Exploring an Abandoned NASCAR Racetrack - Nazareth Speedway
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Sitting idle for 16 years lays an abandoned piece of Nascar history, a venue that once sat 45,000 people and was the loudest place for miles, now sits quiet, overgrown and decaying. We visit this defunct track to see what remains. Along the way we find a potential disturbing find inside one of its buildings. You'll just have to see what that is. If you enjoy the video, let me know by leaving a thumbs up, commenting and/or subscribing for more exploring content. Your support never goes unnoticed! Seriously, I love you guys.
ALSO, big thanks to @UrbexAndChill for the drone footage.
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@Dark.Exploration
Have a good day beauties'
This place was amazing to explore, just a different feeling being in a location that used to be filled with cheers and people, now silent and decaying. Unfortunately some years ago the stands were demolished but hopefully you enjoy the remains nonetheless. Your guys support lately has been off the wall, it doesnt go unnoticed. Thank you all 🙌 more videos coming very soon ! comment your favorite part of the video below ⬇️
9:38 that’s actually called victory lane, it’s where the winners would go celebrate.
but do you know how NASCAR got it's start? SHINE RUNNING Moonshiners out running the Law. They started racing on DIRT TRACKS. to find out who was the best and fastest. (nice job btw)
Nazareth Speedway front grandstands are at Watkins Glen
I wish I knew about you guys before I renovated an abandoned farmhouse from the 60s 50s that have been sitting for 20 years you guys would have loved it it was a big ranch style home with 18 20 rooms with collapsing walls black mold sagging floors lots of nooks and crannies and a dark history as it belonged to an abusive hoarder.
Where do u find these places, I wanna go explore an abandoned place with my friends to. As long as it’s safe atleast
I loved this place when I was a kid. As good as CART was on superspeedways and road courses, the short track racing was breathtaking, and I got to see it up close every year. I have awesome memories of walking through that tunnel and into the paddock, because just like indycar today, CART let you get really good access to the teams and drivers. I met Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Bobby Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Teo Fabi, Willy T Ribbs, Al Unser Jr, Danny Sullivan, and probably more walking around there, not to mention meeting Greg Moore at a McDonald’s in Easton on the way there one time.
finally an explorer that doesnt point the camera at himself. very respectful (watched the video before this one) and insightful. love this
Miss that track, and the dirt track before it. Living in Nazareth that speedway brought so much to our small town. Just heartbreaking to see it left like this.
Agreed. I drive by the track quite often and it’s a shame of what has become of it.
I brought my kids there till it closed ... one of my kids now works just down the road at gracedale
A rich person could buy this and fix it sadly it will be millions.
Blame Penske for what happened to the track
@@Hakuna65Matata It looked worse then this when Roger bought it and refurbished it in 1986/7 . I worked as a temp on landscaping and site prep . Offered a full time position with Speedways Inc. Ended up at Penske Truck Leasing .
I'm not a racing fun but who knew that I'd really enjoy seeing an abandoned track? I also watched your other abandoned track video and wow how cool are they? Now I'm going to search for more to see! You're doing an awesome job! Love all the videos!
As a car guy, it is really sad to see a racetrack in this condition :(
the track might be salvageable, albeit with a few unintended chicanes
@@102Help This track is wrecked, it would take a lot of money to get it looking good and nobody is going to invest that much money...
As a car guy too, it also makes me sad :(
@@vincentlevesque30 ever seen the freedom factory? It was an abandoned racetrack. They have fixed most the issues modified it some and now it hosts burnout contests races and drift events. There is always a way to make money
@@christopherelrod8788 i live very close to the track and it is not save able.
Hey man just wanted to let you know your videos are always my go to when I'm in a bad headspace. Don't take that the wrong way but just wanted to thank you for your no BS genuine content ❤
Glad I could be of some help 🤘🏻 thank you
So I almost died from bees but anyways here’s the helicopter landing pad lol
thank you for writing this comment Sir :)
ironic he almost died from bees in the care center
@@MCscarfacematt yeah..but on a serious note, can we take a moment to appreciate just how responsible he is and a no-nonsense kind of guy....he is not obnoxious at all and he always keeps his safety in mind. Honestly, that's a solid A in my book!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯
Helicopter helicopter 🚁
Great video. The checkered part was winner’s circle. Where the car and driver were after they won. When you turned around you could some spaces divided that was pit row where all the cars did there pit stops during the race. One more thing the helipad was also used for some drivers to fly in. Just some information from a former nascar fan😀
You are correct he said it was the finish line really sad to see.
im interested in the use of the word "former " i wonder if its for similar reasons as mine
That wasn't the start/finish line, that was victory lane !
