After remaining entirely inoperative for the last 14 years, the North Wilkesboro Speedway opened its gates to the NASCAR fandom for the 37th NASCAR All-Star Race as part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary last year. It couldn’t have been possible without the uprising of racing fans and the dedicated efforts of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Following last season’s event, the Speedway began its repaving after an $18 million allocation from federal American Rescue Plan funds was designated for infrastructure improvements through the North Carolina state budget in November 2021.

The 0.625-mile track has been repaved for the first time since 1981. The racetrack recently opened for a tire test run sponsored by Good Year Racing, which included a few Cup series drivers and three NASCAR Truck series drivers. However, coming after the trials, fellow drivers’ remarks and emotions resonated across the community. Among them was Dale Earnhardt Jr who couldn’t contain his excitement and jumped onto the repaved track for a drive.

Dale Earnhardt Jr details the revamped Wilkesboro

The North Wilkesboro Speedway is one of the 8 tracks that have encircled the base of NASCAR Cup Series races since 1949. This season is historically significant. The 0.625-mile track will hold two days of spectacular racing starting on May 18 for a Truck Series race, followed by the annual non-championship NASCAR All-Star Race on May 19.

Dale Jr recently expressed his satisfaction with the detailed repaving. In his recent post on Twitter, he exclaimed his observations about racing on the track. He captioned, “Yall check out the groove now in turn 1 and 2 of @NWBSpeedway. Holy Diamond!! That downhill into turn 1 makes it hard to hold that bottom in the middle of the corner. And allowing it to drift up in the middle and then cut makes the run off turn 2 up the hill a blast.”

From going live on the iRacing digital platform in 2019 to hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race last year, the speedway has gone through massive redevelopments. And it definitely wouldn’t have been possible without Dale Earnhardt Jr’s conviction.

How and why was the North Wilkesboro Speedway revived?

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Back when Dale Earnhardt himself used to race, the track went down because of a lack of modern facilities. The track was also the smallest by capacity on the schedule by 1996. It was then that the 50-year-old track’s two Winston Cup races were moved to bigger, modern tracks. However, talking of the revival of North Wilkesboro Speedway, this time it was driven by Dale Earnhardt’s son Earnhardt Jr’s visit in December 2019, initially to preserve the track for iRacing. Witnessing its neglected state, Earnhardt was inspired to ensure its legacy endured. Reflecting on the moment, he shared, “I’m looking around and thinking, this track is too far gone.” 

However, his commitment to racing history sparked discussions with Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith about its future. Earnhardt’s passion resonated with fans, leading to astounding support for live racing at North Wilkesboro. Smith stated, “There was a tsunami of support. It grew and grew, and as it continued, I was like, people don’t get it. They don’t get it. They didn’t really understood how far dilapidated the track was beyond repair.” 

Despite challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, Earnhardt’s vision and fan enthusiasm propelled North Wilkesboro’s revival. Topping in its selection to host the NASCAR All-Star race last season and receiving $18 million in federal funding for restoration efforts.

Read More: Saviour Dale Jr. Gets Smug Over Revived North Wilkesboro’s Unprecedented Dominance