This is the most intelligent thing that NASCAR has done in decades . The only thing that could make it better is if North Wilkesboro was back on the points paying schedule.
Dale Jr deserves a lot of credit as well for his efforts to clean/clear the track surface so iRacing could scan and preserve it in the virtual world! Remember during the pandemic and the NASCAR Virtual Races on were TV, .....North Wilkesboro was the last race in that series! Dale Jr ran that race using the Ralph Earnhardt throw back paint scheme that the announcers failed to notice/mention as well!
S1ap's video on this was a plant by nascar executives to hype the return of the good old days. This has been in the works for years, there's a reason why Dale Jr. and Bright Sun Films all had videos come out all around the same time. They are just selling you another product like bristol dirt.
I'm a Brit and all for preserving history, but it rarely happens to this level, and it's amazing to see after North Wilkesboro had gotten so dilapidated, that so much has happened already to breathe life back into this nostalgic circuit.
I’m an old baby boomer , remember going to Wilksboro with my family.Thank God bless Dale Jr. His passion for getting people in my generation back interested in NASCAR again. Don’t forget about were NASCAR came from. This tracks up hill down hill layout ,challenges drivers and crew chiefs in setting up the race cars . Thanks to everyone who has contributed to bringing close exciting racing back to Wilksboro.
I was 5 years old when I became a NASCAR fan in 1993, and I remember North Wilkesboro. It's so cool to see this track revived and hosting races again. Really looking forward to the future of this great track.
NASCAR has gotten a lot of heat over the years for the decisions they have made (right or wrong). Bringing back North Wilkesboro. Is one of the coolest things they have eve done. Well done
I'm so excited for this. 36 year old Northern California native, but I've been racing since I was a small child. When Dale Jr first started getting this in motion I almost lost my nugget. I wish I could be there.
Can't wait for this race. Thank you for bringing this legend of a track back and now we need one more legend Daril Waltrip on cometery for this race . Please 🙏
My first and only NASCAR race was there about 1981 or so . #44 Labonte won. Traffic, chicken bones, lines to bathroom, can't hear ,you needed headphones and WTQR aired the race. Bad traffic leaving, Plenty of popo lurking outside and down the road. Still a race fan, maybe its better now.
The common belief that 'all things change' is inevitable true. Doesn't mean they should. Wilkesboro is 'the little track that could'. And now, has proven that it's 'the little track that can'. We welcome back this beloved track and thank all those responsible. " LETS GO RACING BOYS!"🏁
Being a Wilkes native, I am excited to attend the race Sunday. My gut is telling me the Smith's and SMI will just milk this for a few years and then let it die again, but I hope that my gut is wrong. Racing is at its best on short tracks in small towns. Part of NASCAR's problem was growing too big too fast, there's abolutely no need for anything the size of CMS or TMS where the core demographic is priced out of attending just by the ticket cost.
The coolest thing is, i saw the instagram account that started the project of restoring the racetrack, way before nascar announced they would use it, and now its an actual reality
My era on my kinda' track. Really tempted to renew tv subscription to get 75th All Star race there ... nah, maybe not. I'll stick with internet highlights.
I hope this is nascar making popular moves because they are working on reinvigorating the sport, and not just seeing this as a cash cow. This race is happening in the same year as Chicago street... so it goes both ways for them to see what works.
Maybe just maybe if north wilkesboro is successful we could possibly get Rockingham and Nazareth back. Pie in the sky dreams but so was north wilkesboro coming back so who knows.
Recently cut the cord… all excited that fox app had airing live for races. Sunday, half way thru the race (or whatever it was)…feed died with msg on screen - to continue gotta sign in with your paid provider (cable/dish company). To say the least, I was bummed!🤨😢😩
@@devinaschenbrenner2683 Right! (…My list of 15 things I watch on the regular, FS1 / NASCAR - is the only one I can’t be the weezle! Albeit, I did find MRN radio thru the internet…)
Leaving North Wilkesboro was the first domino to fall in a string of awful decisions that changed NASCAR from the fastest growing sport in America to a stale boring hollow shell of its former self. NASCAR thru the years has hired terrible leaders, Phelps for example like many today failed up his entire career. To NASCARs credit, many recent decisions like this have been a step in the right direction.
Im glad to see this, but NASCAR pushed me away years ago, like they did most of the fans, ...to little, to late, ill never go back and never support it again, go to my local dirt track to watch real racing with the super late model modifies.
I hear you. No more stages, playoff, overtimes and free passes would be a real start. I will, however, watch this race. I remember the 1996 race well, along with the last cup race at Rockingham... Need to get back to the roots...
