The last lap: Inside the abandoned NASCAR track that has crumbled into a eerie ruin after sitting empty for four years
- North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina was a mainstay on NASCAR circuit from 1949 until September 1996
- But now, it lies empty after being sold in 1996, briefly reopening in 2010, then closing again in the spring of 2011
- Pictures of legendary track were captured by photojournalist Seph Lawless as part of 'Autopsy of America' project
- They show faded racetrack signs, thousands of vacant seats, buildings with damaged ceilings and stained ground
- The site 'now sits eerily silent and completely abandoned. It was apocalyptic,' Seph Lawless told Daily Mail Online
It was a mainstay on the NASCAR circuit for nearly five decades.
But now, North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina - once filled with thousands of fans at a time - lies silent and deserted.
The legendary track, which opened its doors to a crowd of more than 10,000 in 1947, was recently caught on camera by photojournalist Seph Lawless.
The photojournalist, also an activist, captured the dilapidated arena as part of an ongoing project which focuses on 'the most abandoned' sites in America.
He told Daily Mail Online: 'This arena was once filled with thousands of people now it sits eerily silent and completely abandoned. It was apocalyptic.'
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Empty: North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina - a mainstay on the NASCAR circuit for nearly 50 years - now lies silent and deserted
Legendary: The track, which opened its doors to a crowd of more than 10,000 in 1947, was caught on camera by photojournalist Seph Lawless
Deserted: Mr Lawless captured the dilapidated arena as part of an ongoing project which focuses on 'the most abandoned' areas of America
'It was apocalyptic: 'This arena was once filled with thousands of people now it sits eerily silent and completely abandoned,' Mr Lawless said
Flashback: Terry Labonte (No 5) and Elton Sawyer (No 27) bring the field to the start of the First Union 400 at the speedway on April 14, 1996
Hopes: Mr Lawless, also an activist, continued: 'Certain parts of America decline so fast these days, they should paint racing stripes on it'
Damaged: Mr Lawless's stunning photos show faded racetrack signs, thousands of vacant seats and buildings with damaged ceilings (above)
Out of use: A building at the speedway is pictured in a state of disrepair (left), while a sign showing drivers' positions is no longer lit up (right)
Racetrack: The short speedway, measuring five-eights of a mile, held races in NASCAR's top three series from 1949 until its closure in 1996
He added: 'Certain parts of America decline so fast these days, they should paint racing stripes on it.'
The short speedway, measuring five-eights of a mile, held races in NASCAR's top three series from 1949 until its closure in 1996. That year, it was sold to ex-New Hampshire Motor Speedway owner Bob Bahre and Speedway Motorsports's CEO Bruton Smith due to its age and lack of modern facilities.
Its spring date was taken over by Smith's new Texas Motor Speedway, while its fall date was given to Bahre's New Hampshire track.
In 2010, North Wilkesboro Speedway briefly reopened, playing host to several Stock Car series. However, it closed again in the spring of 2011.
It has sat empty since.
Seph Lawless's stunning photos show faded racetrack signs, thousands of vacant seats, buildings in various states of disrepair and stained parts of track.
The refreshments section of the arena lies abandoned, while red paint is ripped off the wall surrounding a sign reading, 'President's Lounge'.
'It's not every day that you come across an abandoned NASCAR race speedway,' Seph Lawless, who goes by a pseudonym, told Daily Mail Online.
Aged: In 1996, the speedway was sold to ex-New Hampshire Motor Speedway owner Bob Bahre and Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith
Wrecked signage: In 2010, the track briefly reopened, playing host to several Stock Car series. However, it closed again in the spring of 2011
No sale: The refreshments section of the arena - which once catered for thousands of spectactors from across the world - now lies abandoned
Vacant: The speedway's thousands of seats are vacant after the speedway closed in 1996 - and later, re-closed, after a brief opening in 2011
Worn: Red paint is ripped off the wall surrounding a sign reading, 'President's Lounge', which signaled the place that executives would gather
Desolate: Mr Lawless, whose project is called Autopsy of America and covers all 50 states, is filming a reality TV show based on his work
Looking out: The US photojournalist hopes his pictures of deserted sites - such as North Wilkesboro Speedway - will raise awareness of them
Inspiring change: However, he also hopes the images will 'inspire creative solutions' to their abandoned states. Above, a shot of the speedway
Exit: 'This isn't social media. This is a social movement,' said Mr Lawless, who posts some of his images on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter
The US photojournalist, whose project is called Autopsy of America and covers all 50 states, is currently filming a reality TV show based on his work.
He hopes that his pictures of deserted sites - such as North Wilkesboro Speedway - will not only raise awareness of them, but 'inspire creative solutions'.
'This isn't social media. This is a social movement,' said Seph Lawless, who posts some of his images on his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
He added: 'The problems my country faces won't change until we face these problems, so I thought we could start by simply looking at them.'
Tackling issues: Mr Lawless said Americans need to 'face these problems', adding: 'so I thought we could start by simply looking at them'
Course: This photo, captured by Mr Lawless during his trip to North Carolina, shows part of the speedway, which once attracted thousands
Disrepair: The photojournalist is not the only one who is hoping to inspire change at the speedway, which offered spectators up-close views
Authorization needed: A handwritten sign fixed to two planks of wood at North Wilkesboro Speedway reads: 'Authorized photographers only'
NASCAR: A poster reading 'NASCAR Winston Cup Series' is pictured on the side of a building at the legendary racetrack in North Wilkesboro
Battle: An organization named 'Save the Speedway' , founded in 2005 by Rob Marsden, still actively fights for the reopening of the speedway
Chance of transformation? The group has thousands of followers, all of whom share the vision of 'a new life at North Wilkesboro Speedway'
And Seph Lawless is not the only one who is hoping to inspire change at the speedway, which offered spectators up-close views of passing drivers.
An organization named 'Save the Speedway', founded in 2005 by Rob Marsden, still actively fights for the reopening of the track.
The group now has thousands of followers, all of whom share the vision of 'a new life at North Wilkesboro Speedway'.
The final Sprint Cup race at the speedway was won by driver Jeff Gordon in September 1996.
Weather-torn: When it opened in 2010, the track briefly played host to several Stock Car series, like the now defunct ASA Late Model Series
Sunset: It also played host to the USARacing Pro Cup Series (formerly Hooters Pro Cup) and PASS Super Late Models before closing again
Striking: This photo of North Wilkesboro Speedway, captured by Mr Lawless, shows the track in a very different state to what it used to be
Attracting fans: The photojournalist described the site as 'eerily silent'. Above, a wall at the track advertises NASCAR's Winston Cup Series
Contrast: The final Sprint Cup race at North Wilkesboro Speedway (seen today, right) was won by driver Jeff Gordon (left) in September 1996
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Kanye could play there rather than Glastonbury .
by MG Worcester. 135