It took 25 years and no one thought we would get here but the NASCAR Cup Series is officially returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway.
In a Thursday morning press conference, NASCAR and SMI reps, along with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, announced that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race will take place at North Wilkesboro. Ironically, the legendary short track replaces Texas Motor Speedway, which took a Cup date from North Wilkesboro back when they last ran NASCAR in 1996.
You asked. We listened. #AllStarRace pic.twitter.com/6DdZ8iDy2S
— North Wilkesboro Speedway (@NWBSpeedway) September 8, 2022
While the All-Star Race had been bounced around Bristol and Texas since 2020, the All-Star Race is back to its traditional North Carolina home, the weekend before the Coca-Cola 600.
How we got here has been wild. The track had been abandoned for years until the end of 2019 when Dale Jr. and others took out the weeds growing in the track so iRacing could laser scan the surface and have an accurate virtual version. That way, if the track was ever bulldozed, a virtual scan of the track was at least preserved for people to race on it over the computer.
Then, due to President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, North Carolina used some of the funds they received to help renovate various racetracks across the state. While Charlotte Motor Speedway received some funds, most money went to grassroots tracks, as well as Rockingham Raceway and North Wilkesboro, which received $18 million of the $45.8 million that went to the tracks.
Tracks were able to use funds “for water, sewer and other infrastructure projects pertaining to the speedways” in order to “enhance local tourism, travel and hospitality industries that benefit from the many motorsports events held in North Carolina.” North Wilkesboro began hosting local races last month, for the first time since 2011 and they plan to do more renovations to the facility in the coming years.
This was a popular decision and many among the NASCAR world welcomed the news.
#AllStarRace #NASCAR #RTRevival pic.twitter.com/EiwwiE8qkj
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) September 8, 2022
Our sport continues to grow 💪 Excited to race at @NWBSpeedway for the #AllStarRace. Great work yet again from @MarcusSMI and everyone involved. https://t.co/houo60kyAX
— Aric Almirola (@Aric_Almirola) September 8, 2022
This is incredible news for the sport. NASCAR will host its All-Star race on May 21st, 2023 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. https://t.co/oM0vBawGrV
— Andy Weber (@andyjweber) September 8, 2022
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS https://t.co/9Etg9xsE7c
— Kacy Hintz (@KacyHintz) September 8, 2022
WOW! I'm here for this!!! 👏👏👏 https://t.co/TxBXcYJhAr
— Lyndsay Barna (@lyndsay_barna) September 8, 2022
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) September 8, 2022
My heart is so full. And my job is so much fun! What a great two days at North Wilkesboro. I love you Uncle Dale you’re the coolest 💛 pic.twitter.com/58W1N040O8
— Karsyn Elledge (@KarsynElledge3) September 1, 2022
Roy Cooper using Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan funds to bring the NASCAR Cup Series back to North Wilkesboro.
Just like we all thought was going to happen.
— Alejandro Alvarez (@WhyNotAlvarez) September 8, 2022
[Photo: North Wilkesboro Speedway]
