The movie Red Dirt Rising, based on the life of stock-car racing pioneer Jimmie Lewallen of High Point, will make its debut today in a private screening in Thomasville.
Brad Yoder, an associate producer and who plays the role of Lewallen, said that the movie is in the early stages of a marketing process and that he hopes it will be shown in theaters next year.
"We don't know the fate of the movie yet," Yoder said. "Our ultimate goal is to have it in a theater first before it is available on DVD at retail stores."
Lewallen competed in the first NASCAR Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup) race in Charlotte in 1949 and won a season championship at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1950. Racing forerunners Bill Blair and Fred Harb also are subjects in the movie.
"Jimmie Lewallen was an early pioneer of racing," Yoder said. "He was one of the guys who was running moonshine back in the 1930s and '40s and was instrumental in getting racing started and bringing it to what it is today. He was in the room at the Rex Hotel in Atlanta when Bill France Sr., wanted to start NASCAR."
The movie is based on a book by Gail Cauble Gurley about the early stars of stock-car racing. Gurley and Gary Lewallen, a son of Jimmie Lewallen, are executive producers. The movie is directed by James Suttles and Bo Bobak.
Production began in 2007 and was completed in July. The movie features several local actors and was filmed mostly in Archdale, Trinity and High Point.
"This is a fantastic local project, and it's a subject matter that is dear to the folks who live around here," Yoder said. "The roots of racing started right here in this area.
"We had three different race tracks built for us in the Archdale area. Gary Lewallen pulled more favors and put this thing together like you wouldn't believe. His friends donated their houses, land and locations to allow us to do this.
"Gary found so many older race cars that were in pristine condition. The cars they found from the '30s and '40s are the real stars of the movie."
Yoder, who grew up in High Point, spent this summer as an associate producer for a reality television show filmed at Bowman Gray Stadium. Plans are for the show to air on the History Channel.
"From what I understand, it will start airing the first quarter of next year, but that is not locked yet," Yoder said.
tbowman@wsjournal.com
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