The sun sets behind the mountains at North Wilkesboro Speedway's open house

North Wilkesboro Speedway: Open house and final construction

By Adam Fenwick and Zack Albert | Published: May 11, 2023 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

1 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

North Wilkesboro Speedway is ready for its rebirth with the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 21, with the historic track's massive renovations on display in an open house for fans one week before racing returns. The All-Star event will mark the first competition for the NASCAR Cup Series there since 1996.

With racing around the corner, take a tour of the updates plus Wednesday's welcome for fans.

2 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Track officials dedicated the seats that circle Turns 1 and 2 as the Benny Parsons Grandstand, honoring a NASCAR Hall of Famer and a Wilkesboro, N.C., native. Family members were on hand for the unveiling and posed beneath the new banner.

3 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 3 Chevrolet Late Model takes its post on the pit road at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Earnhardt was instrumental in pushing for the track's return, and he competed in a Late Model event last August.

4 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

FOX Sports analyst Clint Bowyer poses with fans on the pit road at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He will be a part of the broadcast crew for the All-Star event.

5 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Former crew chief Jeff Hammond signs autographs during the public open house at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Hammond had a selection of vintage crew uniforms on display from the sport's earlier era.

6 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Fans wave from the flagstand at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

7 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Cup Series driver Ty Dillon signs autographs for fans during the fan fest and open house on North Wilkesboro's pit road.

8 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A moonshiner car owned by Bob Brown of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, sits as a reminder of stock-car racing's roots.

9 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Fans pose on the freshly painted North Wilkesboro Speedway logo on the frontstretch of the 0.625-mile track.

10 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

The Pontiac pace car owned by former track president Mike Staley sits on display at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Firebird paced the field for the last Cup Series race in September 1996.

11 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Cup Series driver Austin Dillon talks with reporters at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

12 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Detail of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s name above the door at North Wilkesboro Speedway's open house.

13 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

The new scoring pylon -- complete with an old-school graphic from the previous scoreboard -- adorns the infield at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

14 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A view through Turns 3 and 4 as the sun sets in the North Carolina hills.

15 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

The new entrance sign arcs over the North Wilkesboro Speedway main gate. While the sign is a new feature, the backing material is tin repurposed from one of the track's original buildings.

16 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A panoramic view of North Wilkesboro Speedway's oval from Turns 1 and 2.

17 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

Newly refurbished buildings for race control, broadcasting, hospitality and other official use sit over the frontstretch at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

18 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A new hospitality area rounds Turn 4 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

19 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A hand-operated scoreboard will be one of the vintage touches at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The leaderboard display sits over Turn 3.

20 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

North Wilkesboro Speedway signage that stays true to the original logo sits above the main grandstand.

21 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

North Wilkesboro Speedway was brought up to safety standards with the addition of crash-absorbing SAFER barriers around the track.

22 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A view of the media center building and the vehicle lift that carries race-winning cars and trucks to the rooftop Victory Lane.

23 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A view from up on Victory Lane and the checkered flooring awaiting All-Star week's winners.

24 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

New, retouched signage blends with the old on the pit wall at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

25 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

Redone concession areas sit ready for fans with Coca-Cola branding.

26 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A view from the stands from high atop the seats at the entrance to Turn 1. Fresh pavement and concrete has been placed in the infield and pit road, but the racing surface has largely been untouched.

27 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A view of the flagstand overseeing the main straightaway. The start/finish line and painted track logo were added just days after this May 5 photo was taken.

28 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

A view of the walkway atop the frontstretch seating area.

29 of 36

Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

Vintage signage from a long-ago NASCAR era stands just beyond the main gate.

30 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Another view of the North Wilkesboro Speedway entrance sign, which touts "The Legend Lives On."

31 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A view from the frontstretch, looking up the hill toward Turn 4. One of the track's nuances since its birth is the grade -- slightly downhill into Turns 1 and 2, then up the backstraight toward Turns 3 and 4.

32 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A vintage North Wilkesboro Speedway logo sits weathered by time on the pit wall.

33 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A track worker puts the finishing touches on the checkerboard design of the vehicle lift's surface outside Victory Lane.

34 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

One of the small support buildings in the infield also received a face-lift, with branding for Wilkes County legend Junior Johnson.

35 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Seating sections are indicated by wooden signs, all given a retro look at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

36 of 36

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

A view of the main straight from the top of the grandstand and concourse.