North Wilkesboro Speedway situated in North Carolina will welcome the return of top line NASCAR racing for the first time since 1996.
A historic venue, North Wilkesboro will host the 2023 NASCAR All Star Race following a major renovation to the 0.625-mile oval and the surrounding infrastructure, as America’s leading stock car category celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Having not been resurfaced since 1981 and facilities falling into neglect following the venue being dropped by NASCAR at the end of the 1996 season, considerable work is needed to get the circuit up to standard before the August All Star Race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr raced a late model there last year and was amazed at not just the crowd, but the rejuvenation of the circuit.
“I never thought I’d see that place full again, and then I got to race there this summer in a late model before a full house,” Earnhardt said. “There’s just something special about it.”
Formerly NASCAR’s most popular driver, Earnhardt provided the foundation for the circuit to be reused after requesting the weeds be removed from the surface to enable digital scanning to take place, so at least the venue could be immortalised on online racing simulation platforms.
The circuit is owned by Speedway Motorsports, which has hosted the All Star Race at other venues within its portfolio including Charlotte Motor Speedway and for the past two years at Texas.
The move to North Wilkesboro is expected to bring the drama back to the NASCAR All Star Race after it had lacked in recent years despite format changes.
Lakeside is one circuit in Australia to have been closed and re-opened, but although usage is limited the circuit still hosts race events to this day.
Another is Phillip Island as the desire to host an Australian 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix led to a major overhaul of the revered circuit after it had been used as farmland since the early 1980s.
Which Australian circuit would you bring back from the dead and is it possible?