Most who know stock car history know about Mount Airy Speedway, one of the first post-war stock car tracksof NC and VA that became known for where the legendary Curtis Turner began his epic racing career. But did you know that the sleepy little town of Mayberry had another stock car track?
On Monday July 4, 1955, ownersJimmy Robertson and the Strickland brothers, along with promoter A.D. Wagoner opened the brand new Green Hill Speedway, a 1/4 mile banked dirt track three miles north of Mount Airy on Green Hill Road. The race was NASCAR sanctioned for the Sportman and Hobby divisions and many of the local greats such as Glen Wood, Johnny Dodson, Ted Swaim, and Billy & Bobby Myers were there for the inaugural race. Fans sat on cinder blocks set on dirt stairs carved out of the hill surrounding part of the track.
An estimated 3500 spectators got to see the heat races completed but the rains came and washed out what probably would have been an exciting featurebattle for a slice of the $1285 purse.
Does anyone know how long Green Hill Speedway lasted? Please post any info you know.
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updated by @robert-mitchell: 12/05/16 04:08:38PM
