Ghosts of Southern Dirt Tracks

Concord Speedway

This is a song about little boys and pickup trucks bright lites and Saturday nites.Inspired by the majic of the great late Ralph Earhardt and Stick Elliot out at the old Concord Speedway, those special childhood memories that keep us young at heart. - Daniel Sechler

From the 1960's until the late 70's, Concord Motor Speedway was a active dirt track that was home to many stars of the era and today. Located outside Concord, North Carolina, Concord was a 1/2 mile high banked clay dirt track. It was home to weekly stock car racing, some Grand National (now Winston Cup) races in the early 60s, and an occasional motorcycle race.

While Curtis Turner was exiled from NASCAR in the mid 60's, he raced at Concord Motor Speedway. Speedy Thompson was a frequent challenger there also. When Ralph Earnhardt switched from racing all over the southeast to racing closer to home, he competed at Concord until his death in 1973. Several youngsters learned their craft at Concord. Freddy Smith raced there weekly. Freddy has continued racing on dirt for his entire career. And one driver of note that moved on to prove that he could race on asphalt as well, Dale Earnhardt cut his racing teeth at Concord Motor Speedway. In the 70's several race scenes from the movie "Last American Hero" were filmed here.

Unfortunately, progress encroached on Concord Motor Speedway in the 70's. The land was sold for a housing development and racing ended.

NDRA at Concord Speedway David Pearson at Concord for the very first NDRA race.
Stick Elliott in the #16 Camaro heads out for practice.

Herman Shimpock Collection

Looking towards turn 4.

Herman Shimpock Collection Bob "Vic" Lashley's Ford Torino in the Concord pit area.

Herman Shimpock Collection

Ralph Eury heads down the front stretch.

Herman Shimpock Collection Looking towards turn 2.

Herman Shimpock Collection

#25 BOB "Vic" LASHLEY in a 70 mustang mach1 owned by Henry Furr leads on the front stretch.

Herman Shimpock Collection Chuck Piazza in the K&K Dodge kit car and Heyward Plyler in the #14 Camaro testing at Concord.

A photo from a program from Concord Speedway - circa late 1960s Another photo from a program from Concord Speedway - circa late 1960s

Action in turn 4. I think Stick Elliott is driving the #18 on the inside Remember when they would line up the cars on the front stretch before the main?

Mid 1970s on the backstretch. The "Hobby" class in on the track. Notice the car in the back. Looks like he is out of shape. Almost dusk on Saturday night and a full infield.

Yep, he was out of shape. I don't remember this being the fast way around Concord. I don't know if this turn 2 or 4, either way backwards in the guard rail is not the chosen groove.

A small group of "semi-modified" cars head into turn 1. The crowd looks a little small. Oops, an old coupe had some problems. Remeber the cut out doors on the right so the drive could get in. And fans could see inside the car?

"Semi-modified" cars race down the backstretch. Well 3 out of 4 made it around the turn OK.

Two "Sportsman" class Novas head into turn 3. The field of "semi-modified" cars run through the turn. I think it is Freddie Smith in front with Heyward Plyer behind.

I think Curtis Edwards is in #5 celebrating a feature win. I think this is the Hobby class handling Concord's clay.

After racing ended the track sat dormant and slowly was taken away. This is from the early 80s when I snuck back out to the track one more time. The flag stand, tower, and grandstands are still visible. Turn 1 as it was last seen. The guardrails and lights are gone, only piles of dirt, and the rutted track remains. Soon all remnants would disappear when a new community was built on the site.

Here is a satellite view of the location of the track, click on it for a topography map and you can see the layout of where the track was. The program cover from GASCAR racing. John Gaskey was the promoter and ran the races at Concord & Metrolina Speedway.

As a historical footnote, this was actually the second Concord Motor Speedway. The first had been built in the 50's on a location about 2 miles from this track. After it folded, this track was built. After this track folded the promoter moved about 20 miles away and built the 3rd Concord Motor Speedway. It started out as a 4/10 mile dirt and was later paved and expanded to 1/2. It is now known as Concord Motorsports Park and is one of the premier facilities in the southeast. At one time, Saturday night races at the newest Concord would have Ernie Irvan, Rich Bickle, Jack Sprague, and Freddy Query all racing together! A future Winston Cup champ named Bobby Labonte even raced there on his way up. And current Craftsman & Nextel Cup drivers, Kerry and Dale Earnhardt Jr. began their careers there.

If you have dirt track memories to share, contact me @ bob@webprosolutions.com

	David Pearson at Concord for the very first NDRA race.		Stick Elliott in the #16 Camaro heads out for practice. Herman Shimpock Collection
	Looking towards turn 4. Herman Shimpock Collection		Bob "Vic" Lashley's Ford Torino in the Concord pit area. Herman Shimpock Collection
	Ralph Eury heads down the front stretch. Herman Shimpock Collection		Looking towards turn 2. Herman Shimpock Collection
	#25 BOB "Vic" LASHLEY in a 70 mustang mach1 owned by Henry Furr leads on the front stretch. Herman Shimpock Collection		Chuck Piazza in the K&K Dodge kit car and Heyward Plyler in the #14 Camaro testing at Concord.
	A photo from a program from Concord Speedway - circa late 1960s		Another photo from a program from Concord Speedway - circa late 1960s
	Action in turn 4. I think Stick Elliott is driving the #18 on the inside		Remember when they would line up the cars on the front stretch before the main?
	Mid 1970s on the backstretch. The "Hobby" class in on the track. Notice the car in the back. Looks like he is out of shape.		Almost dusk on Saturday night and a full infield.
	Yep, he was out of shape. I don't remember this being the fast way around Concord.		I don't know if this turn 2 or 4, either way backwards in the guard rail is not the chosen groove.
	A small group of "semi-modified" cars head into turn 1. The crowd looks a little small.		Oops, an old coupe had some problems. Remeber the cut out doors on the right so the drive could get in. And fans could see inside the car?
	"Semi-modified" cars race down the backstretch.		Well 3 out of 4 made it around the turn OK.
	Two "Sportsman" class Novas head into turn 3.		The field of "semi-modified" cars run through the turn. I think it is Freddie Smith in front with Heyward Plyer behind.
	I think Curtis Edwards is in #5 celebrating a feature win.		I think this is the Hobby class handling Concord's clay.
	After racing ended the track sat dormant and slowly was taken away. This is from the early 80s when I snuck back out to the track one more time. The flag stand, tower, and grandstands are still visible.		Turn 1 as it was last seen. The guardrails and lights are gone, only piles of dirt, and the rutted track remains. Soon all remnants would disappear when a new community was built on the site.
	Here is a satellite view of the location of the track, click on it for a topography map and you can see the layout of where the track was.		The program cover from GASCAR racing. John Gaskey was the promoter and ran the races at Concord & Metrolina Speedway.