"its just a 2 groove track that hard to pass on!"..........Richard Petty Personally I think that it should be returned to its original state as a dirt track on the NASCAR schedule instead of Bristol!
I’m sorry, but after watching the all star race, I’m not impressed. I know I’ll be in the minority here lol, but just calling it as I seen it. Not the action they made it seem like it would be
Here is an idea, why not use it for driver development? You want more minorities to get into the sport there is a perfect spot for a NASCAR drivers school. You can split time between it and Bowman Gray then move them up to the Arca and so on. It could also be the test track for car/tire development.
Drivers get picked by coming up through the ranks from Local, to regional, to Touring with Smaller series, to landing a ride in the lower Sanctioned Nascar Series, and finally making it to Busch, excuse me, Xfinity, or Trucks. And most of that honestly, and unfortunately, is who has the money more than the who has the skill.
![UCF Professor Richard Quinn accuses class of cheating [Original]](/img/n.gif)
How excited are you to see the 2023 All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway?
I’m very excited to watch this race at this historic track.
If the race turns out amazing keep the all star race here and maybe turn it into a points paying race
NOT!
Super excited
This is the most intelligent thing that NASCAR has done in decades . The only thing that could make it better is if North Wilkesboro was back on the points paying schedule.
I also think SlapShoes' video is worth a mention. It helped educate a whole new generation of fans about this lost gem
Absolutely
Agreed! @S1apShoes is another piece to the journey that helped us all arrive right here, right now and deserves to be known for that.
@brightsunfilms had made one as well.
Dale Jr deserves a lot of credit as well for his efforts to clean/clear the track surface so iRacing could scan and preserve it in the virtual world!
Remember during the pandemic and the NASCAR Virtual Races on were TV, .....North Wilkesboro was the last race in that series!
Dale Jr ran that race using the Ralph Earnhardt throw back paint scheme that the announcers failed to notice/mention as well!
S1ap's video on this was a plant by nascar executives to hype the return of the good old days. This has been in the works for years, there's a reason why Dale Jr. and Bright Sun Films all had videos come out all around the same time. They are just selling you another product like bristol dirt.
I'm a Brit and all for preserving history, but it rarely happens to this level, and it's amazing to see after North Wilkesboro had gotten so dilapidated, that so much has happened already to breathe life back into this nostalgic circuit.
Imagine how us locals feel
@@Melioram You must be so proud ❤
I’m an old baby boomer , remember going to Wilksboro with my family.Thank God bless Dale Jr. His passion for getting people in my generation back interested in NASCAR again. Don’t forget about were NASCAR came from. This tracks up hill down hill layout ,challenges drivers and crew chiefs in setting up the race cars . Thanks to everyone who has contributed to bringing close exciting racing back to Wilksboro.
Okay boomer
I was 5 years old when I became a NASCAR fan in 1993, and I remember North Wilkesboro. It's so cool to see this track revived and hosting races again. Really looking forward to the future of this great track.
This track brings back a lot of good memories, watching it with my Dad on Wide World of Sports..going to be fun watching it again.
I'm glad to see North Wilkesboro back on the NASCAR schedule
NASCAR has gotten a lot of heat over the years for the decisions they have made (right or wrong). Bringing back North Wilkesboro. Is one of the coolest things they have eve done. Well done
The lack of tracks like North Wilkesboro is why NASCAR is struggling
Please explain
1 comment, NPC detected
Lol
They need a track in Ohio.
@Lorenzo Von Matterhorn Stages and playoffs keep the competition going all through the season. Road courses and dirt tracks are the gimmicks.
@Lorenzo Von Matterhorn lol wrong
Thank you everyone involved for this! I have tears in my eyes, and will definitely be watching (just wish I could of been there!)
Your welcome
Hopefully this becomes a points paying race in the next year or two.
They are going to talk about it after the all star race
It might take over for Fontana next year since they wont race there for two years
@@HectorHustles nope
Get rid of one of the pocono races
@@SoonerStoneAI pocono is down to one race now the other date i think went to gateway
I'm so excited for this. 36 year old Northern California native, but I've been racing since I was a small child. When Dale Jr first started getting this in motion I almost lost my nugget. I wish I could be there.
I hope after this year it gets a second date and become a part of the schedule from here on out
Man, THIS is where they should have the Clash, not the freaking LA Coliseum...
Absolutely a points race!
Oh yes definitely very excited about north Wilkesboro coming back to NASCAR this weekend!!!
