Today, Speedway Motorsports (SMI) announced that the North Wilkesboro Freeway will host races in August and October before being repaid in 2023. The short decked track near North Wilkesboro, North Carolina formerly. held NASCAR-approved races from the organization’s inaugural season in 1949 until the race’s closure in 1996.
Racetrack Revival will see a series of short 0.625-mile race tours to race on the existing surface in August. The pavement at the track will be ripped apart after these races. Then in October, the races will be held on a dirt surface in North Wilkesboro. Aside from a brief reopening in 2010, the highway has been effectively closed since 1996.
While it doesn’t has been confirmed which series will visit the North Wilkesboro Highway this year, The company that promotes Racetrack Revival XR Events has the schedule posted on their website with the respective vehicle classes. The open road races in August will feature Hornet, Super Late Model, Late Pro, Late Limited, Street Stock, Late Model Stock and Open Car. In October, the dirt track races will feature 410 Sprinters, Hornets, Big Displacers, Extended Cars, Super Late Models, 602 Bars Late Models, 604 Bars Late Models and Classic Cars. in the competition.
It should be noted that the October 21-22 listed for the 410 North Wilkesboro Sprinters coincides with the TBA timing for the World of Outlaws 2022 schedule. SMI anticipates the North Wilkesboro Freeway will host a series of races. NASCAR national touring race in 2024, most likely the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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SMI CEO Marcus Smith stated in press conference announced today Dale Earnhardt Jr’s request to clear the highways in 2019 to sweep iRacing was the catalyst to start this revival project. I’m glad a simulator won’t be the only way to experience this historic race site.
