Never Heard of The Winston Cup Museum.... Anybody Been?

My Travel Section in Sunday's Charlotte paper carried a story about the Winston Cup Museum in Winston-Salem, NC, which I had never heard previously mentioned. Anybody ever been? Here's the brief story and a link to the museum.

Check out Winston Cup history
By Gary McCullough
Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012
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The Winston Cup Museum pays tribute to R.J. Reynolds' 33-year sponsorship of the NASCAR racing series. GARY MCCULLOUGH
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Details

The Winston Cup Museum, 1355 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission: $8; $4 for ages 5-12. Info: 336-724-4557;

www.winstoncupmuseum.com

Dale Earnhardt's record-setting seven championships, Richard Petty's remarkable 200th victory, and the first checkered flags in NASCAR's premier series for such drivers as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., all happened while the sport's primary sponsor was the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. From 1971 through 2003, the most talented stock car drivers in the world competed for the Winston Cup, and it was during this period that NASCAR skyrocketed to national popularity. The museum in Winston-Salem has a collection of race cars, show cars, trophies, driver uniforms and helmets, and more.

To see and do

While specific cars and exhibits vary from time to time, the primary purpose of the museum - to honor NASCAR's Winston Cup era - remains a constant. An impressive mural that wraps around three interior walls, a visual timeline that pictures many of the sport's most popular drivers on and off the track, racing photos from venues around the nation, pre-race festivities and victory celebrations. A showcase at the end of the timeline features a trophy naming the champion driver for each year from 1949 to 2003, beginning with Red Byron, NASCAR's inaugural champion, and ending with Matt Kenseth. Cars making up the museum's "field" include show and competition cars driven by some of the sport's most iconic figures, including Richard Petty, Darryl Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In 1985, R.J. Reynolds introduced "The Winston Million," giving drivers the chance to win $1 million by winning three of four "crown jewel" races: Florida's Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prestigious event; the Coca-Cola 600, the longest; the Winston 500 at Talladega, Ala., the fastest; and the Southern 500 at Darlington, S.C., the oldest. During the 15-year history of this event, only two drivers claimed the prize. Bill Elliott won the inaugural Winston Million, earning him the nickname "Million Dollar Bill." Jeff Gordon won in 1997, the final year of the event, by taking the checkered flags at Daytona, Charlotte and Darlington.

The Winston Million was replaced by the Winston No Bull 5 in 1998. Also introduced in the mid-1980s was an all-star event. What is now known as the All-Star Challenge began as "The Winston," an event open only to a select field of drivers. Held all but one year at the track in Charlotte, winners of "The Winston" include Darryl Waltrip, Davey Allison, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and both Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The last driver to win the event in 2003 was an up-and-comer named Jimmie Johnson.

I heard of it a few years ago, but hadn't heard anything else in a while. I figured it mighta closed, but not according to this. Would be interesting to see! I'm surprised that it doesn't get much of any media attention or advertising, but like Pk said, Nascar woke up one morning and wiped their hand of R.J Reynolds, so no attention from Nascar.

There is a club page for the Winston Cup Museum here on RR.

Sorry PK, can't find it now, I remember seeing it on RR but can't remember where. Thought it was a club but it is not in my club list now. May have been pictures that were posted and discussed.

Yep. And I lobbied for including Ralph Seagraves in the inaugural NHOF class. (I also wanted Raymond Parks in that 1st class. France Jr & Ironhead could have waited a year. But that's a different topic for a different time.)

I think T. Wayne Robertson belongs in NHOF eventually too. Whether he will remains to be seen.

We went by there one time before a Saturday evening at Bowman Gray but they were already closed. It is only about a mile from the stadium just off of route 52 and old business I40. Not a good location but not dangerous. Looks to be a smaller building. I believe that someone from RJR actually has something to do with it. I cannot remember the family name but they were at Bowman Gray one evening. Randy Myers would probably know more about it.

Dave, incredibly, I have never heard of the Winston Cup Museum. I am amazed and disappointed that I haven't. We surely should get a group together to visit. What a treasure trove of memories that place will hold.

Folks I hate admit it but I have been invited to go to this museum several times and very ashamed that I haven't been yet. But I have talked to several that have been and said it is outstanding. As many of you that were involved with the sport knows that without R.J. Reynolds Nascar would have most likely to have been out of business in 73 or 74 they were all but belly up and in comes Ralph and RJR to keep them up and promote the sport they had no idea how to sell or grow the sport. RJR and all the great people there done it for them. From 1971 to 2003 they was riding on RJR's coat tails. Now they cant spend all the money they make no matter how hard they try. Of course everytime they have a new program someone else is paying for it.

Museum belongs to Will Spencer and is a neat place to visit. Not as elaborate as the NASCAR HOF but I think Will intended it to be a snapshot in time since it mainly covers the stuff from the RJR Days. Itis a daytime visit only but well worth the time.

Thanks, Randy.