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The Race Is On For
DAWSONVILLE—Folks carrying moonshine in the north Georgia town of Dawsonville knew the importance of outrunning law enforcement during the Prohibition days of the 1930s. They needed to soup up their cars for speed and did so to their advantage. Their ingenuity continued after Prohibition was repealed and alcohol sales were legal again. But that need for speed prevailed and stock car racing became a sport. Dawsonville’s early racing days eventually led to the creation of NASCAR, with some of the biggest names hailing from Dawsonville. It’s why today the town is considered the birthplace of NASCAR, home to racing greats Bill and Chase Elliott, Raymond Parks, Red Vogt, Roy Hall, Gober Sosebee and Lloyd Seay.
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame
Visitors will receive an overview of Dawsonville’s racing history, from its early moonshine origins to NASCAR’s stars at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame (415 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 706-216-7223). Established in 2002 as a showplace for the history of motorsports in the region, the museum features both original and replica racers from the 1940s to today. There’s also the Elliott Family Room, showcasing the triumphs of award-winning NASCAR drivers Bill “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” Elliott and his son, Chase Elliott. In addition, the museum hosts the Racing Hall of Fame, dedicated to honoring the influential figures of the sport.
to open, adjacent to the museum by Spring 2024 (February 18, 2024).
The museum saw a major renovation early this year and hopes to reopen by the Daytona 500 weekend (February 18, 2024). With its extensive update, the museum now offers state-of-the-art iRacing Simulators and a new exhibit honoring Red Vogt, known as NASCAR’s first master mechanic and premier engine builder to bootleggers. Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co., as a nod to Dawsonville’s moonshine past, is scheduled
The Dawsonville racing tradition continues with the two-mile F1-designed circuit and .85-mile pro kart tracks at the Atlanta Motorsports Park (20 Duck Thurmond Road, Dawsonville, Georgia 30534; 678-329-8051). For its “excellence and innovation in the high-performance driving and racing industry,” AMP took the prestigious 2023 Outstanding Facility Award by SPEED SPORT and
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During the year, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame offers special events, such as car shows, and Grandaddy Mimm’s will routinely present live music and music trivia.
Atlanta Motorsports Park
