A long-awaited acquisition of over 200 acres of land that includes the Historic Occoneechee Speedway to add to Eno River State Park has been finalized, according to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The acquisition process, which began in 2021, was facilitated by the Eno River Association, which worked with the previous landowner, the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation. The addition to the state park includes the four-mile walking trail that traverses the only surviving dirt speedway from NASCAR's inaugural 1949 season, as well as the adjacent James M. Johnston Nature Preserve, a dedicated nature preserve with the N.C. Natural Heritage Program. Brian Strong, the North Carolina Parks Director, joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss the legacy of Historic Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough.