Submerged Race Track Emerges

We�re aware of NASCAR�s rich history and how it traces back its beginnings to the races held at Daytona Beach in the late 1920s and 1930s. But aside from Daytona , NASCAR also enjoyed a stint in Atlanta during the 1940s when races were held at the Gainesville Speedway. Located near the Chattahoochee River, this race track was used by the early legends of the sport until the Army Corps of Engineers in 1957 flooded it to create a 500,000 acre pond that would provide water for the people of Atlanta. Forgotten after the creation of the pond, the Gainesville Speedway languished underwater until a drought plaguing the city allowed the race track to rise again.

Since its emergence, the people of Atlanta have been visiting the speedway to catch a glimpse of history. Those who were able to experience the glamour of the Gainesville Speedway during its heyday drop by to remember the good old days when racing legends like Gober Sosebee, Roscoe Thompson, Spider Chumley, Bud Lunsford, Bobby Whitmire and Curtis Turner raced around the track. Back then, these race car drivers competed for a measly $500 cash prize, a far cry from what the present-day race car drivers take home after a big win. Even ticket prices were priced at just $2 for adults and $1 for kids, which was considerably less than the price you have to pay for tickets nowadays.

While the lure of catching a glimpse of racing history is attracting people from all over Atlanta to visit the Gainesville Speedway, they know that this attraction won�t last. Once the drought ends, this legendary race track will once again sink back into its watery grave, just like the lost city of Atlantis. But unlike its mythical counterpart, at least this legendary race track allowed the people of Atlanta to once again enjoy its company and reminisce of the good times of yesteryear.

Sources: Espn, Google Images, Wikipedia