Anyone remember the Harnett Speedway, Spring Lake?

[capefear01]

Just curious if anyone ever heard of the Harnett Speedway that sponsered one NASCAR race in 1953. Race winner was Herb Thomas with Dick Rathman 2nd, Lee Petty 3rd, Dick Passwater 4th and Herchel Buchanan 5th.
I've been trying to find out more about the track ever since I come across an old photo of Herb Thomas in his Hudson Hornet after winning the race.

[dirtjunkie]

Yea i live within walkin distance of the track my dad has told me alot of stories about that place.

[TPope]

Here ya go:

http://www.racing-reference.info/race?id=1953-03&series=W

[BEAR]

well damn ive lived in spring lake 4 20 years n had never heard of the track

[PRP]

Yes I have , been there when I was a wee little one ( One Time ) , My Father has told me many other stories about th place .....................

[BEAR]

anybody know exactely where it is located i would love 2 go by der

[dirtjunkie]

its located on shady grove road off 210 u cant go threw there now its been gated off.

[BEAR]

its located on shady grove road off 210 u cant go threw there now its been gated off.
cool dats only like 5 min from my house :Kool:

[dirtjunkie]

do u know where the dirt road is on shady grove its down there

[dirtjunkie]

You can also type in harnett county speedway on google earth and see the track

[BEAR]

do u know where the dirt road is on shady grove its down there
yea always wondered what was down der guess now i know :smiley_374:

[DoubleNaught]

I went there as a child but don't have many memories of the racing since I was around 5 years old when it closed. But I made many laps on the track in the 80's... unfortunately it was on a 4-wheeler. My father grew up next to the "Mitchell" land which is about 1500 acres on which the track is located. The land is now gated off and part of it is being used as a turf farm. Here is a link to an article about the track published in the Dunn newspaper a couple years ago:

http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=73499&SectionID=11&SubSectionID=54&S=1

[w1ck3d0n3l0st]

hey it looks like the doc from the movie CARS.lol

[capefear01]

Yea i live within walkin distance of the track my dad has told me alot of stories about that place.

I'd sure like to take a walk in there to see what's left. I talked to Jack Smith about it, Jack has many stories of "back in the day". Another past driver used to race there, Jerry Deese from Carthaige. He told me how his he would have to sneak out the back door so his wife would try and stop him from going racing. heh heh, some things never change.

Thanks for all your posts, you should post some of your Dad's stories about Harnett Speedway. And the photo I have, it's real, not copy, thank God the photographer wrote on the back of it which race it was. I couldn't believe it when I read there was only nascar race there, makes the photo all the more special.

Thanks TPope, great article!

[capefear01]

I'll tell ya one story about ol' Herb Thomas..I spoke with his daughter and she told be long after Herb quick racing he still wouldn't let anyone pass him on the highway, if he saw them brake out to pass ol' Herb would gun it. So the next time you try and pass someone and they speed up to block you there probably is racing in their blood.
This next photo is what is may have looked like back in the day (my personal collection)

[capefear01]

hey it looks like the doc from the movie CARS.lol
Your right, it IS the "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" from the movie "Cars" Your right on the money!!!
:fms:

[Californiakid5]

Haha Never Knew That But It Was B4 My Bed Time

[dirtjunkie]

Whats that got yo do with your bed time?

[dirtjunkie]

your*

[Kenny]

Man,talking bout some good ole times!!! The likes of Jack Smith,Monk Hair,Chubby Thompkins,Glen Mcduffie,James Sears,Tommy Bostick. Also Archie Adams And David Mummlynn From Bennettsville,SC. Oh man what good racing!! Back then you really had to Drive those racecars!! By the way,thats only just a few of the good drivers back then. There's plenty more!!! You all name some...

[Californiakid5]

Whats that got yo do with your bed time?
ITS A SAYIN you've never herd that before but may have ot go check out the land one day

[jbracer]

Double Naught... thanks for posting my article. I was looking for that thing to post here! haha.

[DoubleZero]

Although I never went to Harnett County, I was aware of its second existence, at least, the one in the early '70's. In those days, there was a local racing magazine "The Carolina Dirt Track Circuit" that was published in Fayetteville, the editor was Brenda Simmons of "Simmons Racing Specialties" Anyone heard of this before? These magazines were sold at the various local tracks (I got mine at the old Leland Raceway), but Harnett County action was covered by the "Carolina Dirt Track Circuit".