Photo Credit: Urban Ghosts

The Last Hurrah is a series that discusses the final major sports events at sporting venues around the world.

On Sunday, September 29th, 1996, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) made its final stop at North Wilkesboro Speedway in Wilkesboro Township, North Carolina, for the running of the Tyson Holly Farms 400.

The track first opened in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track and the series had been running there since its inaugural season in 1949. In 1950, the track was converted into a .625 mile dirt track and in 1957, it was paved with asphalt, however the track configuration remained the same.

NASCAR had run at least one race at the track per season since the ’49 season and two races per season since 1957, and became a fan favorite for its classic short track racing action. A new set of grandstands had even been added for the 1996 season. However, NASCAR was looking to expand into larger markets, with the then-new track of Texas Motor Speedway set to premiere on the Cup Series schedule in 1997 and New Hampshire International (now Motor) Speedway, only three years old at that point, looking to add a second race date. With the new tracks, NASCAR needed to open up two spots on the schedule and the unfortunate venue to give up both of its dates was North Wilkesboro.

Going into the Tyson Holly Farms 400, Terry Labonte was one of the pre-race favorites as he had won the First Union 400 also held at the track earlier in the year and had even brought back the same car he used to win. Another favorite was Jeff Gordon, who had an 81 point lead over Labonte in the standings coming into the race and had won the previous race, the Hanes 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

The pre-race events featured a number of past and present drivers, such as Junior Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty, reflecting on their memories of the track throughout their years of racing. The grandstands were filled to capacity with many holding or putting up homemade banners pleading for NASCAR to change their mind and keep the track on the schedule. All of the drivers in the field also took part in a commemorative photo, as seen below:

Photo Credit: Motor Racing Digest

The race got underway just after 1 p.m. with Ted Musgrave starting on the pole, however he was unable to even lead the first lap as he was passed by Gordon. However, Gordon was overtaken by Bobby Hamilton on lap 3 and held the lead through lap 22, when debris brought out the first caution. Most of the leaders did not pit and Hamilton continued to lead, despite a flat tire from Geoffrey Bodine’s car looking like it might bring out another caution, he went down pit road on the race continued on.

Hamilton was eventually overtaken by Ernie Irvan on lap 52, who lead for a handful of laps before being caught up to and passed by Mark Martin on lap 71. A multi-car wreck on lap 72 brought out another caution, as Kyle Petty spun out in turn four, with Hut Stricklin, Irvan and Hamilton each receiving minor damage. Irvan’s problems were compounded with a one lap penalty for pitting too early, making Irvan’s crew chief, Larry McReynolds, furious as he climbed down from the pit box screaming at the official. The penalty essentially knocked Irvan out of contention for the win.

As Martin continued to hold onto the lead after pit stops, there was very nearly another accident on lap 89 as Robert Pressley and Bobby Hillin Jr. got together, with Pressley coming close to spinning his car out, however both cars were able to continue without further incident. Martin eventually relinquished the lead to Rusty Wallace on lap 100, as Wallace would lead for the next 27 laps until Gordon came back again to reclaim the top spot. On the same lap, Wallace would get together with Rick Mast, who was competing in the top five throughout the race, but again both drivers kept going. Another near-accident occurred on lap 148 with Bodine, Michael Waltrip and Kenny Wallace, each of whom had a brother who was also competing in the race, got together but the cars continued with no caution. Rusty Wallace retook the lead on lap 167, which Gordon responded to by retaking the lead again on lap 178. The pair traded the lead a couple more times until Gordon claimed it on lap 190 and stayed there. Green flag pit stops came up around lap 240 and as Gordon and many other lead lap cars came in, Jeff Burton took his first lead of the race by staying out for a couple extra laps. Ricky Rudd then claimed the lead, taking advantage of an alternate pit strategy to stay out and lead the next 17 laps, but eventually came in, cycling the lead back to Gordon.

The caution would come out again as Derrike Cope had engine trouble and went to the garage, but came back out later in the race. As the green flag waved, Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett made contact in a battle for position on the restart, with both continuing on. On lap 298, Wally Dallenbach Jr. was forced into an unscheduled pit stop after contact with John Andretti and Joe Nemechek caused a flat tire and shortly thereafter on lap 303 Earnhardt grabbed the race lead. However, Gordon would come back to take the lead on lap 309, but Earnhardt took the lead again on lap 312.

On lap 315, with just 85 laps to go, Pressley spun to bring out the caution. As the field came down for what was likely the final pit stop of the race, Earnhardt’s crew was able to hold the lead, but Gordon took the lead for good with 79 laps to go, diving underneath Earnhardt in turns three and four to grab the advantage. After making the pass, nobody was a match for Gordon as he went on to win by 1.73 seconds over Earnhardt.

“To win the last race at North Wilkesboro, it’s like you feel sorry, but at the same time, you’re elated to go down in history,” Gordon said in victory lane. “I think the fans saw a great show today, that was one heck of a race all the way to the finish.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The race was also notable as every car in the field was still running at the end of the race, the first time since the same race in 1995 and the last time until the 2007 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire.

After the race, Gordon held a 111 point lead over Labonte, however the advantage would be short-lived as Gordon had an engine failure the next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway while Labonte won the race, eventually being the turning point in the ’96 championship run in which Labonte went on to take his second Cup Series title.

The track was officially closed shortly after the final race, however it did reopen briefly beginning in 2009 as several late model races were run on the track. However, in 2011, the track was closed once again, this time most likely permanently.

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Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1996_Tyson_Holly_Farms_400/W

Watch the full race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ba6VUG4QNk

Other sources: "Wheels: A Season of NASCAR’s Winston Cup Circuit" by Paul Hemphill

Abandoned- North Wilkesboro Speedway by Bright Sun Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfM95OEug2I

Up next: The 2004 Subway 400 @ Rockingham