Shelby Fairgrounds Speedway...or Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway

Throughout history I've seen this historical landmark race track referred to as Shelby Fairgrounds Speedway and Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway. Most of the race records on Racing-Reference.info are recorded under Cleveland County Fairgrounds Speedway, but over the past few years I've seen posters with Shelby Fairgrounds Speedway.

Some of the local historians have told me that both are correct. Which name do you think it stands out in most folks memories?

...and please post examples of pics or photos. There is a good reason for the question that I cannot divulge just yet.....but will very soon!

It would actually be best...for future searches if you posted your pics in our photo gallery.

Jeff

Being I don't know much about Shelby aka Cleveland County Fairgrounds, which ever name is the more popular, for the sake of an answer to the question I'll say Shelby because, I have an original Shelby promotional poster from the track, the Cleveland County Fair (no "grounds") in smaller letters with "Shelby" in larger bolder letters. However, since my middle name is Cleland and sounds much like "Cleveland" I like the Cleveland County Fairgrouinds name more (pun intended).

And as you (Jeff) requested I just posted a photo of the poster on the Stock Car page.

Fans usually call a race track by the name of the town of its location, for example, "Rockingham" (until the present Andy Hillenberg era) was never the track's name. The Rock's official title was "North Carolina Motor Speedway". Probably, Clevland County has always been the official name of the facility, but "Shelby" became the name of choice.

I believe the answer lies in what class of racing took place; When NASCAR raced there it was referred to as Cleveland County Fairgrounds, when the AAA and URC Sprints raced there is was referred to as Shelby. Both NASCAR and AAA/URC raced there during the 1950's through 1960's. Since AAA was more a northern sport I'd have to change my original answer from Shelby to Cleveland County Fairgrounds since stock car racing was more a southern sport.

Bottom line sounds as though positive progress is being made. Congratulations to all involved and keep up the good work. Having no knowledge of the track history, I defer to the experts. When I went to work for the Richmond NASCAR track in 1990 and produced the first track media guide, I had to pull together records from Atlantic Rural Exposition Raceway, Strawberry Hill Raceway, Virginia State Fairgrounds Raceway, Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway and Richmond International Raceway - all the same venue. Best of luck.

Let me see if I can more clearly state my mission without giving away the farm. If one were to "re-name" this great speedway, which name would be most memorable?

JEFF, LET ME THROW IN MY TWO CENTS WORTH ON THE DEBATE OF WHICH CAME FIRST THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG. FROM AN OFFICIAL PAID NEWSPAPER ADVERTISMENTIN 1964 IT IS THE "SHELBY SPEEDWAY" AT THE CLEVELAND COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS........THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER IT BEING CALLED WHEN IWAS GOING TO SHELBY........."WAY BACK WHEN". BY THE SOUND OFADVERTISEMENT, IT SEEMS AS IF EITHER NAME WOULD BE CORRECT........NOW WE ARE BACK TO "WHICH CAME FIRST.............?

IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THE CONFUSSION..........THUNDER VALLEY SPEEDWAY IN LAWNDALE, N.C. JUST NORTH OF SHELBY IN CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. JUST LAST YEAR CHANGED THEIR OFFICIAL NAME TO "CLEVELAND COUNTY SPEEDWAY"..........WOW, NOW WHICH WOULD BE WHICH IN PEOPLE'S MINDS...........I WOULD GO FOR SHELBY SPEEDWAY AT THE CLEVELAND COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS.....AT LEAST THIS WOULD NOT CONFUSE THE TRACK OF YESTERYEAR WITH THE TRACK OF TODAY..........JUST A THOUGHT.

Yea, I saw were they were calling themselves Cleveland County now. I personally think "Historic Shelby Speedway" at Cleveland County Fairgrounds has a nice ring to it.

Thanks, Randy.

If you want to know the truth watch this video of Tim Peeler of Cleveland County, Tim would be the point of contact for factual information about the track.

Whatever you decide to call it, better be careful about using any of those old Cleveland County / Shelby race signs that say "A Bruton Smith Promotion" down at the bottom or you'll have Speedway Motorsports come calling wanting a piece of the pie and administration rights.

PK, I was being a bit silly with Tim Peeler as the go-to expert, although he does have a knack for detail about Bigfoot's hair and 6-fingers. Despite the rumors ol' JW does have a sense of humor.

We actually had him on a radio show last year. It was a hoot.

Really!!?? Tim Peeler the Bigfoot Man! Dang, I missed it!!!

Maybe you need to revisit Tim's recollection of the old Shelby track, perhaps there's a link to the sighting of BF and the track, maybe it was Boris Said that stumbled onto Peeler's property.

This one has more twists and turns in it that is allowed on a road coarse I guess you have to say its a North Carolina Thing

Johnny, the legend continues...Tim Peeler's just released single has already hit the collard green in the music charts...see video...

Thanks Dave for the post. Great advice. W

We had him on one of the Here Women Talk radio shows. You may be right...may have been Boris he saw.