It on my bucket list to go to race one day too!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I never thought this would be possible I'm very excited
Got to visit the track a day after they announced that there would be some races there, it was something truly special.
I'm so excited to see North Wilkesboro back. Hope they keep it in the long term. I would love to see them bring back Rockingham
Here's hoping that this weekend will be an successful run.
Unbelievable! Thank you soo much Marcus and everyone involved.......I'm sure I'll have a few tissues ready
Great video, and great work by NASCAR to preserve its history. From an Aussie. Wishing F1 did more of this
I never knew about it's elevating features. This is just awesome to see!
I'll be tuning in Wednesday night for Late Model Stocks and Sunday's All Star Race is going to be legendary!
I want normal regular season races here and rockingham again haha
Same with Nashville Fairgrounds
Harvick had a shot to race here in the truck series in 1996 but only raced a part time schedule then. 27 years later he gets that chance.
Can't wait for this race. Thank you for bringing this legend of a track back and now we need one more legend Daril Waltrip on cometery for this race . Please 🙏
Really glad they are doing this. I sure hope it continues year after year.
Fantastic, now give it a regular points race date next year WITHOUT stages.
How about kill the stages in all the races and ditch the playoffs too.
Let the boys race, this isn't football.
@@BlueTrane2028 Agreed, but I was starting small lol.
@@BlueTrane2028 stages are fine. It makes pts important throughout the race.
The races would be a lot better if they would get rid of the stages and just let them run the complete race……..
@@gmanchurch yep. Strategy is out the window nowadays.
Our boy @CleetusM cFarland has that #3 Truck that Austin Dillon drove, if y'all need some sweet sweet freedom shots
Please bring Darell Waltrip to the commentators booth for this race.
It's been confirmed he's in the booth
this is amazing...welcome back North Wilksboro. im know enough about NASCAR to know this is most exciting
I just found out Jeff Gordon will be the honorary pace driver for the race that's hella cool! I'ma be tuning in for sure
Glad to see them racing on it again.
My first and only NASCAR race was there about 1981 or so . #44 Labonte won. Traffic, chicken bones, lines to bathroom, can't hear ,you needed headphones and WTQR aired the race. Bad traffic leaving, Plenty of popo lurking outside and down the road. Still a race fan, maybe its better now.
Bob you are awesome! Thank u. My hometrack NWS❤🏁
This is awesome bring back more short tracks
The common belief that 'all things change' is inevitable true.
Doesn't mean they should.
Wilkesboro is 'the little track that could'. And now, has proven that it's 'the little track that can'.
We welcome back this beloved track and thank all those responsible.
" LETS GO RACING BOYS!"🏁
Man so excited about this. Had given up on nascar but this would bring me back
We had so much fun there Race week. It’s been 27 years since I’ve been there. Can’t wait to go back again.
I've cleared my calendar to see this race. I like this track better than Bristol. It's as old school as it gets and back to NASCAR's roots.
Back when they raced "Stock Cars" and not "Cookie Cutters"
Being a Wilkes native, I am excited to attend the race Sunday. My gut is telling me the Smith's and SMI will just milk this for a few years and then let it die again, but I hope that my gut is wrong. Racing is at its best on short tracks in small towns. Part of NASCAR's problem was growing too big too fast, there's abolutely no need for anything the size of CMS or TMS where the core demographic is priced out of attending just by the ticket cost.
I only live 8 miles from the track, but parking fee alone deterred me from going. But I hope these continues but bring revitalization to our county.
Welcome Back!
The coolest thing is, i saw the instagram account that started the project of restoring the racetrack, way before nascar announced they would use it, and now its an actual reality
I would love to se North Wilkesboro brought back as a regular venue or else as an ARCA track or some other feeder series.
Going to be a wild one!
If this weekend goes well, I can see this track getting a points race within the next couple years
Loved seeing that Chevy Vega rolling around the track at the end
This is the first thing NASCAR has gotten right in twenty or so years
After this year and how much time and money was poured into the place, it has be considered for a points paying race in 2024.
Burton Smith, destroyer of nascar
Outstanding!
It's definitely not A Cookie Cutter track. Looking forward to seeing it back in action.
Well done, Bob! 🤙🏻
My era on my kinda' track. Really tempted to renew tv subscription to get 75th All Star race there ... nah, maybe not. I'll stick with internet highlights.
I hope this is nascar making popular moves because they are working on reinvigorating the sport, and not just seeing this as a cash cow. This race is happening in the same year as Chicago street... so it goes both ways for them to see what works.
Maybe just maybe if north wilkesboro is successful we could possibly get Rockingham and Nazareth back. Pie in the sky dreams but so was north wilkesboro coming back so who knows.
