North Wilkesboro’s renovations for All-Star Race taking shape

With less than five months before the historic 0.625-mile short track will host upwards of 30,000 fans and its first NASCAR race since 1996, Speedway Motorsports’s multi-million-dollar process of transforming and updating the track is well underway.

The entire infield has been cleared except for two historic buildings and will be paved to house garages for the NASCAR Truck and Cup series. The lone access to the infield – a crossover gate on the backstretch – has been updated and expanded.

Renovations to many of the track’s suite boxes are in full swing, a portion of pit road has been torn up and will be replaced and the walls surrounding the track are being prepared for SAFER barrier installation.

But with every change, there is care taken to preserve North Wilkesboro’s legacy.

“Marcus (Smith, owner) has really versed us holding on to the history of North Wilkesboro. When fans show up for the All-Star Race, the facility will look like it did – as close as possible – like it did when it was running in the 1990s and 1980s,” said Steve Swift, Speedway Motorsports’ senior vice president of operations and development.

“We’re trying to preserve that energy of stepping back into time but also updated to present day. We want to maintain many of the old signs and the track’s old look.”

Swift said the materials used in the renovation process – such as finishes and siding – are adhering to the time period as much as possible.

“We want to hold on to that old feel,” he said.

The most visible changes thus far is the completed grading of virtually the entire infield.

North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway renovation

Photo by: Jim Utter

“Probably the biggest piece that’s visual right now is the drainage that we put in,” Swift said. “We’ve added tons of storm drainage to take care of all the water issues that were in place and prepare for the future.”

Speedway Motorsports announced in September its intention to move the 2023 All-Star Race from its current home at Texas Motor Speedway to North Wilkesboro.

The track hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1949. Jeff Gordon, now an executive at Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR Hall of Fame member, won the final NASCAR race at the track in 1996.

Earlier this year, local volunteer groups spent months cleaning up the area around the 75-year-old race track. The N.C. state budget passed last…