North Carolina is known for many things; it’s the home to Andy Griffith’s Mayberry, it’s the place where the Wright Brothers completed the first powered flight, it’s the home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and it’s the state known as the ‘Moonshine Capital of the World’.
The Field of Dreams – North Wilkesboro Speedway Rumbles Back to Life
The North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina was built in 1949. It’s a 5/8 mile oval track that features a unique uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch. It operated as one of NASCARs original and premier racetracks until it was closed in 1996 as races moved to larger and faster tracks. Without racing the track soon fell into disrepair.
For years, race fans have been trying to bring racing back to this historic oval track. And now, after 26 years of silence, that is exactly what’s happening. With the help of an $18 million grant from the American Recovery Act and years of renovation, the track is making its return. The grass that was growing up through the cracks in the pavement has been removed, the lines have been repainted and this ‘field of dreams’ racetrack is ready to rumble back to life.
NASCAR will be celebrating its 75th anniversary and the return of racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway with a $1 million exhibition race on Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Sundays events will include a moonshining tribute that will include Bill Blair, Jr., son of racing and moonshine legend Bill Blair, being chased by a revenuer on the track.
“The mountains of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina have always been known for two things. First, moonshine. Revenuers chased moonshiners to what it’s also known for, racing. North Wilkesboro Speedway, a true NASCAR original.
“But after 1996, it was gone. Mother nature slowly took over. History, buried in weeds, rot and ruin. Sometimes you just don’t realize how great something is until it’s gone.”
After 26 years of darkness. North Wilkesboro Speedway is back.
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Southern Distilling Co. Celebrates the Return of Racing with 2 New Moonshines
Moonshining and racing have a long and storied history. Legend has it the small shack on the track was the source of many bottles of moonshine.
Southern Distilling Company is honoring two of the moonshine greats through its Legends Series released this month at the distillery. The launch of Bill Blair’s Moonshine and Paw Paw Murphy’s Moonshine will be celebrated at a special event from 3-7 p.m. June 10 at the distillery in Statesville.
“One of our goals at Southern Distilling is to restore North Carolina’s prominence in the spirits industry,” said Southern Distilling Co-Founder Pete Barger. “Moonshining is an important piece of the state’s history, and it is important to us to recognize that — and more importantly, to recognize the distillers who kept that tradition alive during Prohibition at no small risk to themselves. We’re honored to work with Bill Blair and Rick Murphy, and we are excited to celebrate with them at the distillery.”
Immigrants brought their distilling traditions with them to America and adapted their techniques to the local resources, finding North Carolina’s extensive waterways and abundant agriculture perfect for making liquor.
“The recipes came from Ireland, starting with potatoes,” Murphy said. “Then they migrated down to the foothills and leaned into the local agriculture and found that it made great liquor for bartering.” The fresh, clear water running from the mountains also made for great whiskey-making, Murphy said.
Moonshining wasn’t just a hobby, it was a livelihood, Blair said. “We did it so we could eat and feed our families when there was no other work to do. Good people with good intentions who weren’t looking to hurt anyone.”
Murphy learned from his grandpa who started in the 1890s — corn liquor was the first thing he learned to distill. Blair started distilling in 1923 with tutelage from his father. In 1932, Blair’s father was caught hauling liquor from Virginia, engaged in a shootout, and ultimately relied on his dad’s connections with politicians and pastors to avoid jail.
Over the years, moonshining’s reputation has changed — from the popular Discovery TV show to the popularity of NASCAR and recognition of stock car racing’s bootlegging roots.
Blair, whose dad got into moonshining to fund his car racing endeavors and created a raceway, said it no longer feels like moonshining is frowned upon. “Now it’s more a badge of honor,” he said. NASCAR celebrates 75 seasons this year and will pay homage to its history on May 21 at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina — including a moonshining tribute that will include Blair being chased by a revenuer on the track.
Paw Paw Murphy’s Midnight Shine and Blair’s Last Run Moonshine Launch Party
Southern Distilling Company will host a launch party for Paw Paw Murphy’s Midnight Shine and Blair’s Last Run Moonshine from 4-7 p.m. June 10, at the distillery, 211 Jennings Road in Statesville. Product will be available to sample and purchase — with Murphy and Blair on-hand to sign bottles. At 4:30 p.m., Southern Distilling co-founder Pete Barger will talk about the Legends Series and introduce Blair and Murphy so they can share their stories. A special cocktail menu will highlight the Legends Series moonshines. The event will also include distillery tours, live music, and food trucks.
Southern Distilling Co’s Paw Paw Murphy’s Midnight Shine is bottled at 95 proof (47.5% ABV) and is offered with a suggested retail price of $29.95 for a 750mL bottle. The Blair’s Last Run Moonshine is bottled at 102 proof (51% ABV) and is offered with a suggested retail price of $29.95 for a 750mL bottle. Bottles will be available for purchase at the distillery.
Southern Distilling Company was founded in 2013 by Pete and Vienna Barger. One of their founding goals was to reignite North Carolina’s whiskey tradition while celebrating the innovative spirit of America’s craft spirits industry. Southern Distilling draws on Statesville’s heritage as the “liquor capital of the world” in the late 1800s. It’s a whiskey tradition years in the making for the Bargers — and generations in the making for local farmers and centuries in the making for the state. Southern Distilling Company family of artisan spirits includes Southern Star Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Southern Star Standard High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey, Southern Star Double Rye Whiskey, and Southern Star Double Shot Bourbon Cream, and Hunting Creek Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, among others.
The destination distillery is open for tours, tastings, and craft cocktails, plus hosts public and private special events throughout the year. Southern Star products are available in more than 20 states, with rapidly expanding national and global distribution.
Learn more about Southern Distilling Company.
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