Drone's-eye view: Fly over abandoned North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway was a mainstay on the NASCAR circuit from 1949 until its closing in 1996. The track briefly reopened in 2010, but has sat dormant since 2011.
Now, with the help of a DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus drone, you can take a trip high above the legendary North Carolina short track to see what it looks like today.
If this video makes you sentimental, here are a few pictures from North Wilkesboro back in the day.
Spectators jam both the grandstands and infield to watch a race at North Wilkesboro Speedway circa 1949.
Lee Petty holds his trophy after driving his '57 Oldsmobile to a win in the 1959 Gwyn Staley 160.
Junior Johnson joins Darrell Waltrip in victory lane after the 1983 Northwestern Bank 400. Waltip swept the Cup races at North Wilkesboro during the year, also winning the Holly Farms 400 in October.
Dale Earnhardt won the 1989 First Union 400 the re-introduced Goodyear radial tires, which proved to be more consistent than bias-ply tires.
The entire field of NASCAR Cup Series drivers assemble at the start-finish line prior to the running of one of the final Cup races to be held at the historic facility.
