"Abandoned for 26 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway came roaring back in 2022, and in 2026 the NASCAR Cup Series ran its first points race here since 1996."
Location: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina Track Type: Paved short oval Length: 0.625 miles Surface: Asphalt Banking: 13° (turns) / 3° (straights) Opened: 1947 (built by Enoch Staley) Closed: 1996 · Revived: 2022
Quick Answers
How long is North Wilkesboro Speedway? 0.625 miles, or five-eighths of a mile, with 13 degrees of banking in the turns and 3 on the straights. The frontstretch runs slightly downhill and the backstretch runs uphill.
Where is North Wilkesboro Speedway? North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills about an hour northwest of Charlotte.
What is on the North Wilkesboro schedule? Three events remain in 2026, led by the Saturday Tripleheader on October 17. NASCAR returns May 21 to 23, 2027. Both lists are below.
Is there a NASCAR race at North Wilkesboro in 2027? Yes. The NASCAR All-Star Race is Sunday, May 23, 2027, with the Craftsman Truck Series on Friday, May 21 and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, May 22.
Who won at North Wilkesboro in 2026? Joey Logano led 323 laps to win the Window World 450 on Sunday, July 19, the track's first Cup Series points race in 30 years (race report). Chandler Smith won the Craftsman Truck Series FaithFest 250 the day before (race report).
Where do you park? The track publishes its parking and facility maps at northwilkesborospeedway.com.
North Wilkesboro Speedway Schedule
Remaining 2026 events
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 17 | Saturday | Saturday Tripleheader: SMART Modified Tour Friendly Tire 99, Carolina Crate Modified Series, Carolina Mini-Stocks. Grandstands open 10 a.m. |
| Oct 23-24 | Friday-Saturday | Spirit of Wilkes |
| Oct 30 | Friday | Trunk or Track Speedway Bash |
2027 NASCAR weekend
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| May 21 | Friday | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series |
| May 22 | Saturday | NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series |
| May 23 | Sunday | NASCAR All-Star Race |
Dates are from the track's events page, checked October 1, 2026.
Overview
North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625-mile paved oval tucked into the foothills of the North Carolina mountains, an hour northwest of Charlotte. It is one of the founding tracks of NASCAR, operating from 1947 until 1996, when a dispute between co-owners led to it being shuttered and left to decay. Weeds crept through the asphalt. The grandstands sat silent for 26 years.
Then, in 2022, Speedway Motorsports and a coalition led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marcus Smith brought it back, first as a grassroots "Racetrack Revival," then as the host of the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race, and now as a permanent fixture on the NASCAR calendar. In July 2026, the Cup Series ran a points race here for the first time since 1996, with the Craftsman Truck Series and the CARS Tour on the same weekend schedule.
History
Enoch Staley built the track in 1947 with an accidental signature: the front stretch runs slightly downhill and the back stretch runs uphill, an artifact of running out of construction funds mid-project. The asymmetry gives North Wilkesboro its distinctive visual character, the track doesn't look level because it isn't.
The speedway hosted NASCAR Grand National and Cup Series events from 1949 through 1996, becoming one of the circuit's essential short tracks. Richard Petty won 15 times here, the most of any driver in track history. Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, and Tim Flock all left their mark on the North Carolina asphalt.
The closure came after co-owners Bob Bahre and Speedway Motorsports Inc. transferred the race dates to expand their other facilities. North Wilkesboro held its final Cup race on September 29, 1996, won by Jeff Gordon. Then the gates closed.
The revival began in August 2022, when XR Events staged the "Racetrack Revival," a grassroots short-track festival that sold out and proved the demand was still there. The CARS Tour headlined the event. Carson Kvapil won the LMSC race, the first major victory at the revived track. In May 2023, North Wilkesboro hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race, returning network television and Cup Series stars to a track that had been silent for 27 years.
Key Drivers
Richard Petty, 15 Cup wins, the all-time record at North Wilkesboro. No driver dominated this track like The King.
Jeff Gordon, Won the final Cup race at the track on September 29, 1996, before the 26-year silence began.
Carson Kvapil, Won the inaugural CARS Tour LMSC race at the revived North Wilkesboro in 2022. Two-time CARS Tour champion (2022–23), now racing full-time in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Caden Kvapil, Won the 2025 CARS Tour season-ending race at North Wilkesboro driving the JR Motorsports No. 88, sealing a dominant second half of the season.
Landen Lewis, Won at North Wilkesboro en route to the 2025 CARS Tour LMSC championship, the most dominant season the series has seen in recent years.
Conner Jones, A CARS Tour LMSC winner at North Wilkesboro and one of the series' most consistent front-runners.
2026 at North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro hosted its biggest weekend in 30 years in July 2026:
NASCAR Cup Series, Window World 450 (Sunday, July 19): Joey Logano led 323 laps and won the track's first Cup Series points race since 1996.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, FaithFest 250 (Saturday, July 18): Chandler Smith won for Front Row Motorsports, his ninth career Truck Series victory. Layne Riggs finished second.
CARS Tour (Friday, July 17): The Late Model Stock Car tour was on the same weekend schedule, putting the sport's short-track regulars on the same stage as its biggest names.