New Asheville Speedway
Asheville, NC, USA
Track History
New Asheville Speedway was a 0.4-mile asphalt oval tucked into the mountains of western North Carolina that hosted eight Cup Series races between 1962 and 1971. The ten-degree banking in the turns generated impressive speed for such a compact track, and the mountain setting gave race weekends an atmosphere that was entirely distinct from the Piedmont flatland short tracks. Eight Cup visits over a decade reflected a venue that consistently delivered quality racing in a market passionate about stock cars. The Asheville mountains have been home to motorsport since the moonshine runners first started outrunning revenue agents on twisting mountain roads, and New Asheville Speedway channeled that heritage into organized competition. The slightly larger-than-average short-track dimension allowed for more varied racing strategies than a pure quarter-mile bullring, while still maintaining the close-quarters intensity that defines the best short-track racing. Drivers who could adapt their approach to the unique demands of the Asheville mountains held an advantage that pure speed alone could not overcome.
Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference
Top Drivers at New Asheville Speedway
Ned Jarrett leads all drivers at New Asheville Speedway with 2 wins across 4 starts.
All-time stats across Cup, O'Reilly & Trucks (min 3 starts)
| Driver | Races | Wins | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ned Jarrett | 4 | 2 | 2.3 |
| Richard Petty | 7 | 2 | 4.1 |
| David Pearson | 4 | 1 | 7.3 |
| Buck Baker | 4 | 0 | 6.3 |
| John Sears | 3 | 0 | 7 |
Race Winners (1962-1971)
New Asheville Speedway has crowned 6 different Cup Series winners since 1962.
| Year | Race | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Asheville 300 | Richard Petty |
| 1968 | Asheville 300 | Richard Petty |
| 1967 | Asheville 300 | Jim Paschal |
| 1966 | Asheville 300 | David Pearson |
| 1965 | New Asheville 100 | Junior Johnson |
| 1964 | 100 Miles at New Asheville Speedway | Ned Jarrett |
| 1963 | 100 Miles at New Asheville Speedway | Ned Jarrett |
| 1962 | 83 Miles at New Asheville Speedway | Jack Smith |
Race Dynamics
Short tracks feature close-quarters racing with higher caution rates. Aggressive drivers and bump-and-run tactics thrive here. Strong restarts and late-race speed are essential. Track-specific history matters more here than at any other track type.
Top Rated Drivers at New Asheville Speedway
No NR-Rating driver data available for this track yet.
Similar Tracks
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