NORTH CAROLINA (USA)
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1953 - HARNETT COUNTY SPEEDWAY. NASCAR Grand National. 8th March 1953.Herb Thomas wins Harnett CountyHarnett County Speedway opened on the 8th of March 1953 with the hosting of a one and only Nascar Grand National race. The race caused mass disruption throughout the region, one report indicates around 7,000 fans skipped church to attend the event. These fans came from near and far to cheer on there favorite driver.
Herb Thomas, a thirty year old boy from nearby Olivia was a stand out favorite. Thomas in a Hudson Hornet would win the race after setting off from pole and leading all 200 laps of this 1/2 mile Dirt Oval track,
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that lay in this wooded hollow. Thomas showed his class by winning the race, finishing three laps in front of Dick Rathmann also in a Hudson Hornet and Lee Petty in a 1953 Dodge third.
During our research we discover one report that a single attempt was made in 1969 to reopen the speedway for one more event, no such report's are available to show this ever happened.