Sept. 30th marks the 41 anniversary of "The Last Grand National Race on Dirt" won by Richard Petty at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds half mile dirt track in Raleigh. Two other races occurred on dirt that year, both in Columbia, South Carolina. I know I join most RR members in wishing that Cup cars still ran a few races on dirt.
The Home State 200 was the last time the top division in NASCAR competed on dirt but it was not the last NASCAR dirt track event. In 1970 there were three touring divisions; Grand National, Grand American and Western Grand National. We have many RR members from the western United States so I will let them comment on the Western Grand National events and keep my discussion focused on GN and GA.
In 1970 the GA division ran at the NC Sate Fairgrounds track as well as the 1 mile Lakewood Speedway near Atlanta and the half mile tracks at Flemington, N.J., Tri-County Speedway in Cincinnati/Westchester, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida.
1971 was the beginning of the end for the Grand American Challenge Series with a lot of tracks not inviting the Pony Cars back and the GN fields started to dwindle on short tracks because of low purses, limited appearance money and factory support going away. All of this led to six events on short tracks being combination events that included GN and GA cars. Three of these events were won by GA cars and three by GN cars. Three drivers won all six races, Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and Tiny Lund each won two races. None of these combination events were contested on dirt but the GA cars ran the half mile dirt Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. and the one mile dirt Illinois State Fairgrounds track in Springfield, IL.. The race at Springfield was something to write about but not now.
The combination events of 1971 laid the foundation of the Grand National East division which held an event on the half mile dirt track at Jacksonville, Fla. in 1972. This was the last year for the Grand American division which only had five events, one being a combination event with SCCA.
In 1973 the Grand National East division held combination events with ARCA on the half mile dirt tracks at Selinsgrove, Pa. and Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.. So the last Grand National race held on a dirt track could be said to be Lincoln Speedway in 1973.updated by @dennis-andrews: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
