NASCAR’s history is full of as many twists and turns as its legendary racetracks. Standing for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, the autosport has endured changes throughout its run. For one—while it started out as the Strictly Stock Division—it’s now known as the NASCAR Cup Series. A name change isn’t the only alteration made to this enormously popular sport today though. According to their official website, NASCAR used to accept race cars right off of the streets. They would drive onto the tracks and races could commence, as simple as that. Today it’s a little different. Now the stock cars are a lot more uniform and commonly bear colorful logos for sponsors.

Updated April 2022: If you're a fan of NASCAR, or perhaps just enjoy the eerie pictures of abandoned racetracks and race cars, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more facts and details surrounding the retired and neglected cars and tracks.

Despite NASCAR becoming one of the most popular sports today, the organization has had its share of difficulties as well. Several racetracks have closed down and continue to stand today. These abandoned “ghost tracks” were once populated venues where engines roared, and crowds cheered. Today, they only attract curious explorers who want to see the creepy arenas up close in personal The racetracks aren’t the only victims to come out of NASCAR. The stock cars, both old and new, often get left behind and abandoned. We’ve compiled photos of both NASCAR racetracks and stock cars that not only retired but got neglected and left behind in the dust.

15 Pink Panther

via Pinterest

From a tip coming by way of a Pinterest user, this car appears to be a NASCAR left behind in a junkyard. Many wonder how a beloved stock car like this one ended up in a dump surrounded by trash and covered in dirt. At one point, it was a car that someone cared for deeply, put work into making it a racing machine and maintained it over time. Now it’s abandoned and forgotten with a shade of rust forming over every corner and crevice of its frame.

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14 Forsaken NASCAR Track: Middle Georgia

via Abandoned Southeast

It may not look like much anymore—especially with gloomy skies hanging overhead—but the Middle Georgia Raceway once hosted NASCAR races. It even has a place in the history books. According to the blog Abandoned Southeast, Richard Petty broke the speed record in a half-mile NASCAR race here.

Not even historical significance could save this raceway though, which has since become abandoned. Weeds and gravel infringe on the racetrack while the Coca-Cola advertisements and painted walls fade. Now that nature has taken over, it’ll require even more work to get it back up to speed again.

13 Abandoned Pizza King

via Pinterest

It may not look like the stock cars most of us associate with NASCAR today, but there’re indications it’s a NASCAR nonetheless. First and foremost, a Pinterest user suggests this junkyard is full of NASCAR cars. Secondly, it has a sponsorship painted near the back that advertises “Pizza King.”

Last but not least, the car looks like the old Fords one might witness racing back in the 1950s or 1960s, even in NASCAR. Neglected and covered in leaves, one wonders how it ever got here.

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12 Forsaken NASCAR Track: Japan Circuit

via Racingcircuits.info

As one can see from this bird’s-eye view, this speedway in Japan is at the base of mountains. Nestled in between hills is the Fuji Speedway, which Racing Circuits confirms appeared in the 1960s. Known for being a faster track, the same source notes that cars rise above the crest of hills before finally shifting back down, which gives insight into how precarious this track is. One factor that affected the races here was the rainy weather, which isn’t ideal for NASCAR.

It’s been around since the early 1960s and changed hands in 2000. When one leaves a track behind, it’s easy to see how nature takes over quickly, making it harder for man to reclaim.

11 Holman-Moody

via kalracing.com

NASCAR racer Whitey Gerken had a storied career in the brutal auto sport. According to Chicago Land Auto Racing, he raced over the course of 25 years. During that time, he competed in the Daytona 500 and even placed 14th in 1956 at the Old Dominion 500.

Pictured here is one of his racing machines, which the same source notes is a Holman-Moody 1964 Ford. Apparently, as the photo suggests, they found it in a field and managed to retrieve what remained.

10 Forsaken NASCAR Track: North Wilkesboro Way

via Curbed

How the mighty have fallen. Even a major race track like the North Wilkesboro Speedway has decayed since closing down. According to Curbed, the track originally opened in 1947 and managed to stay around until 1996. Although other events occurred on the track after that, it finally saw its end for good in 2011. Since then, the track has become deserted, with weeds growing yellow and thick in cracks on the speedway pavement. Stands where guests once sat are desolate and no sign of life remains.

What remains of this once popular race track is only a shadow of its former state. While the stands still sit filled up with chairs, and above those, boxes where bigwigs could sit, no one occupies them anymore. Due to the weeds overgrowing, it’s hard to make out the name of this track on the sign at the bottom, which reads “North Wilkesboro Speedway.” If it weren’t for the weeds and worn walls, this scene might look like an ordinary morning just before the races kick off.