The Podium is the Checkered place and he was standing in the pit lane
@Junior 249 I enjoyed the video, but it was so obvious they knew nothing about racing.
Agreed. Love the video but it would be nice if they pointed out where pit row was, entrance to the pits, where the wreckers would've been, etc.
Man there's something so cool about wide open abandoned spots like this
The stands were disassembled and relocated to Watkins Glen.
Watkins Glen? I don’t live too far from there and go there every year with my dad and his dad for the annual Vintage race
@@definitely_notme4112 I'm pretty sure the stands that you see at the end of the front stretch going to turn 1 are the stands that got moved
Yes they were
That's interesting.
You can almost hear ghost of the past.
The crowd and the racing.
The Vice channel did an episode about abandoned racetracks.
The garages you walked through was the maintenance department for the facility. Race cars were not worked on in these garages. It was also the break room for the maintenance staff.
Rest In Peace Earnhardt
He actually died at the Daytona International Speedway which is in Florida. But I agree RIP
@@kingquinn8432 Thanks, I dont know where this guy just said that for, but I guess heh
He said that because it marked 20yrs. Since Dale Sr. Died in the Daytona 500
Nascar fan here;)
@@anitaferri1370 thank you for clarifying I was kinda confused lol which is why I commented. My dad and I are huge fans of Earnheardt and jr as well. 🥰
Hopefully he sees this
I miss this place. I had the pleasure of driving around this track including a NASCAR truck for an afternoon. Interviewed Mario Andretti and MAx Papis here.
I enjoyed watching many races there. Awesome job on this video!
Just a note: Nature got a little 'help' in taking over the track. To stop trespassers who dared to race on the track, they dumped a coupla mounds of dirt in certain spots a while back. This is where you are seeing some trees grow on the track.
I've been to this track several times. Driven through the tunnel. Last time I was there was for the Ritchard Petty driving experience. My best average lap was 111 mph.
I swear the times are becoming more mad max than ever. All the little things we enjoyed are closing up. I never thought I'd see the day my mall and movie theater close. I forsee this to be the near future.
Every time I am in a place like this, where a large number of people used to be present, I still feel their presence.
It’s amazing how nature takes over✨
Like Chernobyl....
Wow . Thanks for including me in your adventures. Beautiful .
Dale Jr needs to get his weedeater out here so we can race on iRacing.
lol
w e e d e a t e r
Glad you came to town, Nazareth doesn't have too much that is abandoned, but this place was talked about being bought and made into new things a handful of times, but nothing ever went through.
I can still remember hearing the cars zooming before I went to bed!
I only found one recorded death at Nazareth speedway:
"In 1964, Jackie McLaughlin began driving the No. 83 1936 Chevrolet coupe built and owned by his brother-in-law Olsen and from early May through mid-August he won six races at Reading in the Chevy-powered car. However, McLaughlin sustained major head injuries in that ride during a violent racing accident at Nazareth on a late August Sunday night and died the next day."
There were over 24 deaths over the years. Mostly motorcycles.
I live about 7 miles from this once great venue. this was Mario's home away from home. I was at the last one and all of them back to like 1994. VERY SAD!!! You guys need to go back with somebody who knows the place. More of an Indycar track. Some of the greatest Indycar drivers raced and won there.
Another awesome find. You just get better and better. Stay safe and happy exploring!!
Such a great find! So funny that u thought a pile of clothes was a body! You had already pointed out that there wasn’t a smell! Great video 😀
The stands if you want to know. The famous Red and Yellow stands. They are now up north in New York at Watkins Glenn Roadcourse
I'm certainly glad of the outcome of the body. I'm kind of surprised that you haven't found a dead body before. Great video. All in all, I think I liked the body issue and the bees were great too. Love it!
Was it really a body ??
LOL! The old poke it with a stick and see if it moves trick, huh?! 😂🤣
I don’t blame you and would do the same thing. Sure wouldn’t want to touch it!
Great video! Can't wait for the next one. Love your content.
