The Native Son

North Carolina may be the heart of stock car racing but Charlotte is its soul.  Both the sport and the city have grown up together, and their identities have evolved from regional interests to national prominence.  The first Charlotte Speedway was a wooden track built outside Pineville in 1924.  Since that time there have been several other tracks around the city.  In 1960 Charlotte Motor Speedway was constructed near Concord.  Today, the track is home to two annual Sprint Cup races, the Coca Cola 600 and the Bank of America 500, along with the series All-Star Race.