Kyle Larson won the NASCAR All-Star Race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway in May, making it the first time since 1996 that the historic track in Wilkes County hosted a Cup Series race.
Following that race in 1996, North Wilkesboro’s twice-a-year race dates were moved to other raceways during a period when NASCAR and its track operators were planning nationwide growth, with one date going to New Hampshire and the other to Texas. The speedway, originally inaugurated in 1947, remained essentially dormant for over two decades.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and several of his buddies cleaned up the track just enough for it to be scanned for a video game. Then, in 2021, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper set aside $18 million in federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act for Wilkes County to renovate the speedway. And in 2023, NASCAR made a victorious return to its roots, hosting the Cup Series All-Star Race and other events in North Wilkesboro last May.
For the second year in a row, NASCAR returns to North Wilkesboro. The historic track will host the Cup Series All-Star Race again this Sunday at 8 p.m. Lower-tier events will precede the big race, ranging from the CARS TOUR to the Craftsman Truck Series will also return to North Wilkesboro in 2025.
Economic Impact
Last year, the all-star race and events surrounding it were a big hit in North Carolina and brought millions to the state, according to a press release from Cooper’s office citing an economic impact study.
The analysis from the governor’s office estimates that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race and events around it increased the value of the statewide economy by $42.4 million, increased statewide labor income by $27.9 million, and generated nearly $29 million in visitor spending. The analysis also says that 625 jobs were created for North Carolinians because of the race.
Additionally, the study says that while about 59% of fans attending the race were North Carolinians, fans from as far away as California, Washington, Canada, and — yes, really — even New Zealand, were among the 39,000 fans that traveled to the 0.625-mile oval track for the race.
“When we made the bipartisan decision to invest federal relief funds from the Biden Administration to renovate speedways, we knew it would put money in the pockets of North Carolina families,” Cooper said in a statement. “The data is in and we were right that bringing NASCAR racing back to North Wilkesboro not only brings back a great sport, but tens of millions of dollars and good jobs for North Carolinians.”
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