Awsome place I saw your other one then this one popped up very cool 😎👍
Loved watching this video. I used to go to the INDY car races here in the 90's Man it was so sad to see the track this way now!
Congratulations for putting this up as you experienced it. You plainly had a couple of unpleasant experiences there, due warning for others. But an informative and interesting video. I remember races at Nazareth and watched them on TV here in England.
Thanks for your work. BTW, in England we always called them "goose pimples"..
Great Video 📹 love seeing old places like this .. Makes you think how many people watched and cheered there fav race car driver and how many hot dogs beer etc was served ... Pretty neat 😊😊😊
excellent vid today man! That body thing happened to me and a buddy too. Does freak a guy out. Thanks for a very engaging show.
It’s sad to see what was once my favorite Speedway in ruins. I hope that one day, NASCAR will return to PA.
Nazareth Speedway will always be a monument to PA sports. Along with North Wilksburrow.
Tricky Triangle made it's way , the new home for NASCAR in PA
Been watching your videos for years and idk why the nascar arena gave me the creepiest vibes out of all the places 😂
Recently subscribed to this channel and I'm hooked! Love your quiet and calm narration, respect for people and places long gone or abandoned. This video was great as it's so different to see a wide open space reclaimed by nature. Glad to see a bee colony flourishing too, and those trees will soon break up the tarmac to form a new forest. Beautiful.
I use to haul gypsum to that quarry in the background never knew the place was their.... Great vid
That was pretty cool but sad to. Being a NASCAR fan I feel pretty bad but good job exploring guys. 👍🏼 stay safe😷 your sub David watching from Norco California.
I am not a car racing fan, but i used to live near the track when i was young. When there was a big race we would put lawn chairs out in our backyard as it faced route 248, and watch the big decorated Nascar tractor trailers drive by like a big parade.
Excellent video! Great job as usual
Someone set the "body" up to scare the next explorers. Definitely. 😃
That's what I was thinking. Some mischievous prankster 😝
Great job filming, fantastic document.
It's a neat opportunity to see people so interested in something that we drive by everyday.
omg hearing the first few seconds of this video brought back so many memories. My uncle was a HUGE NASCAR fan. Between races and memorabilia type stuff he probably spent a million bucks on the shit
A very nice explore, and nice stuff left behind, if that was a stiff you would have smelled it the moment you came in lol it is a throwup smell for real :-)
Bro love the channel! Keep exploring man. You are doing the exploring I can’t during Covid! Love you bro!!!!
This was the main reason I was uneasy about Roger Penske taking over Indycar. He let this absolute one-of-a-kind speedway rot after abandoning it.
Thankfully, it seems as though my lack of faith was misplaced, as he's doing a pretty great job, so far.
Another great explore as always. The metal thing at 18:30 is an old paraffin heater
I was born in Nazareth and lived there until I was 4. I remember always being creeped out by the track because of how much of a liminal space it was. It was towards the end when it was on the downturn.
Cool video! More interesting then I thought it would be.
Thank you for another great video I never saw that track before I live alittle over 40 miles from the race track in Talladega,Al.
Awesome exploration!
Another great video honestly I really enjoyed seeing the ticket booths and the collectables kiosks really love there signage
Keep it up can’t wait to your next vid
That was very fascinating seeing one of the old closed NASCAR tracks. Sad to see some of these places go but the owner’s had their reasons and usually it comes down to cost and up keeping the facilities.
Wondering if you could have gotten permission from whoever does own the property but it’s taking that chance. Usually the property owner’s wouldn’t want anyone to end up getting hurt, there’s not much to steal with exception to maybe copper wiring.
That old device that you found is an old propane heater, I haven’t seen one of those in years, my parents had one and really heated up the house.
Would’ve loved to have taken an FPV drone around that track, just fly it as fast as I could. But there’s an airport nearby and you can definitely prop aircraft flying overhead.
Just hope that the airspace was class G for your drone crew or they got their FAA waver.
Great footage though and excellent mini documentary.
Dude, these videos are rad!! I love abandoned exploration videos!! Seeing what's in these old building's, boat's,houses, hospital's and so on is so cool. Being able to see a piece of history from someone else's perspective. 👊👍
I live right over from Nazareth in phillipsburg New Jersey, my dad and uncles talk about going there and such. Must of been amazing back in the day.
