"The Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars — Hickory Motor Speedway has been launching careers since 1952, and the CARS Tour's Throwback Classic makes it one of the season's most anticipated short-track stops."
Location: Newton, NC (Catawba County) Track Type: Paved short oval Length: 0.363 miles Surface: Asphalt Banking: 14° (turns 1–2) / 12° (turns 3–4) / 8° (straights) Opened: 1952 (dirt) · Paved: 1967 · Current configuration: 1970 First Race: May 18, 1952
Overview
Hickory Motor Speedway sits in the Catawba County foothills of North Carolina, roughly an hour northwest of Charlotte. At 0.363 miles with variable banking — 14 degrees in turns one and two, 12 in turns three and four — it's a tight, technically demanding oval that rewards precision and punishes hesitation. The track has operated continuously since 1952, evolving from a dirt oval to one of the most competitive weekly racing venues in the South.
Its nickname is not marketing. "The Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars" earned its name through decades of producing Hall of Famers. Ralph Earnhardt mastered the craft here. Junior Johnson won the track championship in 1952. Ned Jarrett followed in 1955. Bobby Isaac dominated in his peak years. The list of NASCAR legends who sharpened their racecraft at Hickory Motor Speedway reads like a Hall of Fame roll call — and it's still adding names.
History
Charlie Combs built the track in 1952 as a dirt oval, marketing it as "Hickory Motor Speedway" to capitalize on the regional name recognition of the nearby city of Hickory, though the facility sits in Newton, NC. The first race ran May 18, 1952, with Gwyn Staley winning before a crowd of 4,500 fans. NASCAR sanctioned the facility from the start, and Hickory became a regular stop on the Grand National circuit through the 1950s and 1970s.
Junior Johnson won the track's second-ever championship in 1952. Ralph Earnhardt — father of Dale Earnhardt — reeled off back-to-back Hickory titles in 1953 and 1954, establishing a family lineage at this track that would define North Carolina short-track racing for generations. Ned Jarrett, who would go on to win two NASCAR championships, took the Hickory title in 1955.
Tim Flock won the first NASCAR Grand National event at Hickory. Junior Johnson became the all-time Cup wins leader at the track. Richard Petty won five times here.
The track was paved with asphalt in 1967 and reconfigured to its current 0.363-mile layout in 1970. Since cycling off the national NASCAR schedule, Hickory has remained one of the most respected proving grounds in stock car racing — still producing stars, still running every weekend, still relevant.
Key Drivers
Ralph Earnhardt — Two-time Hickory track champion (1953–54) and patriarch of NASCAR's most famous family. His son Dale Earnhardt learned the craft watching him race here.
Junior Johnson — 1952 track champion and all-time Cup wins leader at Hickory. One of the sport's foundational figures.
Ned Jarrett — 1955 Hickory champion, two-time NASCAR Cup champion. Began building his legacy on this 0.363-mile oval.
Bobby Isaac — Catawba County native and 1970 NASCAR Cup Series champion who dominated Hickory through his peak years.
Connor Zilisch — The most recent star to announce himself at Hickory. Won here in CARS Tour competition before advancing to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and earning a full-time Cup ride with Trackhouse Racing at 19 years old.
Caden Kvapil — 2026 CARS Tour LMSC points leader and one of the favorites for the Throwback Classic. Won the 2025 season-ending race at North Wilkesboro driving the JR Motorsports No. 88.
2026 CARS Tour: The Throwback Classic
The CARS Tour's Throwback Classic runs at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 8, 2026 — Race 9 of the 14-round LMSC season. The event honors the track's history with retro paint schemes and team tributes to the Hall of Famers who made Hickory what it is. Racing here is both a competition and a connection to where stock car racing came from.