North Wilkesboro Hosts First NASCAR Points Race in 30 Years as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Drives Revival
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
North Wilkesboro Hosts First NASCAR Points Race in 30 Years as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Drives Revival
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 16
Summary
Sunday’s Cup race at North Wilkesboro will be the track’s first points-paying NASCAR event since 1996, completing a comeback from years of abandonment.
Earnhardt Jr. helped trigger that return in 2019 by organizing volunteers to clear the 0.625-mile track so iRacing could scan it, a preservation effort that grew into a push for live racing.
Marcus Smith reopened the speedway in 2022 for grassroots competition, and nearly 30,000 fans turned out for that first revival event despite sparse facilities and temporary bathrooms.
NASCAR then brought its All-Star Race there for three straight years, and the strong response convinced the series the historic short track could support a full Cup points date again.
Earnhardt said the revival reflects NASCAR’s effort to restore short-track racing to the schedule, arguing the sport had lost part of its identity without venues like North Wilkesboro.