Moonshine Cave Possibly Found Under Historic NASCAR Track in North Carolina

The legend of the moonshine cave at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina may finally have confirmation.

The track released a statement Thursday saying a sinkhole unveiled a potential moonshine cave underneath the frontstretch grandstands.

"When we began renovating and restoring North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, we'd often hear stories of how an old moonshine still was operated here on the property under the grandstands," said Steve Swift, senior vice president of operations and development at Speedway Motorsports. "Well, we haven't found a still (yet), but we've found a small cave and an interior wall that would have been the perfect location to not only make illegal liquor, but to hide from the law as well. We don't know how people would have gotten in and out, but as we uncover more, there's no telling what we might find."

Moonshiners and NASCAR have a storied relationship dating back to the Prohibition Era. Junior Johnson, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame, was a famous bootlegger in the South during his time as one of the sport's premier drivers.

"Moonshiners put more time, energy, thought and love into their cars than any racer ever will," the late Johnson said. "Lose on the track and you go home. Lose with a load of whiskey and you go to jail."

For years, there had been rumors of a still located in the depths of North Wilkesboro Speedway but no confirmation. North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted NASCAR Cup Series races from 1951-1996 before being taken out of the circuit. It was brought back into NASCAR lore last year when the track became the new home of the All-Star Race.

The area impacted by the sinkhole has led to the removal of about 600 seats, and track officials will quickly move to make repairs ahead of the May event.

"Now we have a race before the race," Swift said. "The area that's been affected by the sinkhole is a frontstretch grandstand area with some of the best views of the track. We'll have a lot of work to get done before NASCAR All-Star Race Week."