North Wilkesboro Speedway
Facility statistics
Location	North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Broke ground	1945
Opened	May 5, 1947
Owner	Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Operator	closed
Construction cost
Architect
Former names
Major events
Wilkes 200 (1949-1953 & 1961) Wilkes 160 (1953-1959) Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (647x627, 255 KB) This is a logo of a corporation, team, or other organization related to sports, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Speedway Motorsports, Inc. ... Wilkes 320 (1960 & 1962) Wilkes 400 (1963-1976) Gwyn Staley 160 (1959-1960) Gwyn Staley 400 (1961-1977) Northwestern Bank 400 (1979-1985) First Union 400 (1986-1996) The First Union 400 is a former NASCAR Winston Cup race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in late March or early April from 1951 to 1996. ... Tyson Holly Farms 400 (1950-1996) Tyson Holly Farms 400 was a former NASCAR Winston Cup event that took place every last weekend in Septemer or first weekend in October at the North Wilkesboro Speedway from 1950 to 1996 except 1956. ...
Seating capacity
40,000
Current dimensions
Track shape	Oval
Track length	0.625 miles
Track banking	Turns: 14 degrees Straightaways:- minimal banking

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a short track which held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996. Short track is an usual abbreviation of Short track motor racing Short track speed skating This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

The track is located on US Highway 421 about four miles east of the city North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ...

It measures 5/8ths of a mile, or 0.625 miles. One unique feature was the uphill backstretch and the downhill frontstretch.

Citing North Wilkesboro Speedway's age and lack of modern amenities, Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith purchased the track in 1996, and its two Winston Cup events were transferred to New Hampshire International Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, respectively. Ollen Bruton Smith (born 1927 in Oakboro, North Carolina) is a promoter and owner/CEO of NASCAR track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc. ... The NASCAR Championship is the championship held in NASCARs top stock car racing series. ... New Hampshire International Speedway is a 1. ... Texas Motor Speedway is a superspeedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas -- the portion located in Denton County, Texas. ...

Since the sale to Bahre and Smith, there have been attempts and gestures to buy the track and re-open it by, among others, local native Junior Johnson. However, no deals have yet materialized. The last race was held there in September 1996. Robert Glen Johnson, Jr. ...

History

The track’s first “official” event was a Modified race on May 18, 1947. The race included the running of heat races and a feature race primarily involving 1939 and 1940 modified Ford coupes.^[1]

Over 10,000 people were at North Wilkesboro Speedway when it held its first race on May 5, 1947. Fonty Flock qualified on the pole, won his heat race, and won the feature after sitting out for 4 1/2 years with an injury. The event was sanctioned by the National Championship Stock Car Circuit, which was a forerunner to NASCAR^[2]. May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Herb Thomas, Fonty Flock, and Al Keller (left to right) at the Palm Beach, Florida fairgrounds (taken between 1952 and 1954), courtesy of the Florida Photographic Collection Truman Fontell Fonty Flock (March 21, 1920 - July 15, 1972) of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver. ...

On October 16, 1949 a reported 10,000 were in attendance to witness the 8th and final race of the 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Series held at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Robert “Red” Byron walked away the very first points champion for NASCAR.^[3]

Memorable moments

• One year, Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace drove side-by-side for almost 10 straight laps for the lead.

• Terry Labonte avoided a late crash that took out Rusty Wallace to win the Spring 1996 race.

• The Wilkes 400 in 1972 featured Bobby Allison against Richard Petty in a 39 lap slugfest. The lead changed thirteen times. In the final five laps, Petty was held up by a slower car. Both drivers plowed into the fences, guardrails, and each other. Both continued at full speed. Allison led with one lap to go, but Petty passed him for the win.

• Allison came back for the win in the 1973 Wilkes 400 by passing Petty for the win on the final lap.

• In the late 1970s, Cale Yarborough dominated the track. Cale blew up a tire, but made up three laps in the fall 1978 race to win easily.

• In 1979 Bobby Allison led most of the race. In the final 150 laps, Darrell Waltrip caught Allison. The two hit together hard and Darrell nailed the front stretch wall. Waltrip began crowding off Allison under the caution and got black flagged for the crowding. Benny Parsons won the race

• In 1984, Tim Richmond passed a fading Ricky Rudd for the win.

• In the fall 1988 race, Dale Earnhardt led nearly half the race until Ricky Rudd caught him. The drivers banged fenders for the final 41 laps. They were both black flagged to the rear of the field and pounded together again with five to go. Rusty Wallace passed Geoff Bodine with ten laps left. Bodine struck Wallace's car at the start of the final lap. Wallace pushed Bodine sideways, and Wallace crossed the finish line for the win.

• In the Fall 1989 race, Dale Earnhardt led 343 laps, but a caution set up a two lap showdown with Ricky Rudd. Rudd went side-by-side with Earnhardt. The two spun, and Geoff Bodine passed the two for the win.

• Brett Bodine led most of the spring 1990 race. During a caution the pace car picked up the wrong leader, which gave Bodine a lap lead. Bodine put on a set of tires before the error was corrected. He held off Darrell Waltrip for his only career Winston Cup win.

• As exciting as most races were in North Wilkesboro, the Fall 1994 race was not. Geoff Bodine lapped the field on his way to the checkered flag. The only challenge Bodine received all day was when Rusty Wallace tried to get his lap back on a restart. Wallace pulled a nose out front but after a little bit of beating and banging, Bodine beat Wallace back to the caution after Dale Earnhardt spun and hit the wall. Only 3 other drivers even finished within two laps of the leader that day. The race was the last race ever to finish with the leader lapping the field.

