https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-nascar-turned-this-lakefront-community-into-one-of-americas-hottest-luxury-housing-markets-11669910417
An equestrian estate owned by Nascar driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is on the market for $15.995 million. Matthew Benham/Corcoran HM Properties
How Nascar Turned This Lakefront Community Into One of America's Hottest Luxury Housing Markets
The sport has become the driving force behind the Lake Norman area's popularity, as big names like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin have built some of North Carolina's most luxurious homes there
By Libertina Brandt
and Katherine Clarke
Dec. 1, 2022 11:00 am ET
Luxury real-estate markets across the country are propelled by the biggest local industries, whether it's high finance in New York, big oil in Texas, Walmart in Bentonville, Ark., or Hollywood in L.A. On North Carolina's Lake Norman, there's no disputing the driver: It's Nascar.
The Lake Norman area, located roughly 20 miles north of Charlotte, N.C., has long been home to some of Nascar's most successful drivers, thanks to its proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the headquarters of some of the sport's best known teams. Over the past decade, some of the wealthiest drivers have plowed their winnings into building and buying some of the state's most luxurious residences, helping to propel the local market to new heights.