North Wilkesboro to host 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race

The event will be held over three days from May 19 to 21, 2023 and will celebrate 75 years of the premier discipline of American Motorsport. The full program of celebrations will be announced later, as will the 2023 calendar.

The 0,625 mile (1km) oval is a pioneering track in the history of NASCAR, integrated into the calendar of the discipline which was then called “Modified Division” in 1948. It became a regular stop in 1951, hosting two races per year. Having become dilapidated, the North Wilkesboro Speedway was closed on September 29, 1996 the day after its last Cup Series event. Since then, with the exception of a few historic demonstrations, the enclosure has remained desperately closed. At the instigation of the country's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., a rescue plan was presented to the American federal fund which released 18 million dollars for the benefit of the State of North Carolina to undertake the work of brought into compliance, making possible the return to the spotlight of this heart of NASCAR track. After considering a dirt track similar to that of Bristol, it was decided to keep the surface dating from 1981 while giving it a little facelift essential to welcoming a pack of Next Gen.

Richard Childress in action in 1975 at North Wilkesboro Speedway © Dozier Mobley/Getty Images

Last month, the track was able to host several national series events for a gala weekend joined by legends of the discipline such as Ryan Newman and of course Dale Earnhardt Jr. “North Wilkesboro is going to remain historic, and it will still be authentic, but it will also be modern, and it will be a beautiful thing to see,” Dale said. “So I'm excited to follow the renovations and everything that's going to happen there over the next couple of months. »

North Wilkesboro will become the fifth host of the NASCAR All-Star Race for its 39th edition next spring after 2 editions at Texas Motor Speedway, 34 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and 1 round at the tracks of Bristol in 2020 and Atlanta in 1986.

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