9 Florida Finds

via Shoestring Weekends

It’s hard to imagine anyone getting rid of a NASCAR car. For one, they might be valuable; secondly, they’re awesome to look at. It appears that a bunch of them got the boot though, including this one with a giant NAPA sponsor plastered on its hood.

According to Shoestring Weekends, these retired racing cars reside in Florida where the sun beats down on them. Even if NASCAR cars aren’t the best vehicles, no one would pass up an opportunity to own one.

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8 Forsaken NASCAR Track: Rockingham Speedway

via Pinterest

The sky may look picturesque, but the earth below it is eerie and cold. Despite greenery in the center of the arena, the abandoned racetrack is a sight capable of sending chills down one's spine. According to a Pinterest user, it’s the Rockingham Speedway from 2015. While the site once served as a popular place for crowds to congregate and cheer on their favorite racers, it's now fallen into deterioration. If someone put the money up, it looks as if it’s in good enough condition to renovate.

It’s illegal to trespass on the track despite its abandonment. More than likely, the police want to keep the track safe and prevent any potentially illegal activities from taking place there. Even more, the same user points out that the stands haven’t been properly maintained and could even pose a threat. Those who venture here are putting their well-being at a hazard.

7 Sidelined Stock Car

via SB Nation

While it’s hardly a car anymore, this hunk of scrap once ruled as a NASCAR car. According to SB Nation, this car resides in North Wilkesboro, which is a town known for having a formative part in building up NASCAR to what it is today.

Like the local racetrack though, this former race car has fallen into decay and bit the bullet. Now all that remains of it sits around as the original owner has long left it behind to rust.

6 Forsaken NASCAR Track: Nazareth Speedway

via Pinterest

Once a place of high-speed stakes and raucous crowds, the Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania succumbed to closing. The track fell on rough times as early as 1986 when, according to The Morning Call, it went into foreclosure.

Despite going through renovations in 1997, the track closed not long after that in 2004. It remained abandoned and hung in limbo while several prospective buyers lined up. From this vantage point, the grass may be green in the field surrounding it, but the track no longer hosts events.

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5 Rusty Ride

via Pinterest

One can tell by the wear and tear on this car the extent of its abandonment. Further details about this car will shock many enthusiasts and NASCAR fans. According to a Pinterest user, this NASCAR Dodge Charger Daytona belonged to driver James Hylton.

That explains why the car is in such bad shape, aside from the many years of disuse. The same user suggests the old NASCAR racer was involved in an accident, which may speak to the missing hood and other parts absent from the car.

4 Forsaken NASCAR Track: North Carolina

via Only In Your State

This photo provides a new outlook on an abandoned raceway. According to Only In Your State, this track lies in North Carolina, where it’s been long deserted. Except for the woman sitting down and whoever took the photo, the track doesn’t appear to have any visitors.

It’s only natural some curious explorers would happen upon the site and want to see what kind of shape it’s in after all these years. The same source notes that the final NASCAR Strictly Stock Division took place here.

3 1989 Chevrolet Lumina

via altahaddi.net

There are a few notable traits that make up a NASCAR stock car. As How Stuff Works notes, NASCAR cars tend to adhere to strict rules the organization has set. The same frame size and spoiler tend to be recurring elements seen on NASCAR cars.

In addition, they’re often covered in advertisements and sponsors, as this green and white one is. While they may not be the best everyday drivers, they’re stylish cars nonetheless that would be hard to get rid of.

2 Forsaken NASCAR Track: I-70 Speedway

via The Drive

Beneath all the trees and foliage is a former racetrack that once had a place of prominence in the NASCAR world. Called the I-70 Speedway, The Drive reports that it closed in 2008. This location hosted several legendary NASCAR drivers including Rusty Wallace and Clint Bowyer.

Despite the history and drivers that once raced here, the place fell on hard times. As a result of its abandonment, trees took over and the entire place fell into neglect; there’re even trees popping up in the stands.

1 Bent Out Of Shape

via Pinterest

It’s safe to assume these race cars weren’t winners. Otherwise, we can’t imagine why someone would ever cast them off. Unless the cars don’t run anymore, it’s hard to believe someone could neglect an automobile so valuable. The object of this photo is the blue shell in the middle with pieces of its back half curling up. There are no wheels left and the chassis underneath looks like it’s turning to rust, spelling doom for this former contending race machine.

This picture proves that no car is safe, even one as coveted and valued as a race car. Even they have a limited lifespan, which its owners may have even cut short. Next to the blue car we see another discarded racing machine. Past the red paint, there are faint white markings that point to its former racing days.