• April 14, 1996(Final Spring Race) Terry Labonte added to the luster of his racing longevity winning the First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in which he tied Richard Petty's NASCAR Winston Cup Series record for consecutive starts -- 513.

• In 1991 Harry Gant looked like he was going to win his fifth straight win in the Cup series until his brakes faded late in the race. Dale Earnhardt went on to win.

This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... Terry Labonte, on the right, shows the frame of a race car in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bobby Allison (born December 3, 1937) was one of the first NASCAR drivers and was named one of NASCARs 50 greatest drivers. ... Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... William Caleb Cale Yarborough (born March 27, 1939 in Timmonsville, South Carolina, near the Famous Darlington Raceway), is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and was one of the series engaging personalities. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Bobby Allison (born December 3, 1937) was one of the first NASCAR drivers and was named one of NASCARs 50 greatest drivers. ... Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion, the 1989 Daytona 500 winner, and current television race commentator with Fox Broadcasting Company. ... Benny Parsons (born July 12, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an American NASCAR announcer/analyst on NBC and TNT. He became famous as the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup (now NEXTEL Cup) champion. ... Tim Richmond (June 7, 1955 - August 13, 1989) was a NASCAR race car driver who had his career cut short when he contracted HIV and died of complications from AIDS. Wich resulted in Richmond only racing for 7 years. ... Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ... Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ... Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. ... Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. ... Bodine poses with his Ralphs Ford Sponsor a Driver. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion, the 1989 Daytona 500 winner, and current television race commentator with Fox Broadcasting Company. ... The NASCAR Championship is the championship held in NASCARs top stock car racing series. ... Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung, New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers. ... Russell William Rusty Wallace (born August 14, 1956 in Fenton, Missouri) is a former NASCAR champion, NASCAR Busch Series car owner, and television broadcaster with ESPN and ESPN on ABC. Wallace had his first live broadcast of the Indy 500 on May 28, 2006. ... This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Harry Gant Harry Phil Gant (born January 10, 1940 in Taylorsville, North Carolina) is best known for driving the number 33 Skoal Bandits car on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. ... This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. ...

Since the closure

After Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith purchased the track and moved its two dates to other locations, the track saw little racing. Both owners showed little interest in selling the track until 2005.

Save The Speedway

STS Motorsports, Inc., a group founded in 2005 by Rob Marsden, has been trying to bring racing back to the track. The group first began a petition and caught the attention of the current owners. Bruton and Bahre eventually agreed to sell the track for $12 million. The track, which has been valued by county tax assessors at $4.83 million, was not sold.^[4]

For the Save The Speedway group, fall and winter of 2005 was spent attempting to find a buyer or buyers of the track as well as proof that there was still interest in racing at the facility. Over a dozen touring series had expressed written letters of intent about holding events upon reopening, as well as three driving schools, and several NASCAR teams showed interest in using the facility for testing. As of 2007, the group had not yet found money to purchase the track.

The group currently has been working to get the state of North Carolina to erect a NC Highway Historical Marker off Highway 421 to recognize the achievements and contributions of the racing there.

Speedway for public sale

In January 2007 during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Media Tour, Bruton Smith announced that he and co-owner Bob Bahre had agreed to let a real estate company attempt to sell the track for the asking price of $12 million. ^[5]

Highway Historical Marker

The application for a highway historical marker which was applied for by Save The Speedway was approved at the May meeting of the NC Highway Historical Marker Advisory Committee. Placement of the marker is pending casting of the marker.^[6]

Trivia

• Current car owner Jack Roush of Roush Fenway Racing held round one of "Roush's Race For The Ride" at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a competition to find the next Roush Racing development driver.

• Ted Musgrave won the final pole; the final race was won by Jeff Gordon.

• Richard Petty's fifteen wins were the most in the history of the track.

• North Wilkesboro Speedway was the only speedway in which during the race the cars both increased and decreased in elevation. Coming from turn four heading into turn one the cars would head downhill, coming out of turn two heading into four the cars would head uphill.

• The last time a winning drive totally lapped the field on the way to the win was Oct 1994 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, NC when Geoffrey Bodine won, completing 400 laps while 2nd place was Terry Labonte who completed 399.

Jack Roush (born April 19, 1942) is the founder, CEO, and owner of Roush Racing, a NASCAR team headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is Chairman of the Board of Roush Enterprises. ... Outside Roush headquarters. ... Ted Musgrave was born on December 18, 1955 in Franklin, Wisconsin . ... Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American race car driver. ... Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.savethespeedway.net/history1.html
2. ^ http://www.decadesofracing.net/FontyFlock.htm
3. ^ http://www.savethespeedway.net/49wilkes.htm
4. ^ http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192860436&path=%21sports&s=1037645509200
5. ^ http://www.jayski.com/pages/tracks/misc.htm#NW
6. ^ http://www.savethespeedway.net/index2.html

External links

• North Wilkesboro Speedway Memorial Monument
• Save North Wilksboro Speedway - Save The Speedway
• racing-reference.info list of winners at North Wilkesboro
• Dec. 2005 Winston-Salem Journal newspaper article on speedway status
• North Wilkesboro Speedway information at jayski.com
• History of the Speedway