NASCAR returns to North Wilkesboro this week after leaving for 27 years. So, it can’t be held against fans that they may not know too much about the old gal. So today we are going to look back at the history of the track and some facts that every NASCAR fan should know heading into this weekend’s events. These are 10 North Wilkesboro facts you need to know.
Video Credits:
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Thumbnail Credits:
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Outro Song:
Strange Animal (Crowder Remix) by Gowan
Songs:
Thunder (NASCAR Theme) by David Robidoux
#NASCAR #Motorsports #racing
29 comments
What are your thoughts on the return of the North Wilkesboro Speedway?
Wether the racing product is good or bad, at the end of the day, Wilkesboro coming back is huge for the sport.
the idea of it coming back is good but coming back itself? idk man the greatest thing is that it replaced texas
Hope we don’t spend 17 laps/minutes under caution sorting through a messy scoring error.
I’m excited about this
North Wilkesboro Was Featured On NASCAR Yearbook And Press Guide From 1986 To New Chapter In 1994 Thanks For Uploading
Never forget that Geoff Bodine won the last race where the leader lapped the field here.
I’m currently rewatching every race from 90-07. Right now I just started 1994 the year where that race took place. So far all the NW races have not disappointed. Rewatching history
@Austin Hardesty What YouTube channel are you watching the old races on? I wanna do that too.
Wait what do you mean? Gordon won the last race. Can you elaborate? Sorry. My brain ain’t braining.
@Larson the last time a race was completed with only the leader completing every lap with every other driver 1 or more laps down.
@Larson Gordon won the last race there, but Geoff Bodine won the last race in which the leader lapped the entire field, and it happened at North Wilkesboro.
I’m hoping that the pavement at the track will hold up, because the track started to come apart after Practice and Qualifying in the ASA and CARS Tour
I’m in my 50’s and can not wait to see racing there again!
I loved watching this track as a kid
Those races were always fun
another fact Brett Bodine got his only Cup win here and it was possibly due to a scoring error but thankfully that was debunked by nascarman and Brock Beard in a video the two made, so yes Brett won the 1990 First Union 400 legitimately.
I’d love to see NASCAR bring back these tracks every year for the All-Star race. Have a rotating schedule of grassroots tracks that really pay homage to the hometown beginnings of a lot of drivers. Bonus points if these tracks are already being used for things like Sprint cars or Modifieds and they arrange to do a swap with those series.
Hopefully this becomes a points race starting next year and Nashville fairgrounds is the all star race next year. And then Nashville fairgrounds gets a points race ideally.
Last time there was a NASCAR Cup event there was when I was 7 in 1996. I still remember the racing there in 1990’s as I watched NASCAR with my dad rooting for Rusty Wallice.
The only other driver who is entered amongst the Truckers and Cup Guys that was active in NASCAR when Wilkesboro was part of the schedule is Norm Benning, although Norm never attempted a race at NWS until this week
I got to go to tonight’s races and the track is in amazing shape! What a fun watch! Cannot wait to go again!
this race is going to be a treat for anyone who was not old enough to see nascar race there I was a kid when they last race here Jeff Gordon won the race its just a fun racetrack an i hope Rockingham will make a come back i don’t think it will but i would love to see it
I am so glad that North Wilksboro is back on the cup series schedule. Can’t wait for the all star race.
One of my fave part of this track is the uphill on one straight and down hill on the other, I REALLY hope they keep that in the repave or even make it more pronounced!
My dad and I worked at NWS on that ill fated attempt back in ‘10-‘11. Saw a young Chase Elliott and John Hunter win in their respective classes, wish I could remember which. Got to meet JH’s grandmother on top of victory lane. Also a good buddy of mine is a former sign painter, back when that was a thing. His work is still on the big cinder block wall. “Three words and a bird”!
I’m old enough to remember the last cup race here (I’m 35 years old) always enjoyed this track
So so excited to see it return this weekend
I’ve been at the track the last two days and the place is incredible
Neither of two tracks that took North Wilkesboro’s original 2 race dates holds it now:
The spring date was given to Texas Motor Speedway, which in 2021 lost it to COTA.
The fall one was given to New Hampshire, in 2018 it was taken by Las Vegas instead.
And, for another fun fact, it’s current date, the All-Star Race, was taken from TMS, moved to Bristol during COVID, had been run in Charlotte since 1985, but also was run in Atlanta once in 1986. That single Atlanta race is the one that established the All-Star Race’s date in the schedule (first one was a double-header held on the same weekend as the 600) — a date that originaly belonged to Nashville Fairgrounds.
I’m most excited to see all the camera angles they come up with for the races this weekend. No matter how the commentary goes, it’ll be a cool-*looking* race