According to the Wilkes Journal Patriot , former NASCAR driver Dean Combs was arrested at his North Carolina home last Friday, February 27, 2009, and charged with manufacturing non-tax paid liquor, along with one count each of possessing, possessing ingredients to manufacture and possessing equipment to manufacture non-tax paid liquor.

The 57 year old Combs, of Speedway Road in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, was operating a moonshine still in the back of a shop building behind a go kart track near the North Wilkesboro Speedway, according to N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) Agent Shon Tally, who along with other agents found the still.

Tally said the still had a capacity of 300 gallons per run and was warm due to a run on Thursday.

The operation had a primary and secondary condenser for efficiency and quality, and about 180 feet of copper tubing. The ALE also seized 200 gallons of corn liquor and 3,000 pounds of sugar.

“It was a very professional, clean operation… all stainless steel,” Tally told the Wilkes Journal Patriot.

Too large to haul away, the Wilkes Sheriff's Department's "bomb squad" was requested to eradicate the still. The still was pulled approximately 200 yards away and destroyed with two explosive charges.

Agents were tipped off by an anonymous caller who complained liquor was being produced on the property.

Combs had a successful career in the now defunct NASCAR Goody's Dash Series before joining the Cup Series in 1981. Combs made a total of 24 Cup starts from 1981 through 1984.