The 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 (the last Winston Cup Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway)

While visiting family in Florida during 2017, I stumbled upon some old racing pictures from the late 1990s which my Dad and I took. One particular race caught my eye from 1996, the September 29th Tyson Holly Farms 400. At the time this was intended to be the last NASCAR Winston Cup Race (now Cup Series) at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The below cover photo is from end of driver introduction ceremony which featured the entire starting lineup. The NASCAR Cup Series will be returning to North Wilkesboro for the All-Star Race on May 21, 2023.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is located off of Route US Route 421 near the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625 mile short track with 14 degree banked turns. The facility at North Wilkesboro opened to racing in 1947 and was on NASCAR's top circuit from 1949 to 1996. North Wikesboro Speedway was ultimately replaced on the Winston Cup schedule by Texas Motor Speedway. During the 1996 season North Wilkesboro Speedway sat 40,000 spectators .

My Dad during 1996 was once the Marketing Vice President for Prodigy Online. Prodigy Online was the primary sponsor of Dave Marcis and 71 car for the 1996 season. During 1996 I was in middle school and followed motor sports extensively. Ultimately my Dad pulled me out of school to attend the full racing week at North Wilkesboro given it was to be the last Winston Cup race at the venue. Ted Musgrave ended up winning the pole for but the Tyson Holly Farms 400 was dominated by the eventual winner Jeff Gordon.

Below are some of my photos with me and the 71 from the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 starting grid.

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...