North Wilkesboro Speedway
Encyclopedia
Short track
Short track is a phrase with several meanings:* Short track motor racing, motor racing conducted on a track less than one mile in length* Short track speed skating, a form of competitive ice skating similar to speed skating...
that held races in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996. NWS was reopened in 2010 and briefly played host to several Stock Car series such as the now defunct ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
, USARacing Pro Cup Series (formerly Hooters Pro Cup) and PASS Super Late Models before closing again in the spring of 2011.
The track is located on U.S. Route 421
U.S. Route 421
U.S. Route 421 is a spur route of U.S. 21. It runs for from Michigan City, Indiana, at U.S. 20, to Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The highway goes through the cities of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lexington, Kentucky, Boone, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina and...
about four miles (6 km) east of the town of North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It measures five-eighths of a mile (0.625 miles (1 km)). A unique feature was the uphill backstretch and the downhill frontstretch.
Citing North Wilkesboro Speedway's age and lack of modern amenities, former New Hampshire Motor Speedway owner Bob Bahre and Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or SMI is an American corporation that owns and manages racing facilities that host NASCAR, IZOD IndyCar Series, NHRA, WoO other racing series. The company's headquarters are located at Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. SMI owns nine racing...
CEO Bruton Smith
Bruton Smith
Ollen Bruton Smith is a promoter and owner/CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. He was ranked #207 on the Forbes 400 list with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion in 2005, and fell to #278 in 2006. He is divorced with four children...
, who already owned several NASCAR circuits, purchased the track in 1996. North Wilkesboro's spring date was given to Smith's new Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, while the fall date was taken over by Bahre's New Hampshire track and moved to early September as part of a schedule realignment.
Since the sale to Bahre and Smith, there have been attempts and gestures to buy the track and re-open it by, among others, local native Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
. The last Sprint Cup race was held there in September 1996, with Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
winning.
On November 8, 2007, Bahre sold his share of North Wilkesboro Speedway to Smith as part of Smith's deal to buy Bahre's New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On October 31, 2009, Jayski.com announced that the USAR ProCup Series would host an event at North Wilkesboro Speedway on October 3, 2010. Also in 2010, the track will also host the ASA Late Model Series for the King's Ranson 300 and the PASS Late Models.
On January 7, 2010, the track announced that there would be a PASS Super Late Models race on April 7–9, 2011 which would be a 300 lap race for $153,000 in winnings. They also announced that the Buck Baker Driving School would be the official driving school of NWS. The track also announced sponsorship from Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
.
On May 9th 2011, a press release from Speedway Associates Inc. announced that the track would be silent once again as they would be ending their 3 year lease prematurely.
History
North Wilkesboro Speedway opened its doors on May 18, 1947, to a crowd in excess of 10,000 people who showed up to see one of the famous Flock brothers win the race.On October 16, 1949, North Wilkesboro Speedway held the eighth and final race of the 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Division
1949 Wilkes 200
The 1949 Wilkes 200 was a NASCAR Strickly Stock racing event that took place on October 16, 1949.Temperatures for this race reached an absolute maximum of while wind speeds reached a maximum of...
. At the end of the day Robert "Red" Byron walked away as the first NASCAR champion.
The speedway held races for 50 years until September 29, 1996, when Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
won the last race to be held at the speedway. The speedway reopened in 2010 with 3 races on the schedule. The most notable investor was Terri Parsons, widow of 1973 NASCAR champion Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
.
On Monday night May 9th 2011, a press release from Speedway Associates Inc. announced that "the business climate and a lack of working capital has now brought everything at the historic facility to a screeching halt" and as a result the track would be silent once again.
Memorable moments
- One year, Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
and Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRussell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
drove side-by-side for almost ten straight laps for the lead.
- Terry LabonteTerry LabonteTerrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
avoided a late crash that took out Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRussell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
to win the Spring 1996 race.
- The Wilkes 400 in 1972 featured Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
against Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
in a 39-lap slugfest. The lead changed thirteen times. In the final five laps, Petty was held up by a slower car. Both drivers plowed into the fences, guardrails, and each other. Both continued at full speed. Allison led with one lap to go, but Petty passed him for the win.
- Bobby Allison came back for the win in the 1973 Wilkes 400 by passing Richard Petty on the final lap.
- In the late 1970s, Cale YarboroughCale YarboroughWilliam Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
dominated the track. Yarborough blew a tire and made up three laps in the fall 1978 race to win easily.
- In 1979, Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonRobert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
led most of the race. In the final 150 laps, Darrell WaltripDarrell WaltripDarrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
caught Allison. The two hit together hard and Darrell nailed the front stretch wall. Waltrip began crowding off Allison under the caution and got black-flagged for the crowding. Wilkes County native Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
won the race; it would be Parsons' only win at the speedway.
