|| *Comments on North Wilkesboro Speedway:* View the most recent comment <#48> | Post a comment <#post> 1. RR posted: 02.19.2010 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (9) (0) Oh how we miss thee... 2. Cfob posted: 02.19.2010 - 5:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Racing in 2010! PASS South Super Late Models 200 lap event Saturday, September 4th, 2010 Oct. 3, 2010 with a 250-lap USARacing Pro Cup Series ASA LATE MODEL SERIES - Date and Time - Saturday, November 12-13, 2010 3. Cfob posted: 03.12.2010 - 12:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Sunoco National Tour (formerly ASA Late Model Series) are racing on October 29-30 now 4. Cooper posted: 03.15.2010 - 1:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996.Is now hosting several NASCAR feeder series such as the ASA Late Model Series, USARacing Pro Cup Series(Formerly:Hooters Pro Cup) and PASS Super Late Models. The track is located on U.S. Route 421 about four miles (6 km) east of the town of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It measures five-eighths of a mile (0.625 miles (1.006 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. CEO Bruton Smith, 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, 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. However, no deals have yet materialized. The last Sprint Cup race was held there in September 1996. 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 a PASS Super Late Model's will also race on April 7-9,2011(tentative dates, official dates will be set after the release of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule)in a 300 lap race for 153,000 dollars in race winnings.They also announced that the Buck Baker Driving School will be the official driving school of NWS. The track also has sponsorship from Goodyear. 5. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2010 - 7:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes!!! They will be racing there again, and I will be there. I saw my first ever live race here in April 1990, and I love this track. It killed me to know it was just sitting idle for so long, but now they will race there again. I love it. 6. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.05.2010 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) I can't believe how good of shape this track is in. For fourteen solid years it sat almost totally untouched. But it is still just like they left it. Were it not for the faded paint, you'd never know any time passed. And to think Bruton Smith, the guy most responsible for wasting 14 years of this great place, recently said North Wilkesboro would soon be returning to the Earth. HA! This place will outlive Bruton. 7. Anonymous posted: 10.10.2010 - 7:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was surprised at how good the track condition is also. My pics and vids from the PASS race last month are on utube if anyone is interested - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSMlVyN-a-g 8. Kellen posted: 07.19.2013 - 1:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) May 2011 the company that leased the property from Bruton Smith ran out of money and lead up to the closing of the track again, ending their 3 year lease prematurely. Now the property is up for sale with a $12 Million Dollar price tag for anybody wanting the keys to this landmark of speed. 9. 52 posted: 06.08.2014 - 7:34 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) This was the beginning of the end for me with the sport. Now I watch very little. I just like to get on here to relive some of the history of what was once a great sport 10. Pucci Man posted: 03.22.2015 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why haven't Trucks, ARCA, Indycar, or other racing series go to that track and but it on the schedule, even though Trucks have raced there. It would be perfect for the track to have any of those series racing race there. Top it off, each straight way is different there. One goes up hill, the other goes down. It would pay off. Any of you racing series out there, give this track a chance. If John and Yoko gave piece a chance, why can't anyone give North Wilkesboro Speedway a chance? 11. Big Mac Fan posted: 10.10.2015 - 3:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why they decided to can this place is beyond me. I always hoped they would bring it back, but that's probably not happening now. 12. Dave posted: 02.29.2016 - 10:29 pm Rate this comment: (6) (1) Should still be hosting NASCAR Sprint Cup events, what happens to this sacred, historical, track just goes to show you how much damage 1 greedy bastard track owner can do to the sport we love. If you don't know the story you should look it up 13. Anthony posted: 08.03.2016 - 6:22 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Another short track lost to the mighty 1.5 mile tracks who can put up 3 times the purse but 1% of the racing quality 14. Maverick posted: 09.18.2016 - 11:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What do you guys think the odds are that this place will be saved (again)? Unfortunately, I think they're very slim. 15. kup posted: 11.26.2017 - 9:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR CUP North Wilkesboro Speedway 1949-1996 # races: 93 UPS: universal points system. Driver's UPoints = Miles / Aver.Finish 1 409 Dale Earnhardt 8 734 / 6.2 1 393 Richard Petty 13 926 / 10.0 1 108 Darrell Waltrip 10 856 / 9.8 955 Bobby Allison 8 882 / 9.3 920 Terry Labonte 8 467 / 9.2 804 Ricky Rudd 8 117 / 10.1 783 Benny Parsons 6 417 / 8.2 706 Cale Yarborough 5 369 / 7.6 680 Dave Marcis 11 555 / 17.0 644 Rusty Wallace 6 180 / 9.6 653 Harry Gant 7 311 / 11.2 615 Geoffrey Bodine 7 190 / 11.7 542 James Hylton 7 094 / 13.1 484 Ken Schrader 6 198 / 12.8 481 Bill Elliott 6 737 / 14.0 467 Buddy Baker 5 930 / 12.7 460 Kyle Petty 7 312 / 15.9 411 Morgan Shepherd 6 329 / 15.4 372 Dick Brooks 4 689 / 12.6 368 Mark Martin 4 972 / 13.5 363 Neil Bonnett 4 391 / 12.1 349 Cecil Gordon 5 443 / 15.6 343 Buddy Arrington 6 899 / 20.1 319 Sterling Marlin 5 160 / 16.2 318 Buck Baker 4 033 / 12.7 312 J.D. McDuffie 5 904 / 18.9 294 David Pearson 3 114 / 10.6 289 Darel Dieringer 2 486 / 8.6 276 Jimmy Means 6 071 / 22.0 243 Rex White 1 821 / 7.5 242 Michael Waltrip 4 939 / 20.4 221 Lee Petty 1 544 / 7.0 16. Unknown posted: 09.21.2018 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Please race here again!! 