Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds, American racing track
Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds is an event venue featuring a half-mile (800 m) dirt track on its grounds in Spartanburg. The grounds include large exhibition halls, barns with livestock, and open spaces for rides, games, and performances that are primarily used during the annual fall fair.
The site began hosting horse racing in 1908 and held its first automobile race in 1939 under promoter Joe Littlejohn. Between the 1950s and 1960s, it served as a major NASCAR venue with legendary drivers like Lee Petty and Richard Petty competing, with the final major race held in 1966.
The name reflects its role as a regional gathering place that once connected two states through racing events. Today, visitors experience the site mainly during the annual fair when murals painted by local artists brighten the gates and families come together for community celebrations.
The site is accessible from the roadside where visitors can spot remnants of the old racing surface, especially when passing during the fall fair season. Throughout the year, it hosts school events and special functions, meaning access varies depending on what is taking place.
David Pearson, one of the most famous NASCAR drivers of all time, learned to race on local short tracks in Spartanburg before winning races across the nation. Several racing legends still live in the city today and can occasionally be spotted at local restaurants sharing stories of the early racing days with fans.
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