North Wilkesboro Speedway facts for kids
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Oval (1947–present)
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| Location | 381 Speedway Lane, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, 28659 |
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| Time zone | UTC−5 / UTC−4 (DST) |
| Coordinates | 36°8′32″N 81°4′21″W / 36.14222°N 81.07250°W |
| Capacity | 19,800 (permanent seats, expandable to 25,000) |
| Owner | Speedway Motorsports (2007–present) Bruton Smith and Bob Bahre (1995–2007) Staley and Combs families (1953–1995) Enoch Staley and the Mastin brothers (1947–1953) |
| Opened | Initial: 18 May 1947 Second: 5 September 2010 Third: 2 August 2022 |
| Closed | First: 1 January 1997 Second: 10 May 2011 |
| Construction cost | US$3,000 |
| Major events | Current: NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR All-Star Race (2023–present) First Union 400 (1951–1996) Tyson Holly Farms 400 (1949–1955, 1957–1996) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Window World 250 (1995–1996, 2023–present) NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (2023–present) CARS Tour (2010, 2022–present) SMART Modified Tour (1989–1992, 1996, 2024–present) Former: NASCAR Busch Series (1983–1985) |
| Oval (1947–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.625 mi (1.006 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns: 14° Straights: 3° |
| Race lap record | 0:18.362 ( Kyle Larson, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, 2024, NASCAR Cup) |
North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625 mi (1.006 km) paved oval short track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This track has hosted many exciting racing events since it first opened in 1947. Most of these races have been organized by NASCAR. The speedway can hold up to 25,000 fans. North Wilkesboro Speedway is currently owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI). Ronald Queen is the track's director of operations.
In the mid-1940s, a local person named Enoch Staley built the track. He got help from Lawson Curry, John Mastin, and the Combs family. Soon after, NASCAR Cup Series races started happening there, with help from NASCAR founder Bill France Sr.. For many years, the Staley and Combs families owned the track. It became famous for its connection to the early days of NASCAR, especially with drivers who were known for their fast driving skills.
After Enoch Staley passed away in 1995, and as NASCAR became very popular, Speedway Motorsports (SMI) owner Bruton Smith and businessman Bob Bahre each bought half of the track. However, they did not get along well, and the track needed updates. Because of this, North Wilkesboro Speedway closed in 1997, which made many local fans upset. SMI later bought full control of the track in 2007. After many years of trying to bring the track back, Bruton's son, Marcus Smith, successfully led a project to reopen it in the early 2020s. This happened after many drivers and local people pushed for its return.
About the Speedway
Track Design
The speedway is 0.625 miles (1.006 km) long. Its turns are banked at 13 degrees, and the straight parts of the track are banked at 3 degrees. The front straightaway goes downhill, and the back straightaway goes uphill. This happened because Enoch Staley ran out of money when he was building the track. The track is also not perfectly even on both sides.
Before 1957, North Wilkesboro Speedway had a dirt surface. In August 1957, the track was paved with asphalt. This work was finished by mid-September of that year.
What the Track Offers
North Wilkesboro Speedway is located next to U.S. Route 421. In 2023, the track could hold 25,000 people. At its busiest, in 1996, it could hold up to 55,000 fans.
As of 2024, the track is being updated. Developers want to make it modern while keeping its classic look. Many of the original buildings from before 1996, like the suites and a tower with a Winston Cigarettes mural, have been saved. New features like SAFER barriers, modern lighting, and new sewer systems have been added or are planned. These changes help make the track ready for today's races.
History of the Track
Early Days and First Races
In 1945, Enoch Staley went to watch a stock car race in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He told the Winston-Salem Journal that he "fell in love with racing" and was "hooked." After World War II, Staley bought land from Lawson Curry. Staley then worked with Curry, John Mastin, Jack Combs, Charlie Combs, and Bill France Sr. to build the track. Enoch and France Sr. each put in $1,500. They quickly ran out of money because of the cost of leveling the ground. This made the track shorter and uneven.
