It’s time to say goodbye. The Winston Cup Museum is closing for good. The owners took WStoday down memory lane.
In October 2004, Winston-Salem natives Will and Christy Cox Spencer found an old property that had been abandoned for 10 years. The couple decided to turn it into a landmark the city now knows as the Winston Cup Museum located on North Martin Luther King Junior Drive. Will says collecting cars is a passion project and a piece of history he wanted to preserve in the Twin City.
“It was a gift to the city and a thank you to RJR [RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company] for all they had done for me,” Will said.
Starting the engine
The idea to create the museum came to Will after talking to Richard Childress, a former NASCAR race car driver, current team owner, and Winston-Salem native. Will decided to put his collection of original race cars on display for the public to enjoy. The Winston Cup Museum officially opened its doors in May of 2005.
Inside, you can find cars driven by Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Jimmy Spencer, and Wendell Scott on display. Today, the museum celebrates 33 years of the modern era in NASCAR history and the people that participated in the sport — the team owners, drivers, the sacrifices made, and those who have died in the sport.
The end of an era
After a legal battle over a branding dispute, the Spencers decided to close due to financial issues. On Sept. 1, the two parties reached an agreement that allowed the museum to reopen after a 60-day voluntary shutdown and a rebranding.
As part of the agreement, the owners asked the public for help renaming the museum. The Spencers told WStoday the new name was set to be The Ralph Seagraves Memorial Museum — but the new name did not sit right with them.
“Taking old dog Yellow and naming it Blue just doesn’t work. Yeah, it doesn’t work. So having to change the name changes the reason that it was here,” Will said.
“The hard part is letting go. Letting go is hard,” co-owner Christy Cox Spencer added.
Racing forward
There’s still time to visit the brick-and-mortar display before it closes for good. The museum will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to12. Admission is free for those with a military ID.
The Winston Cup Museum’s final day will take place Saturday, Dec. 16 during the The Final Lap Cruise-In and Celebration. Cruise-in participants could win prizes and earn titles “Best In Show,” “Crowd Favorite,” and “Most Unique.” Expect cash raffles, vendors, and food trucks to commemorate the closing of the museum.
“History is hard to create and history is hard to preserve,” Will said. “And I’m glad I had my 20 years to preserve this history in Winston-Salem. It has a great history and I’m proud to live here.”
What’s next?
The Spencers said they are not sure yet what the future holds of them, but Will says he is holding on to his original car collection. In the meantime, a majority of the museum collection will be auctioned with Mecum Auto Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida Jan. 2 through Jan. 14, 2024.
