North Carolina has always had deep ties to motorsports. Known as the ‘Home of NASCAR’, the state has played a central role in developing the sport over the years. The earliest races in the stock car racing series were held at North Wilkesboro and Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the city of Mooresville continues to host most team headquarters today. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Governor Josh Stein hosted Richard Petty and other motorsports officials to discuss the sports’ impact on the state.
The 76th governor of North Carolina was sworn in at the beginning of the year and used the gathering to connect with the state’s motorsports community. With the new NASCAR season on the horizon, Josh Stein uploaded pictures from the gathering on social media, expressing his support towards the stock car racing series publicly.
Josh Stein reiterates commitment to NASCAR
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NASCAR has always been an important part of North Carolina’s economy. The sport helps generate billions of dollars every year, supporting thousands of jobs across the state. It all goes back to Moonshine runners modifying their vehicles to run faster than the police during prohibition, which laid the foundation for the stock car racing series that has evolved into the sport we know and love today. The state has also produced some iconic drivers, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty, who have enjoyed immense success on the racetrack and have become true icons in the NASCAR world.
Recognizing the sport’s importance in North Carolina, Josh Stein wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “NASCAR is an important part of who we are in North Carolina — it’s an economic engine and a source of pride. Along with the Motor Sports Caucus in the NCGA, it was a treat to host NASCAR, legislators, and Council of State and cabinet members to kick off the beginning of the racing and legislative seasons.” The Motorsports Caucus plays an important role in bringing about policies that benefit the motorsports world, acting as a mediator between the racing industry and the state government.
Richard Petty, a seven-time Cup Series champion, attended the event. Commonly referred to as ‘The King’, the 87-year-old has had 200 wins throughout his illustrious career, an unmatched legacy that has earned him the reputation of being a proud ambassador for the state and the sport. He represented NASCAR at the gathering and was photographed alongside Governor Josh Stein, highlighting that the collaboration will ensure that the stock car racing series is not just a thing of the past, but will remain an integral part of the state in the future as well.
The event’s timing was also significant as the new NASCAR season is on the horizon along with NCGA’s legislative session. In the weeks and months ahead, North Carolina’s governing leaders will be drafting policies that could impact the motorsports world while crown-jewel events like the Daytona 500 take place simultaneously. The stock car racing series has an unbreakable bond with the state, one that will continue to grow as time goes by. With icons of the sport such as Richard Petty going stronger than ever, the sport seems to be in safe hands.
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Petty reflects on racing at the Bowman Gray Stadium
The King’ has plenty of fond memories from the quarter-mile short track, having won four races at ‘the Madhouse’ in his career, including his 100th career win in 1969. NASCAR will be returning to the iconic venue for the first time since 1971 for the Cook Out Clash this weekend, and the event is expected to be a blockbuster, with the track having a reputation for races going down the wire.
Expressing his fondness for the venue, Petty candidly said, “You never know what’s going to happen [at Bowman Gray] because everything’s so tight. The racecars back then would get beat up pretty bad. You’d go to Bowman Gray and a lot of the cars would already have bent fenders. You’d get ready for Charlotte or Daytona and you’d have to beat the fenders out. Nobody really dominated. When you went, these four or five were going to win the race, but which of them you don’t know. That’s what kept people coming back.”
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With NASCAR struggling with its short-track package in the Next-Gen era, the unpredictability because of the venue may add to the entertainment factor at the Cook Out Clash. The excitement for the event is at an all-time high, as fans are bracing themselves for an exciting race after a long off-season break. Will ‘the Madhouse’ live up to its reputation and become a regular feature on the calendar? Time will tell. However, the iconic venue making a resurgent comeback will be a refreshing sight, especially for long-time NASCAR fans.