The original track surface was dirt. To keep dust down, developers added a mix of calcium chloride and salt. Enoch Staley did not think the track would last more than a year. He said they "didn't have any long-range plans." At first, Enoch, John Mastin, and Oscar Mastin owned parts of the track.
According to NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, local drivers who were skilled at fast driving used the track for unofficial races. Official races promoted by Bill France Sr. started on May 18, 1947. Officials expected a large crowd. About 10,000 people watched Fonty Flock win the first official race. Two years later, the NASCAR Strictly Stock Series (now the NASCAR Cup Series) held its first races at the track. In 1953, the Mastin brothers sold their share of the track to Jack Combs.
Track Improvements Over Time
North Wilkesboro Speedway slowly improved its facilities over the years. In 1955, construction began on a new concrete grandstand to replace the old wooden ones. This new grandstand could seat about 5,200 people and was finished by April 1956. Enoch Staley announced the track would be paved in June 1957, and it was completed by September. Four years later, the infield was updated, and 3,500 more seats were added. By 1963, the track had 8,500 permanent seats and could hold 15,000 people. The track was repaved for the first time in 1964. In 1976, a 3,500-seat grandstand named after Junior Johnson was built. A concrete wall was also added around the track.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, more efforts were made to modernize the track. The track surface was repaved again at the end of the 1970s. However, by September 1980, drivers complained that the surface was wearing out quickly. After the 1980 Holly Farms 400, winner Bobby Allison said it was "a disgrace" to race on such a track. So, it was repaved again by December 1980. Eight years later, a new infield, a covered garage, and a multi-purpose building were built. Before this, crews had to stop working in the rain because there was no cover. In 1990, 3,100 seats were added, and an electronic scoring pylon replaced the last manual scoreboard on the Winston Cup Series schedule. The West Grandstands were also updated in 1992, with chairs replacing concrete steps. More suites were added in 1995.
Changes in NASCAR and Track Ownership
In the mid-1990s, stock car racing became very popular. New, large tracks were being planned in cities like Las Vegas, Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and St. Louis. Because of this, many people thought NASCAR might stop using older, smaller tracks like North Wilkesboro Speedway.
By the early 1990s, North Wilkesboro Speedway was known as an older track that lacked modern features. For example, there were only four phones for reporters, and three of them were old-fashioned rotary phones. Even though the track made money, it struggled to keep up with the rising costs of racing. The track also had fewer seats compared to newer facilities. While it could hold 60,000 people in 1996, only 34,000 were grandstand seats. Drivers like Rusty Wallace also wanted NASCAR to move to more modern tracks with better facilities. North Wilkesboro was also close to Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, which had expanded.
New Owners and Disagreements
Enoch Staley passed away on May 20, 1995. Soon after, Bruton Smith, who owned Speedway Motorsports, Inc, bought the Combs family's half of the track for $6.05 million. Enoch's son, Mike Staley, was surprised but said he was "fine" with the purchase. However, Enoch's widow, Mary Staley, did not want to sell their family's share to Bruton.
Then, Bob Bahre, who owned the New Hampshire International Raceway, bought the remaining half of the track from the Staley family for $8 million. Bahre was mainly interested in moving one of North Wilkesboro's major race weekends to New Hampshire. He hoped to give the track back to the Staley family for smaller races.
The purchase made people wonder if North Wilkesboro Speedway would lose its big NASCAR Cup Series races. Bruton and Bahre announced that the 1996 First Union 400 would happen, but the future was uncertain. Bahre wanted to move the fall race to New Hampshire, but Bruton and NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr. had to agree. Bruton said he had no plans to move a race to Texas and cared about the local community. This made people think the September race, the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400, would still happen.
Bruton and Bahre had trouble agreeing. Bahre said Bruton was "bitter" about his purchase. They finally met in April 1996 but did not clarify the track's future. The Holly Farms 400 was confirmed to run on September 29, 1996. France Jr. did not allow Bahre to move the race to New Hampshire that year. In May, no agreement was reached between Bahre and Bruton. Bahre accused Bruton of wanting full control of the track. However, in late June, they finally reached an agreement.
