North Carolina Motorsports

Welcome to the Birthplace of Professional Motorsports.

The North Carolina Motorsports industry contributes more than $5 billion annually to the North Carolina economy and generates 24,400 direct and indirect jobs in the state. North Carolina has 82% of the Nextel Cup teams, 72% of Busch Series teams, and 55% of the Craftsman Truck Teams. The Motorsports industy is America’s fastest growing sport. Racing hasn’t always enjoyed such popularity. In fact, racing claims its roots in the mountains of North Carolina, in moonshine country.

Bootleggers built their cars to go fast in order to outrun the law on the rugged back roads. Legend has it that the bootleggers started to take notice of each other’s cars. They started racing each other and a great American pastime was born. NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) was founded in 1947. The first true NASCAR was held in Charlotte in the summer of 1949. Today, motorsports is a major international business. Drivers, owners, and sponsors are recognized worldwide. North Carolina is the birthplace to many of the sports greatest drivers, and North Carolina Motorsports legends and history came alive.

Mooresville, a town located approximately 25 miles north of Charlotte, has been nicknamed “Race City, USA” due to the large number of racing related businesses. Mooresville boast more residents who drive over 200 mph or can change 4 tires in less than 15 seconds. This town of approximately 18,000 is home to the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, racecar training schools, 60 motorsports teams and dozens of NASCAR drivers. Mooresville courted the racing industry when there was a decline in the textile industry. Now over 8% of the towns population works in a motorsports related job.

Mooresville is home to the NASCAR Technical Institue, the nation’s first technical training school to blend automotive and NASCAR specific motorsports technology. Up to 2000 students a day are trained in the $12 million, 146,000 square foot facility.