17. Jimmie4life posted: 09.21.2018 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @16 Doesn't look like it. It has grass growing everywhere and parts of the track are collapsing. 18. Timothy Eklund 13 17 19 43 96 99 fan posted: 09.21.2018 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If I ever win the lottery I'm buying this track and repairing it. Also I will add lights too. 19. TheDewCrew posted: 08.24.2019 - 2:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nascar has talked about helping tracks like Nashville and Rockingham, and getting them back into the sport, you just got to wonder if they've been considering, restoring the track 20. Mile501 posted: 09.04.2019 - 1:04 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I was curious about how many different tracks NASCAR's premier series has raced on over the years, so I did some quick research. 142 different tracks came and went from the schedule before 1972 (including Trenton Speedway, which was the only one of those to be on the 1972 schedule, but it was dropped after that year). How many tracks have been taken off the schedule since 1972? Only 6, which surprised me. Ontario and Riverside no longer exist, and Texas World is heading in the same direction. That leaves just 3 tracks that are still physically here (whether or not they're in bad shape) that NASCAR has raced on since 1972. I suppose that's why some of us have such a strong desire to see racing again at Nashville Fairgrounds, Rockingham, and North Wilkesboro. Unlike those other 142 tracks, these were almost part of NASCAR's current era, but they didn't quite make it. 21. Sector posted: 09.04.2019 - 1:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It would be great if someone could take the time, money and effort to rebuild/fix these tracks so they can see some activities. 22. Tarheel posted: 09.04.2019 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nascar's reasons for getting away from tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham was to enter bigger markets and sell more tickets. Given that the stands in most of these newer venues are mostly empty these days, maybe the tracks that have lost dates in the past twenty years have a chance at returning to the schedule. 23. Corey posted: 09.04.2019 - 8:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @20 I find that surprising as well. I would have imagined that the 70's (after 1972) would have had a little bit of turnover. There are known between Trenton in 1972 and Ontario in 1980. Of the 6 you mentioned, their last races were: Onatrio 1980 Texas World 1981 Nashville 1984 Riverside 1988 North Wilkesboro 1996 Rockingham 2003 24. Sector posted: 09.04.2019 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rockingham 2004* :) That was the close finish between Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne. 25. Corey posted: 09.04.2019 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @24 In the words of Homer Simpson, "D'oh". Atleast I got the fall race right. 26. possum posted: 09.04.2019 - 9:22 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @22 - those were the reasons ISC gave for closing Darlington, and moving it's date to California - small market, hard to get to, small seating capacity. And yet last weekend's race at Darlington looked to be sold out, or close to it, while the newer "big market" tracks have acres of empty grandstands. Odds are NASCAR, ISC, and SMI are too proud to admit their mistakes, but you can make a strong arguement there'd be better attendance at Rockingham or N Wilks if they were back on the schedule than most of the new tracks. 27. Corey posted: 09.04.2019 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @26 Small capacity is small capacity. A packed house at those places don't fill the grandstands at most other tracks. Darlington is probably one of if not the smallest capacity track on the circuit. Take all thise people and stick them at Daytona and your are looking at half full grandstands. 28. zuel660 posted: 09.05.2019 - 11:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @27 and bigger is not always better. MLB found this out in their 'cookie cutter' stadium era of the 70s. The Vet, 3 Rivers, Riverfront, etc were essentially all the same stadium with huge seating capacity, but did that make them great ballparks? Not compared to the ones they replaced, or the ones that replaced them. 29. Corey posted: 10.01.2019 - 5:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Earnhardt Jr. is making plans to clean off the surface of North Wilkesboro to get it ready for the iracing folks. A clean surface is needed so that iracing's laser scanner can get an accurate picture of the track to be used in their game. Even if the track doesn't get added in for another few years, Jr. would like iracing to have the data now, before the track deteriorates even more. 30. Sector posted: 10.01.2019 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #29 Hopefully they can go further beyond once that is done and fix the track to go racing in the future years? 