On July 9, 1996, it was reported that NASCAR would move North Wilkesboro's spring race to Texas. The next day, Bruton and Bahre confirmed that NASCAR would move both of North Wilkesboro's Cup Series races to their tracks. This ended Cup Series racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway. NASCAR said they planned to hold other races there to keep it open. However, because of the disagreements between Bahre and Bruton, the future of any NASCAR racing at the track was uncertain. Bruton even threatened to close the track if he didn't get full control, but he later changed his mind. By September, NASCAR said they had no plans for other races because the owners had not asked for them. A group led by Junior Johnson tried to buy the track, but Bahre refused. Bahre hoped to sell his share back to the Staley family if Bruton did the same.
The Track Closes
North Wilkesboro Speedway's last major NASCAR Cup Series race, the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400, took place on September 29, 1996. Two months later, NASCAR's 1997 schedules did not include North Wilkesboro. The track was essentially closed. Bahre still hoped to host local races, but he accused Bruton of trying to harm the Staley family's interests. After a meeting failed in December, the Winston-Salem Journal reported on January 3, 1997, that the track was officially closed. All employees were laid off, except for Paul Call, a longtime employee who became a caretaker and lived on the property. In February, Bahre said he would "probably" sell his share if the Staley family approved. The next month, a windstorm damaged parts of the track, starting its decline. The owners later sold off the track's equipment in 1998.
The track continued to fall apart. In 1999, both owners asked for the track's tax value to be lowered because it was "outdated." Bruton Smith said he would not do anything to revive the track unless he had full control. By August 1999, Bahre said he and Bruton had not spoken in a year and a half. Two years later, hopes of reviving the track under joint ownership were almost gone. Bahre said the track might only reopen "after Bruton and I are in heaven or hell." In early 2003, Junior Johnson showed interest in buying the track for smaller races or as a testing facility. However, Bruton thought it would cost too much to fix it. Later that year, a petition to have the county government buy the track and sell it to an investor was rejected.
In October 2004, the track hosted a private test session for the NASCAR team Roush Racing. This was the first activity at the track in over eight years. In May 2005, two city officials suggested putting the new NASCAR Hall of Fame at North Wilkesboro, even though the city was not a finalist. A month later, another petition called "Save the Speedway" (STS) gathered about 2,000 online signatures. Bruton later offered to buy full control of the track for $12 million if Bahre agreed, which Bahre said he likely would. STS hoped the county would lease the track to them after buying it. In 2006, STS announced an unnamed investor would give $1 million, but the investor left the next month. Another offer was made that year by a group led by Worth Mitchell. However, by November, Bruton bought Bahre's share of the track as part of a deal to buy the New Hampshire International Raceway when Bahre retired. Bruton hinted that the track might be torn down. Two years after Bruton's purchase, he allowed a short-term lease to Charles Collins, who planned a reality TV show and a women-only racing series. However, in July 2009, Collins was arrested.
A Short Comeback and Preservation Efforts
In November 2009, a group led by Alton McBride Jr. announced plans to host races at North Wilkesboro Speedway in October 2010. The group got a three-year lease from Bruton. Events from the American Speed Association (ASA) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) were also added. However, in January 2010, it was found that McBride Jr. had some legal issues. Despite this, the local economic development director supported him. The track held its first activities in May 2010, including a movie premiere and amateur racing. Four months later, North Wilkesboro Speedway held its first official races in over 14 years. Chase Elliott won a PASS event. After holding another PASS race in April 2011, McBride announced the track's second closure on May 10, 2011, due to lack of money. The "Save the Speedway" group said McBride Jr. had upset volunteers and local leaders. Years later, McBride Jr. blamed the local government for the closure.
