Dawson County in the Northern foothills of Georgia, knows how to celebrate the seasons, its history and heritage. Running moonshine through the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains was a way of life—and one that gave birth to NASCAR racing. The town of Dawsonville celebrates every summer with it's annual "Moonshine Festival." This annual celebration is to commemorate this long ago era in American history.
Dawsonville played a major part in the distribution of Moonshine during prohibition. Dawsonville served as a major pathway for 'Moonshine Runners'.
Dawsonville is located approximately 50 miles north of Atlanta. In addition to the Moonshine Festival, it is also the home of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame.
As any resident can tell you, hooch and hot cars are not unrelated. The stuff made in Dawson County and other rural communities found its way to Atlanta in modified, fast cars. Some of those early drivers went on to make a legal living on race tracks.
Dawsonville’s most famous native son is
NASCAR great Bill Elliott, whose trophies would sink a yacht.
In Dawsonville, Cheryl Wood learned about moonshine on her granddaddy’s knee. Dwight Bearden learned about it on his knees, scrubbing out gallon jugs so his daddy could fill them with day-old liquor.
Now, these descendants of North Georgia businessmen
