North Wilkesboro Speedway
Circuit info:
- Address:
North Wilkesboro Speedway
PO Box 337, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
USA- PH:
- (1) 919 667-6663
- Fax:
- (1) 919 722-3757
- Circuit length:
- 0.625 miles/1.006 km
- Circuit type:
- Permanent oval course
Circuit history:
North Wilkseboro Speedway had a long and proud history of hosting NASCAR races - it held the eighth ever race in 1949 - and a further 92 others up to 1996.
In 1995 North Wilkesboro was sold to Bruton Smith and Bob Bahre after the death of track owner Enoch Staley. The pair paid $14 million for the oval track but the real motive for the purchase was to harvest its two NASCAR races for their own tracks in Texas and New Hampshire. Having lost its two races - ostensibly because the 40,000 seat venue was no longer big enough to host the stock cars - North Wilkesboro was mothballed in 1996.
Apart from occasional testing or filming sessions, the circuit has lain dormant ever since. Its owners have kept it in reasonable condition, however, and a group is trying to pursude Smith and Bahre to sell, in the hope of reviving racing. According to reports, the pair have agreed to sell for $6million each, although a $1 million dollar repaving would also be required. The roar of racing engines may still be a little while in coming, but the dream is now closer to being a reality than it has been for the past 10 years.
