The last race was held at Fireball Raceway Park in 2001. (StarNews file photo from 2000)
Fireball Raceway Park, a quarter-mile asphalt oval at 9599 Ploof Road SE, Leland [Map this], celebrated its grand opening in April 2000, but drivers began practicing there in 1999.
From the beginning, the track was surrounded by controversy, as nearby residents complained that noise from the race cars kept them awake at night.
In 2000, Brunswick County filed a lawsuit seeking to get track owners to tone down the noise. A compromise of sorts was reached in 2001, when modified mufflers were added to the race cars, and Fireball Raceway reopened for a period of time.
The last race was held there in 2001, although other events, including a motorcycle rally, were held there as late as 2003.
A new promoter unsuccessfully attempted to revitalize the raceway in 2003. Ultimately, the noise issue and encroaching development spelled an end to the raceway.
Date posted: February 7, 2012
User-contributed question by:
roger cribb
Funny how a place that was established before the houses were built had to shut down due to noise. The track was there first and it should have been buyer beware. That is like the idiots that move downtown Wilmington and then complain about the noise.