced at the track from 2011 to 2015, with a winners list that includes Kennedy, two-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes and NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie.