50,000 Fans, Twice a Year
Aulo racing' in North Carolina is a major
league sport. And in IKiclinionil County it's
another very profitable new industry.
Hi/ CdiOKGE CUNNINGHAM
Another attraction has been added
to the Sandhill section, one that al¬
ready rivals the Pinehurst-Southern
Pines golfing complex in obtaining na¬
tional recognition for the Old North
State.
It's North Carolina Motor Speed¬
way. a one-mile, high-banked, asphalt
race track that's known in the rac¬
ing world as the most modern facility
in that sport.
Less than two years and just three
races old. the newest member of NAS-
CAR's superspeedway circuit already
has drawn fans from Canada. Mexico
and ever)1 state in the United States
except Hawaii.
Opened in October. 1965. its three
races have attracted 120,000 fans to
Richmond County and another 50.000
is expected on June 18 when the fourth
race — the Carolina 500 — is held.
"What it amounts to." explained
track president - general manager
J. Elsie Webb, who is a prominent lo¬
cal lawyer, "is another industry for
Richmond County."
"I will admit, however, that it is an
unusual industry in the sense that we
employ year-round just six people. But
twice a year — on the two race days
— that number jumps to 1 ,500 people.
"Actually we start adding personnel
about a month before a race and the
work force continues to increase right
up to race day."
For a week before each of the two
annual races, more than 1,000 com¬
petitors, manufacturers, officials and
others connected with racing move into
Richmond County. Something is
planned at the track every day. And
by Friday before the race on Sunday,
the "No Vacancy" sign is lit in prac¬
tically every motel within 50 miles of
the track.
Although no records arc available, it
has been conservatively estimated that
North Carolina Motor Speedway, with
its two races a year, brings at least $2
million dollars into the county.
Area-wise, this figure is expected to
increase as more fans linger longer,
THE STATE, Junk 1. 1967
and become more aware of the ex¬
cellent recreational facilities in the area
— particularly the excellent golf
courses. Pinehurst - Southern Pines
is less than a 30-minutc drive from
the track.
The speedway has encountered vir¬
tually no civic opposition. The shot in
the financial arm is one reason, with
another being that North Carolina
Motor Speedway couldn't be on a
sounder financial foundation.
There was no public sale of stock
during construction, and there hasn't
been any since. Instead, enough money
was in the bank to pay for NCMS even
before it was completed.
And more than 80 per cent of the
speedway is owned locally, by such
prominent citizens as Webb, Doctors
George Galloway and Bill James of
Hamlet, former state representative
Bill Land of Hamlet. Sheriff Ray¬
mond Goodman, lawyer Hugh Lee.
contractor J. M. Long and business¬
man Lawrence Mclnnis of Rocking¬
ham. truck line owner and fruit grower
L. G. DcWitt and manufacturers Larry
Hogan and North Lewis of Ellcrbc.
The speedway is located 10 miles
northeast of Rockingham on U.S.
Highway I and 10 miles north of Ham¬
let on Highway 177. The two highways
merge right at the race track. High¬
ways. however, aren’t the only way to
reach North Carolina Motor Speed¬
way. It has been said that you can get
there just about any way except by
sailboat.
The speedway is believed to be the
only sports facility in the country with
an air strip for plane patrons. More
than 92 planes used the 3.000-foot
runway for the 1966 American 500,
which was the first race it was in use.
Seaboard Railroad, whose home of¬
fices are in nearby Hamlet, has a
special train each race that originates
the morning of a race in Washington,
D. C\, makes stops in Virginia before
stopping right at the track to unload
race fans within walking distance of
%
Two onnuol rocet ol the North Corolino Motor Spcedwoy bring on estimoted $2 million to Richmond
County. 80 per cent ol the tpeedwoy it owned locolly.— (Tro*el Inlormotion Di.ition photo.i
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