North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway stands as a historic racing venue in North Carolina with deep roots in NASCAR history. Built in 1946 by Enoch Staley and partners, this track has witnessed the evolution of stock car racing from its early days to the modern era. The circuit's unique characteristics and rich heritage make it a special place in motorsports, connecting present-day racing to the sport's origins in the hills of North Carolina.

Track Specifications

North Wilkesboro features a distinctive 0.625-mile (1.006 km) paved oval with an asymmetrical shape. The turns have 14-degree banking while the straightaways offer 3 degrees of banking. What sets this track apart is its unusual elevation changes - the front stretch runs downhill while the backstretch climbs uphill. This design quirk resulted from funding shortages during the initial construction. The surface began as dirt in 1947 and received its first pavement in 1957, with the most recent repaving completed for the 2024 All-Star Race. The current seating capacity is approximately 25,000, down from its peak of 55,000.

Racing History

The first race at North Wilkesboro took place on May 18, 1947, with Fonty Flock taking the checkered flag - even before NASCAR's official formation. When NASCAR began in 1949, North Wilkesboro became one of the founding tracks on the schedule. From 1950 to 1996, the speedway typically hosted two NASCAR Cup Series races annually: the spring First Union 400 (originally the Gwyn Staley 400) and the fall Tyson Holly Farms 400 (originally the Wilkes 400). Racing legends built their legacies at this track. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, and Junior Johnson all claimed victories on the challenging oval. The track closed after the 1996 NASCAR season and sat dormant for many years, briefly reopening in 2010-2011 before Speedway Motorsports fully revived it in 2022. NASCAR returned to North Wilkesboro in 2023 with the All-Star Race.

Circuit Features

The track's asymmetrical layout creates unique challenges for drivers. The varying banking combined with the elevation changes requires different driving techniques for each end of the track. The uphill backstretch and downhill frontstretch demand precise throttle control and braking points. The pit road is famously narrow, adding strategy to pit stops as crews work in tight quarters. The grandstands draw inspiration from Churchill Downs, giving the venue a classic feel. In the winner's circle, a distinctive tradition involves lifting the winning car on a hydraulic platform atop an infield building for celebration.

Cultural Significance

North Wilkesboro Speedway sits in Wilkes County, once known as the "moonshine capital of America." This connection is significant as many early NASCAR drivers honed their skills running illegal whiskey during Prohibition. The track represents a direct link to NASCAR's roots in moonshine culture. As one of only two original tracks from NASCAR's first 1949 season still operating today (alongside Martinsville Speedway), North Wilkesboro preserves an important piece of racing history. The track's 2023 revival after years of abandonment shows the enduring appeal of this classic venue. Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped spark renewed interest in the facility when he led an iRacing scan of the track in 2019, allowing virtual racing on the historic layout and contributing to its eventual physical restoration.