Think of all the stereotypes that come to mind when someone brings up NASCAR. There are some positive, some negative — depending on your point of view — but for the most part it's a small-town sport that needs every bit of its small, tight knit community.
Auto racing in America isn't nearly as big as counterparts like the NFL and other top professional leagues. Odds are, the casual fan isn't tuning in to watch for three, or four, straight hours — which is why NASCAR can be the sports equivalent of the "Cheers" theme song on NBC.
"Where everybody knows your name."
You Kids Don't Know: North Wilkesboro Speedway. #NASCAR #AllStarRace pic.twitter.com/ZUNPr9tHYH
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 15, 2023
North Wilkesboro had that. A town with a population just north of 4,000 had that. Until it didn't. The speedway that hosted two races every year on the NASCAR calendar suddenly fell victim to changing times. Two races became one, and one became zero as NASCAR left for shinier venues, lured in by the promise that fortunes could be made in other cities — not towns — across the country.
MORE: How Jeff Gordon, 'Rainbow Warriors' raced to the win in last North Wilkesboro race
What NASCAR left behind was a community, a group of core fans, who embraced their sport — the same way their sport originally embraced them. When they first started racing in 1949, NASCAR planted roots in that North Carolina small town.
As the story goes, NASCAR would leave in 1996 and would seemingly never return — uprooting itself and making way for the weeds that would take over the abandoned track. But hope would be restored when funding appeared for the project in 2021.
Less than two years later, we are once again going racing at North Wilkesboro as the track hosts NASCAR's 2023 All-Star Weekend. The Sporting News takes a look at the renovation that brought North Wilkesboro Speedway back to life.
Where is North Wilkesboro?
West Virginia typically gets all the love and association with the Blue Ridge Mountains, but located at the foothills of that iconic range is North Wilkesboro, N.C. — home to one of NASCAR's most historic speedways.
The track is about 45 miles west of Winston-Salem and 80 miles north of Charlotte, NASCAR's home base.
North Wilkesboro Speedway renovation timeline
It's been a long road back to North Wilkesboro. Many attempts were made to revive the track after the final NASCAR Cup Series race in 1996. Other racing events were held at the venue, but couldn't live up to the fanfare of NASCAR.
If the walls at North Wilkesboro Speedway could talk, they'd say something like this...
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) May 7, 2020
(@savethespeedway // @dalejr // @iRacing) pic.twitter.com/vmI7B9jzKB
Photos of the track's condition in 2017 revealed that Mother Nature was reclaiming the land that the track sat upon.
MORE: North Wilkesboro Speedway photos, before and after renovation
By 2019, many of those weeds and debris were removed so the track could be scanned for iRacing. It was a project that Dale Earnhardt Jr. spearheaded as a big advocated for the revitalization of North Wilkesboro.
Asked @iRacingMyers & @iRacing to scan North Wilksboro for preservation. Even if they don’t create it, they’ll have the data. He said the surface would need to be cleared of weeds to do it. I can get the keys to the gate. Who wants to help me do the landscaping?? #CallingHisBluff
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 15, 2019
In November 2021, more help was on the way, this time in the form of funding for the 2021-22 state budget from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. It was announced in April 2022 that the track would resume hosting races — which it did in August with some grassroots races. By the time September 2022 rolled around, NASCAR announced its return to western North Carolina by awarding the historic track with the 2023 All-Star Race.
Signage from the 1990s and the original pavement were preserved in the renovation. Old buildings were rebuilt and the hand-operated scoreboard remains, giving fans a taste of the '90s in 2023.
When was NASCAR's last race at North Wilkesboro?
The last time NASCAR waved the green flag, or any flag, at North Wilkesboro was on Sept. 29, 1996 for the Tyson Holly Farms 400. Jeff Gordon in his Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet would drive to victory lane on that late September day.
Jeff Gordon, North Wilkesboro 1996 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ChHkA3y9E8
— NASCAR Classics (@ClassicsNascar) October 17, 2021
How much did North Wilkesboro Speedway renovations cost?
The North Wilkesboro Speedway total renovation costs were north of $20 million. The project received $22 million in grants — including $18 million from the American Rescue Plan and $4 million in additional state grants, according to Fox Sports.
MORE: North Wilkesboro Speedway, a famous NASCAR ghost, brought back to life in ‘Cars 3’
Who owns North Wilkesboro Speedway?
North Wilkesboro Speedway is owned by Speedway Motorsports. It is better known as "SMI" to some race fans — the name that was often used when it was a publicly traded company at the New York Stock Exchange. The company was founded and owned by the late Bruton Smith.
The company originally owned part of the track in 1995. Marcus G. Smith, the founder's son, is now the President and CEO of Speedway Motorsports.
North Wilkesboro Speedway capacity
The renovated North Wilkesboro Speedway now holds a seating capacity of 25,000. That is down from around 60,000 in 1996.