Nazareth is never comming back...Rockingham might tho
Nazareth will never come back because of pocono raceway rockingham might if nascar or smi ever buys it as of now it’s not own by neither
i can't wait this weekend. North Wilkesboro rises from the ashes.
Can't wait
It's Back Baby
IT IS ABOUT TIME
Welcome home Nascar
I really hope North Wilkesboro returns to the schedule in the future
I love all the supporting events that lead up to it too. Next work on infrastructure.
Recently cut the cord… all excited that fox app had airing live for races. Sunday, half way thru the race (or whatever it was)…feed died with msg on screen - to continue gotta sign in with your paid provider (cable/dish company). To say the least, I was bummed!🤨😢😩
Thats todays world man. Ether pay a Subscription or have your Cable provider connected. Nothings free to watch anymore
@@devinaschenbrenner2683 Right! (…My list of 15 things I watch on the regular, FS1 / NASCAR - is the only one I can’t be the weezle! Albeit, I did find MRN radio thru the internet…)
Why does the guy in the glasses keeps sceaming like he's in the middle of a B-52 bombing run?
Great job🥰
~…~~I wish that a track like that was in S.L.C.
i heard them talk about seating for 30,000.didnt the cup races used 2 draw 60+ thou.?
Bruden Smith's exact words were "I think its returning to the Earth"
Can't wait!
Leaving North Wilkesboro was the first domino to fall in a string of awful decisions that changed NASCAR from the fastest growing sport in America to a stale boring hollow shell of its former self. NASCAR thru the years has hired terrible leaders, Phelps for example like many today failed up his entire career. To NASCARs credit, many recent decisions like this have been a step in the right direction.
I have basic cable and televised Fox NASCAR races are few and far between, 4 this 2023 season so far
You can generally find the race on TH-cam live.
They should start the race around 1pm
Plz Nascar....let the all-star live at NW
Largest feild ever for the all star race is there a qualifying race prior the main event
Potgrass sounds like he's on helium
Now let’s never make the mistake of letting rot every again
Cant believe they paved Chicken Bone Alley. They could have put down fake turf
One of the early missteps from NASCAR.
Hyped
Without a doubt, Ross Chastain is to blame!
The pros know;)
Please tell me they haven't spent all that tax money yet.
Ross Chastain is to blame...Hallmark is proby gonna steal that and use it
North Wilkesboro Literally murdered there murderer
I read they did not resurface the track
They did that on purpose, keep the characteristic from the old surface. All around the track were resurfaced tho.
Cooki cutters took over at a mile and a half or bigger killed the sport
I agree to many of the same tracks.
Along with woke nonsense and stage racing
Too bad it on cable
Im glad to see this, but NASCAR pushed me away years ago, like they did most of the fans, ...to little, to late, ill never go back and never support it again, go to my local dirt track to watch real racing with the super late model modifies.
I hear you.
No more stages, playoff, overtimes and free passes would be a real start.
I will, however, watch this race. I remember the 1996 race well, along with the last cup race at Rockingham... Need to get back to the roots...
Next Up...Rockingham!
bob you look very nervous
nah they kinda copied me on this one 💀
Kyle Busch already said this will be the worst repave for a track since Texas
he said it's bad because they didn't repave it, it's still mostly the same asphalt that was there in '96
Who cares what Kryle says and thinks
only 450 hp now... not 900 like your day michael. itll be ok
"its just a 2 groove track that hard to pass on!"..........Richard Petty
Personally I think that it should be returned to its original state as a dirt track on the NASCAR schedule instead of Bristol!
Thank you taxpayers..........millions to revitalize track ....
What happened to the all star race Saturday nights ? Nascar continues too ruin itself ! No one will be watching it 10 years from now !
I’m sorry, but after watching the all star race, I’m not impressed. I know I’ll be in the minority here lol, but just calling it as I seen it. Not the action they made it seem like it would be
Bum Pockrass can't even brush his hair for a video~
Here is an idea, why not use it for driver development? You want more minorities to get into the sport there is a perfect spot for a NASCAR drivers school. You can split time between it and Bowman Gray then move them up to the Arca and so on. It could also be the test track for car/tire development.
Drivers get picked by coming up through the ranks from Local, to regional, to Touring with Smaller series, to landing a ride in the lower Sanctioned Nascar Series, and finally making it to Busch, excuse me, Xfinity, or Trucks. And most of that honestly, and unfortunately, is who has the money more than the who has the skill.
No - Needs to be on Schedule as a points race period for all 3 series