JD Motorsports and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources have teamed up to bring awareness to North Carolina’s Moonshine and Motorsports Trail.
Moonshine and Motorsports Trail branding will be featured on JD Motorsports driver Brennan Poole’s No. 6 Chevrolet entry in the Xfinity Series’ Alsco 300 race, Saturday, May 27.
The newly created Moonshine and Motorsports Trail highlights North Carolina’s unique connection to distilling and stock car racing. Distilling grew out of the state’s rich agriculture, and stock car racing originated from occasional competitions among speed-hungry moonshiners during the 1930s. Nearly a century later, stock car racing has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry that attracts legions of devoted followers across the nation and world.
The Moonshine and Motorsports Trail celebrates North Carolina’s indelible role in stock car racing’s growth, spotlighting several landmarks that illustrate North Carolina’s one-of-a-kind motorsports offerings and distilling history. The first stops on the trail include Occoneechee Speedway, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Rockingham Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Museum of the Albemarle, Stone Mountain State Park and the North Carolina Museum of History.
“The Moonshine and Motorsports Trail celebrates both the history and the bright future for North Carolina’s distilling and racing industries,” said DNCR Secretary Reid Wilson. “We’re excited to promote the trail to race fans at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is a location on the trail.”
“I’m excited to be behind the wheel of the No. 6 Moonshine and Motorsports Trail Chevy,” said Poole, who recently celebrated his 100th start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. “It is great to be able to represent an initiative that is focused on educating our community on the cultural and financial impact racing has had and continues to have on the state of North Carolina.”
Racing fans can also learn more about the Moonshine and Motorsports Trail through a series of vlog-style YouTube videos being filmed by Eric Estepp, the host of Out of the Groove. Estepp’s videos are appearing on his popular YouTube channel throughout the month of May. Videos and recaps of his journey on the Moonshine and Motorsports Trail can also be found at www.dailydownforce.com/moonshineandmotorsports
Additional information about the Moonshine and Motorsports Trail can also be found at https://www.ncdcr.gov/explore/trip-ideas/moonshine-and-motorsports-trail
The Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is live on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) on Saturday, May 27 at 1 p.m. EST.
About JD Motorsports
Team Owner Johnny Davis first began fielding a team in what is now the Xfinity Series in 1983 with Joe Henry Thurman as the driver. From 1983-1985, Davis and Thurman competed in 41 races and put the JD Motorsports name on the map. Although JDM has seen a sharp rise in on-track performance in the past few years, success is nothing new to this team. Years of good drivers and excellent runs have paved the way for what JDM is today. www.teamjdmotorsports.com
About A.E. Engine
A.E. Engine is a full-service sports sales, marketing and content creation company. Founded in 2005 by sports publishing and marketing executives, A.E. Engine has earned a reputation for concepting, creating and delivering high-quality, premium content and programming for passionate fans. www.ae-engine.com
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.