North Wilkesboro Speedway continued to fall into disrepair throughout the 2010s. Paul Call, the only person working at the track, could only mow the grass to try and preserve it. He sometimes let tourists in and told stories. However, his efforts could not stop the track from deteriorating. By 2015, buildings had collapsed, the Junior Johnson grandstands fell apart, and several suites were damaged. In 2017, the abandoned track was honored in the movie Cars 3. It was the inspiration for the fictional Thomasville Speedway. In 2018, the "Save the Speedway" group showed renewed interest in restoring the track, but it seemed unlikely to happen.
Marcus Smith Leads the Revival
In September 2019, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke to Marcus Smith, Bruton's son, about digitally preserving the track. A physical renovation seemed very difficult because the track was in such bad shape. In December 2019, Earnhardt organized a track cleanup to remove weeds. This was part of an effort for the racing simulator iRacing to scan the track. The scan was completed and added to the simulator by May 2020. In March 2021, Barry Braun, who owned a racing streaming service, met Marcus and suggested holding dirt races at the track. Marcus said he was thinking about ways to bring the track back, but made "no promises." Two months later, the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce handed out flyers supporting the track's return to NASCAR. That same month, businessman Marcus Lemonis also promised $1 million to help revive the track.
In May 2021, Roy Cooper, the Governor of North Carolina, considered a relief package that would give $10 million to Wilkes County to repair the track. By August, this amount increased to $20 million. This brought new hope to Wilkes County, which had faced financial difficulties. The funding was approved by the North Carolina General Assembly in November 2021, totaling $18 million. Soon after, SMI began construction and tearing down old buildings. Marcus Smith showed plans for the track in January 2022. He said there was a "real possibility" that the track would get a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
Racing Returns
On April 16, 2022, Marcus Smith announced that racing would return to the track. Two multi-class grassroots events were scheduled for August and October 2022. The October event was planned for dirt racing. Electrical and internet systems were added, and old suites were removed. Racing began as planned on August 2, 2022, with about 9,000 people attending the first event. Later events had more attendees. However, the dirt races planned for October were canceled.
On September 7, 2022, it was reported that NASCAR would move the NASCAR All-Star Race, a special NASCAR Cup Series event, to North Wilkesboro from Texas Motor Speedway. This was the track Bruton Smith had moved one of North Wilkesboro's races to. The report was confirmed the next day. More renovation plans followed, including paving the infield garage, adding SAFER barriers, and fixing storm drains. Developers wanted to keep the track's old-school look. By February 2023, SMI announced that renovations were ahead of schedule.
Tire tests were run on the reopened track in late March 2023. By May, Ronald Queen was named director of operations. In late May 2023, the NASCAR Cup Series returned to the track for the first time in 27 years. Six months later, SMI announced the track's first repave since 1981. The repave was finished by March 2024, and more tire tests were done. In 2024, a sinkhole was found under a grandstand. Some thought it might be an old cave, but others said it was likely due to the track's known drainage problems before SMI bought it.
Major Events
As of 2025, North Wilkesboro Speedway hosts the NASCAR All-Star Race. This is an annual exhibition event that does not count for points. The track also hosts the Window World 250. This is a points-paying NASCAR Truck Series race that supports the All-Star Race.
The speedway originally held two major NASCAR Cup Series races each year. These were the spring First Union 400 (since 1951) and the fall Tyson Holly Farms 400 (since 1949). Both races were held annually until 1996. That year, they were removed from the Cup Series calendar. Their dates were then given to Texas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Lap Records
As of May 2024, these are the fastest official race lap records at North Wilkesboro Speedway:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
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| Oval: 0.625 mi (1947–present) | ||||
| NASCAR Cup | 0:18.362 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race |
| NASCAR Truck | 0:18.431 | Corey Heim | Toyota Tundra NASCAR | 2024 Wright Brand 250 |
Images for kids
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Oval (1947–present)
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North Wilkesboro Speedway logo
See also
In Spanish: North Wilkesboro Speedway para niños