I live right near there. Was thinking about visiting this place at some point. Just not sure how safe it is
Always went there as a child with my Da...
Rip🤍
❤️
RIP
May he rest in peace 😞❤
Used to live down the road from there at 2 different locations.Still interesting.Thank you for posting this.
Bees, bats, bodies, was waiting for toads to drop from the skies
Amazing video 🙌🏼 you always making a great content
Really cool video the potential pody scared the shit out me me though. I think someone posed it like that to freak out whpever came along next and you just happen to be the next one who discoverd it.
Another great video (BANGER)
You handled that potential body situation likes pros
Everyone thinks that they could handle that but when it does come around ,well .
Hope your well
You mate Dave
Gold Coast
Australia
Love the videos during this Texas winter storm and WHY ARE YOU SO HANDSOME!? 😊🤭
Let the record show that Indy Car legend Scott Dixon got his first Indy Car win at Nazareth in May 2001.
Cleetus McFarland needs to buy this track now
This is so sad to see this racetrack like this, I was at this racetrack before it closed my grandparents didn't live far from this track and I could hear the race cars very clearly when I visited them and when they raced, great video though!
Wow that looks so cool! Nice memories were definitely made there.
Kinda sad, had a long history. Strange seeing an abandoned track. My dad being a NASCAR fan, never seen a overgrown track
Pretty cool.
The area you called the finish line was victory lane. The press box was demolished when the seats were removed. The room you were actually in was the media center which is where post race interviews were held after TV and MRN radio did their interviews in victory lane
*runs away from bees* "Ahhhh bees! Bees are attacking me! So anyways this is where they would have landed their helicopters." XD
Who else remembers the amazing Subaru SVX PPG pace car? This track kept that car in operation for years beyond what was expected. Most pace cars get a year or two, I think the SVX pace car continued past the car was actually discontinued from Subaru.
Great video. I thought you were going to lose it when the bees went after you and when you thought their was a body. Be careful
I love NASCAR. This is so cool!
Sad these personality filled tracks closed to corporate cookie cutter tracks with 100,000 seat capacity
I love what you do. So cool
That device you're looking at is a kerosene heater. That "spinning thing" is where the wick comes up and lights. Those are old school. Used to use them back in the 80's for small areas like a garage.
Thanks for sharing!
That was some sick shit with that body that was not lol was creepy! Nice video
Awesome Vidieo I grew up around dirt tracks with my brother sad but cool thanks ❤
While watching this, I had Mark Knopfler's "Speedway At Nazareth" playing in my head
Nazareth looked so badass man
Great explore. Such a dark feeling there
Hi,
I have been a new subscriber since few months and I really love your videos and enjoy watching them. I am currently watching the old ones! I love learning about history stuff cuz history is my fav subject! Pls can u do a video on Q&A! Keep it up and stay safe!
Hey homie, not sure if anyone pointed this out to ya already, but around the 9:30 mark, that isnt the "finish line". U were close, but thats what they call "victory lane". In any case I love ur vids, including this one!! Stay safe out there.
Excellent work.
Made me cry seeing all of these Beautiful tracks all over pa being shut down such a shame
This is Cleetus Mcfarland's wet dream right here..
See what he did to the last one?
@@KrystleVoss2013 yeah, it's looking good
It is not allowed to ever be used as a racetrack again due to corporate edict, otherwise it wouldn’t have been abandoned to nature as it has.
That metal boxy thing at 18:30 is a kerosene heater. It's upside down. It's the kind you put against a wall rather than the big round ones you normally see. The round of part you touched was the wick area
Great upload
Love your videos! Just a headups to give you some peace of mind in the future. Dead bodies SMELL. Bad, there's no way to mistake the smell. Where I used to live one of my neighbours died in his shower and no one found him for two weeks. The entire BUILDING stank after they opened the apartment door and took him out. If there's no smell, you should be alright
That possible dead body got my heart pumping. My buddy and I have found a dead body before. It’s messes with your mind a little.
I watched many a race on tv from this place when I was a kid. Shame the tenants never renewed their deal with NASCAR and at that time it was called the Winston Cup series.
I used to live near the Lehigh Valley. A dead body would smell really bad and there would be thousands of blowflies and maggots
Amazing video ❤️❤️❤️
18:30 That is an old kerosene heater,
I was hoping someone would know what that was. Thanks!