31. possum posted: 10.01.2019 - 7:40 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @27 - N Wilks seated 60,000. That would be a big crowd at almost any current Cup track. Yeah, Darlington is only 47,000 now, which wouldn't fill Daytona or Charlotte (or Indy)...but pretty much every other track on the circuit isn't coming close to 47,000 attendance. Better to have 47,000 seats full than 80,000 2/3rd's empty. @30 - well, never say never. Earnhardt doesn't have the money to rehab N Wilks, but SMI does if they want to. And contrary to what I said above, while Bruton has no use for N Wilks and won't admit a mistake, it's his son who runs the show now, and he does have a bit of a soft spot for N Wilks. 32. Mile501 posted: 12.03.2019 - 1:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A very good piece on North Wilkesboro was posted on YouTube a couple of months ago. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y4ubZiJh0o 33. Andy posted: 12.09.2019 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like the team at iRacing is looking to add North Wilkesboro. Dale Jr has been there today to clear the track so they can take the necessary measurements. https://twitter.com/DaleJr/status/1204094218421059585 34. Corey posted: 12.09.2019 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @33 Dale Jr is the one that really wants to add the track. He wanted iracing to have the data for the track before it gets beyond repair. It will probably be a few years before its in the game. 35. 1995-Subaru-WRX-STi posted: 12.09.2019 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It will take a lot of money (and time) too rebuild the track. More short tracks are good but I wouldn't put the top 3 series here at all until the minor-minor leagues can put butts in the seats. But like I said... a lot of money and time will be needed too meet NASCAR standards. 36. Canadianfan posted: 02.25.2020 - 10:45 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) From Adam Stern: Official from Wilkes County, N.C., says he's reaching out to SMI to try to work out a North Wilkesboro revival deal. - 'If we can get a sit down with Mr. Marcus, and SMI ... Wilkes County is here to help.' 37. Sector posted: 02.25.2020 - 11:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If the revival does indeed happen, I wonder how drivers such as Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and even Jimmie Johnson would feel since the track was taken off the schedule their first 2 seasons of their career, only to come back a year or few after their retirement. 38. TeamDCRfan posted: 02.25.2020 - 11:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Even if it was only ARCA, it would be cool to see big league racing at North Wilkesboro again 39. JoshK posted: 05.02.2020 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Will be the finale for the Pro Invitational Series on May 9TH (SATURDAY) at 3:00 PM EST 40. JSPorts posted: 05.02.2020 - 11:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's gonna be awesome. Now, if only we would see it back on the real schedule! 41. TheDewCrew posted: 05.03.2020 - 2:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well now it's official 42. TeamDCRfan posted: 05.04.2020 - 7:40 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I wonder if Enoch's ghost will be satisfied with the sort-of return by NASCAR to his beloved track 43. AhHhHhhhHHHhhHh posted: 08.11.2020 - 3:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh I miss this place. I don't know why SMI doesn't choose to pour some money into this place to bring it back to life. Fans would back them, the locals would support the push to keep their track alive and it'd give NASCAR some good PR for bringing back their oldest track to the schedule 44. Canadianfan posted: 03.30.2021 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Jenna Fryer: Marcus Smith on North Wilkesboro ?We haven't given up on it. We're thinking. We're working on it. No promises but we have not forgotten about it. That's the big message. If we can think of a way to make something happen there, we will.? He says he wants people to know ?I care.? 45. Tarheel posted: 03.31.2021 - 8:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd happily take a race date from Kansas to see the Cup Series run here again, but I won't hold my breath. 46. Mile501 posted: 03.31.2021 - 11:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @45 - I'd give your comment 100 thumbs up if I could. If it's going to happen, it seems like now (in the not-too-distant future) is the time to do it, with NASCAR trying all sorts of new things. Who would have thought we'd have a dirt race at Bristol or 7 road course races in a season? But at the same time, I wonder how many old-school fans are still around, who would truly appreciate a return to North Wilkesboro or Rockingham even if it did happen. 47. Canadianfan posted: 03.31.2021 - 1:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @45 It wouldn't be Kansas. SMI doesn't own Kansas. As I've noticed dates and tracks only change if the owners want to give up a date for another track they own. Hence SMI renting COTA and replacing one of their Texas dates or giving Las Vegas, Loudon's fall date or Dover giving it's first date to Nashville SS.. 48. possum posted: 03.31.2021 - 7:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @46 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: