Hidden in the Hills
Some of Western North Carolina’s “rockhounds” are mining for rubies and emeralds. Others dig for something deeper.
Circles in the Dirt
NASCAR’s roots in North Carolina are weaker than ever, as an ever-more-corporate sport looks for its identity amidst declining viewership. Does the back-of-the-pack—the scrappy also-rans and up-and-comers—hold answers?