- In 1984, Tim RichmondTim RichmondTim Richmond was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series . Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend...
passed a fading Ricky RuddRicky RuddRicky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788...
for the win.
- In the fall 1988 race, Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
led nearly half the race until Ricky Rudd caught him. The drivers banged fenders for the final 41 laps. They were both black flagged to the rear of the field and pounded together again with five to go. Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRussell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
passed Geoff BodineGeoff BodineGeoffrey Eli Bodine is an American motorsport driver and bobsled builder. He is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers . Bodine currently lives in Cornelius, North Carolina....
with ten laps left. Bodine struck Wallace's car at the start of the final lap. Wallace pushed Bodine sideways, and Wallace crossed the finish line for the win.
- In the 1989 Holly Farms 4001989 Holly Farms 400The 1989 Holly Farms 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on October 15, 1989 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA.-Summary:...
(October), Dale Earnhardt led 343 laps, but a caution set up a two-lap showdown with Ricky Rudd. Rudd went side-by-side with Earnhardt. The two spun, and Geoff BodineGeoff BodineGeoffrey Eli Bodine is an American motorsport driver and bobsled builder. He is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers . Bodine currently lives in Cornelius, North Carolina....
passed the two for the win. After the race Earnhardt was asked about the incident between him and Rudd, to which Earnhardt said on live television "I think they ought to fine that (expletive deleted), and make him sit the rest of the season." Earnhardt finished 10th instead of first (collecting 144 points instead of 185), which ultimately cost Earnhardt the championship, which he lost to Wallace by 12 points. NASCAR did not have a penalty for obscene language at the time, something adopted in 2004.
- Brett BodineBrett BodineBrett Bodine is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and is the current driver of the pace car in Sprint Cup events. Brett is the younger brother of 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine and the older brother of 2006 Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine...
led most of the spring 1990 race. During a caution the pace car picked up the wrong leader, which gave Bodine a lap lead (NASCAR scoring used a clock and a scorer at a scoring stand who wrote down the point their car crossed the scoring line, with official lap sheets every ten laps and unofficial sheets compiled during other intervals; in the 1980s that was augmented by scorers pushing a button and a backup writing the number; on May 14, 1993, at the Save Mart Supermarkets 300, they were replaced by the current transponder-based AMB scoring system.) . Bodine put on a set of tires before the error was corrected. He held off Darrell Waltrip for his only career Winston Cup win.
- In 1991 Harry GantHarry GantHarry Phil Gant is a retired American racecar driver best known for driving the #33 Skoal Bandit car on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.-Nicknames:...
looked like he was going to win his fifth straight win in the Cup series until his brakes faded late in the race. Dale Earnhardt went on to win.
- Many races at North Wilkesboro were exciting, but in the Fall of 1994 Geoff Bodine lapped the field on his way to the checkered flag. The only challenge Bodine received all day was when Rusty WallaceRusty WallaceRussell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
tried to get his lap back on a restart. Wallace pulled a nose out front but after a little bit of beating and banging, Bodine beat Wallace back to the caution after Dale JarrettDale JarrettDale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
spun and hit the wall. Only three other drivers even finished within two laps of the leader that day. The race was the last race ever to finish with the leader lapping the field, and most likely the last, as the Beneficiary Rule allows the first lapped car to regain a lap, developed after a close call in 2003.
- April 14, 1996 (Final Spring Race), Terry Labonte added to the luster of his racing longevity winning the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in which he tied Richard Petty's NASCAR Winston Cup Series record for consecutive starts—513. Labonte also set a track record with the closest finish in track history, beating Jeff Gordon by .239 seconds, as NASCAR only recognises finishes after May 14, 1993 because of electronic scoring.
- September 29, 1996 (Final Winston Cup race) Jeff Gordon became the final Winston Cup winner at North Wilkesboro. A new record was set for most cars running at the finish. All 37 cars saw the checkered flag. Only five modern-day races—two at North Wilkesboro (36/36, 37/37), Loudon (43/43), Richmond (43/43), and Bristol (43/43) have seen all cars take the checkered flag.
- May 15, 2010 the #2 Legendary Ford Flathead of Bill Blair (as a baby attended the first race in 1947 with his dad driving in the race) wins the first race since the reopening of the speedway, on this day also the first female ever to win at North Wilkesboro Speedway Susan Kimel driving the #67 Chevelle wins the Carolina Vintage Series race.
Since the closure
Car owner Jack RoushJack Roush
Jack Roush is the founder, CEO, and co-owner along with John Henry of Roush Fenway Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises....
of Roush Fenway Racing held round one of "Roush's Race For The Ride" at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a competition to find the next Roush Racing development driver.
After Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith purchased the track and moved its two dates to other locations, the track saw little racing. Both owners showed little interest in selling the track until 2005.
In 2010, returned back at North Wilkesboro Speedway with the help from the Speedway Associates, Save the Speedway and more. In the same year, Top Gear (2002 TV series) USA Road Trip Special, the presenters visited the North Wilkesboro Speedway as part of their East Coast tour.
Save The Speedway
STS Motorsports, Inc., a group founded in 2005 by Rob Marsden, has been trying to bring racing back to the track. The group first began a petition and caught the attention of the current owners. Bruton and Bahre eventually agreed to sell the track for $12 million. The track, which has been valued by county tax assessors at $4.83 million, was not sold.The Save The Speedway group spent fall and winter of 2005 attempting to find a buyer or buyers of the track as well as proof that there was still interest in racing at the facility. Over a dozen touring series had expressed written letters of intent about holding events upon reopening, as well as three driving schools, and several NASCAR teams showed interest in using the facility for testing.
In 2006 the Save The Speedway group worked with a developer from New York in an attempt to get investors, but parted ways when neither party could come to an agreement.
As of 2007, the group had not yet found investors to purchase the track.
The group worked with the state of North Carolina and erected a NC Highway Historical Marker in 2008 off Highway 421 to recognize the achievements and contributions of the racing there.
In 2009 it was announced the Save The Speedway group would be partnering with Speedway Associates to work with them on the speedway during their lease. However after the April 2011 race at the speedway, Save The Speedway said they would step away from working with Speedway Associates and no longer help them with the speedway.
Speedway for public sale
In January 2007 during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Media Tour, Bruton Smith announced that he and co-owner Bob Bahre had agreed to let a real estate company attempt to sell the track for the asking price of $12 million. On September 28, 2007 Worth Mitchell, a land developer, announced plans to purchase the speedway. However Worth Mitchell estimates his odds are 50–50 of pulling off the deal and since that time there has been no further information. Speedway Motorsports officials had no comment on the negotiations.Highway historical marker
Save The Speedway applied for a highway historical marker that was approved at the May meeting of the NC Highway Historical Marker Advisory Committee. Placement of the marker occurred May 24, 2008. The plaque reads:NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY
Pioneer NASCAR dirt track. Built 1946; paved in 1958. Hosted sanctioned events, 1949-96. 5/8 mile oval 3 mi (4.8 km). W.
In popular culture
North Wilkesboro Speedway has been featured in several NASCAR-related video games including NASCAR RacingNASCAR Racing
The NASCAR Racing series of video games, developed by Papyrus, started in 1994 and ended with the release of NASCAR Racing 2003 Season in 2003. Later NASCAR games were released by Electronic Arts who, through their EA Sports brand, took over the official NASCAR license...
, NASCAR Racing 2
NASCAR Racing 2
NASCAR Racing 2 was the second game in the NASCAR Racing series. It was developed by Papyrus.The second edition of the series was released in 1996. The game featured more drivers than the previous version...
, NASCAR Racing 4
NASCAR Racing 4
NASCAR Racing 4 is a racing simulator produced by Papyrus and released in February 2001. The game was a huge step forward over its predecessor and addressed many requested features for the game...
, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season
NASCAR Racing 2003 Season
NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, or NR2003 for short, is a computer racing simulator released in February 2003 by Papyrus for PC and Mac OS X. The game was the last to be released by the company before EA Sports bought the NASCAR license exclusively from 2004-09...
and NASCAR Heat
NASCAR Heat
NASCAR Heat is a 2000 racing video game for the PlayStation, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Monster Games and published by Hasbro Interactive. The PlayStation version was co-developed with Digital Illusions CE...
. It has also been featured in GeneRally.
The speedway was featured during the USA Road Trip special of Top Gear's 15th Series where presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
happened to wear down the rear tires of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG that he was driving.
Records
- Richard PettyRichard PettyRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
's fifteen wins were the most in the history of the track.
- The last time a winning driver totally lapped the field on the way to the win was October 1994 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, NC when Geoffrey Bodine won, completing 400 laps while 2nd place was Terry Labonte who completed 399.
- The youngest driver to ever start a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at age 17 was Bobby Hillin Jr. who made his start on April 18, 1982 at the Northwestern Bank 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. This is no longer possible as NASCAR, per request of the Master Settlement Agreement signed with the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1998, was forced to mandate a minimum age of 18.
- Cale Yarborough is the first Cup driver to win a points-paying race on his birthday, on March 27, 1977 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Kyle BuschKyle BuschKyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
is the only other driver to win on his birthday.