--- title: "They Might Have Found a Moonshine Cave Underneath North Wilkesboro Speedway" description: "A sinkhole opened underneath the grandstands at North Wilkesboro Speedway, which could have been a long-rumored moonshine cave." date: "2024-03-28" modified: "2024-03-28" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/they-might-have-found-a-moonshine-cave-underneath-north-wilkesboro-speedway" categories: - "NASCAR" - "News" - "Racing" --- # They Might Have Found a Moonshine Cave Underneath North Wilkesboro Speedway ![]() *\North Wilkesboro Speedway\* A 700-square-foot sinkhole recently opened underneath the grandstands at one of [NASCAR's]() most famous venues: North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. During a routine cleaning and inspection of the said grandstands, workers found cracks in the original concrete, which prompted the removal of several seats. That's when they not only discovered the massive sinkhole but also what appears to be a moonshine cave. If true, this would confirm the decades-long suspicions of area locals. NASCAR's roots involve moonshine runners during Prohibition, as they needed to modify their cars to outrun Johnny Law, and they inevitably began racing them (and I'm going to pretend I learned that from reading about history instead of watching [Talladega Nights]()). Due to its smuggling roots, North Carolinians have long believed that a long-defunct, top-secret moonshine facility lay buried beneath North Wilkesboro Speedway. And now that a massive cave was found under the grandstands, you can imagine the excitement of locals whose suspicions seem to have been confirmed. https://twitter.com/NWBSpeedway/status/1772760481003905187 “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 VP of operations 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.” You might be wondering why there would have been a secret moonshine cave underneath a racetrack built in 1947, long after Prohibition ended. Well, illegal moonshine running was still common after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, especially throughout Appalachia and the North Carolina foothills, home to the North Wilkesboro Speedway. Moonshiners wanted to avoid heavy alcohol taxes and many dry counties. If this sinkhole did indeed unearth a mythical moonshine distillery, it's unclear how long it was operational and when it finally shut down. Workers have removed over 600 seats and are still figuring out exactly what's below the grandstands and how to repair them. There's a race against the clock to get it repaired, though, since the Speedway is set to host NASCAR's All-Star Race Week, from May 14-19. It would be fascinating if workers find some old moonshine stills, or any leftovers from its moonshining days before the foundation is repaired and the cave is closed for good. Maybe it could be turned into some sort of museum for spectators to visit while at the Speedway. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PukGgt1j7_E *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()