True, I had been to Asheville Speedway with my uncle to see Ned Setzer race on the short track, but that experience in no way prepared me for the magnitude of Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1976.
At that point, I was prep editor and general assignment sports writer for the Charlotte Observer, and the special circumstances of the 1976 World 600 thrust me into an assignment to work the pits and garage. Never before had I seen a national-level NASCAR race in person.
Always searching for innovative ways to promote their races, Charlotte Motor Speedway chairman Bruton Smith and general manager Humpy Wheeler had arranged a ride for Janet Guthrie, who had failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, also scheduled for May 30 that year.
Wheeler convinced First Union Bank executive Lynda Ferreri to participate as the owner of record of the dark red No. 68 NAPA/Regal Ride Shocks Chevrolet Laguna Guthrie would try to qualify for the race.
My assignment in the days leading up to the race? To ask every male driver in the NASCAR Cup Series garage what they thought of a female driver competing in NASCAR’s longest race.
Many of the responses I got would have blown up the sport had social media been active 47 years ago. Some were misogynistic. Some were downright vulgar. Only about a third of the responses were fit to print in a family-friendly newspaper.
But the consensus was that Guthrie would have stamina problems in a 600-mile race run on a brutally hot day in May. Remember, this was before cool suits and air conditioners existed to mitigate the intense heat inside the cockpits.
Defying the conventional wisdom, Guthrie made the field and was running at the finish. Driving primarily in the track’s bottom lane, she came home 15th, 21 laps down.
David Pearson won the race from the pole in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Purolator Mercury, leading 230 laps and conducting a clinic on saving his equipment for the end of the marathon event, which ended under the seventh caution of the afternoon.
Richard Petty started and finished second, the only other driver on the lead lap. Cale Yarborough ran third, one lap down, after leading 108 laps. Bobby Allison was fourth, three laps down, completing a contemporaneous NASCAR version of Mt. Rushmore.
Much farther down the finishing order was Dale Earnhardt, racing for owner Walter Ballard. Earnhardt fell out because of engine failure and was 31st in the second Cup start of his career.
In fact, I met Earnhardt for the first time that week, courtesy of Observer beat writer Tom Higgins, who took the time to introduce me to all the major and minor players in the garage. Tom’s stamp of approval made my first NASCAR assignment exponentially less difficult, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
In his fourth Cup start that Sunday, Bill Elliott suffered his fourth straight DNF driving for his family team, finishing 23rd after an engine failure.
From a personal perspective, my first visit to massive Charlotte Motor Speedway changed the direction of my career. I was captivated by the sights, sounds and smells of a big-time stock car race. Over the next three years, before I took a job with the American Society of Newspaper Editors, I requested assignment as a garage reporter to NASCAR races within driving distance of Charlotte.
In those days, there was no infield media center. I typically watched the start of the race from the top of a team hauler. After that—at Charlotte, for example—I sat in a small room with three chairs behind the gas pumps, listening to the radio broadcast of the race, waiting for the next wreck.
My first duty was to interview the race runner-up as soon as he parked on pit road. Other competitors showered in a cinderblock building in Turn 4 and conducted interviews at their lockers.
Visiting the “locker room” after the National 500 in 1977, I saw the words “1976 Winston Cup Champion” clearly imprinted into the skin of Cale Yarborough’s back by the embroidery on his firesuit after 334 grueling laps at Charlotte.
At the same time, I saw the burn scars on Tom Sneva’s back, a stark reminder of his spectacular crash in the 1975 Indy 500.
Those up-close looks at the hard realities of the sport, along with the camaraderie I found among writers and competitors alike, kindled the affinity and respect I have for a sport I still write about today.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America today announced it raised more than $1.7 million after completing its 27th-anniversary ride on April 29-May 5, 2023. Funds raised directly benefit Victory Junction – a camp in Randleman, North Carolina servicing children with chronic medical illnesses. The Ride’s donation supports summer camperships, building projects and maintenance programs – including upkeep of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Water Park.
Former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty led more than 125 motorcycles on a seven-day trek, covering over 1,500 miles across picturesque scenes in Nevada and Utah. The Ride started and ended in Salt Lake City and made overnight stops in Ely, Tonopah, Las Vegas, Cedar City and Moab.
All along the Ride’s 2023 route, fans came from miles around to welcome the Ride, meet celebrity riders and support the cause. Highlights included visiting the Bonneville Salt Flats, venturing down the loneliest road in America (Highway 50), taking off-road Jeep tours in Tonopah, shutting down Las Vegas Boulevard with a police escort to The Mirage, lapping the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, riding scenic Highway 12 and Highway 14, passing through Capitol Reef National Park, receiving the first-ever key to the city in Hanksville, exploring Legends Motorcycle Museum and so much more.
“We had a phenomenal Ride! But I knew all along that Nevada and Utah would not disappoint. These are two of the most beautiful states to ride motorcycles in,” said Petty. “Everywhere we stopped, we were greeted with open arms from fans near and far. And we also had a handful of Victory Junction campers come out to see us along our route. Seeing their excitement and gratitude for our riders is incredible. It really puts into perspective what and who we are riding for. All of our miles lead to all of their smiles!”
Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it first began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $21 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 115,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.
Funds were gathered from fans along the route as part of the Ride’s “Small Change. Big Impact.” program, as well as donations made by generous sponsors, organizations and the riders themselves.
“We could not do what we do each year on the Ride without the generosity of our sponsors,” said Petty. “Some of our sponsors have been a part of the Ride since the very beginning. They do so much more than just make contributions to support our cause. From providing gifts to our riders to funding meals, fuel and/or activities, they have a genuine passion for making the Ride a memorable experience for everyone involved.”
The 2023 Ride is made possible by presenting sponsor Cox Automotive, as well as Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Dodge Law, Racing Electronics, WinCraft Racing, FLUIDYNE Racing Products, Petty Family Foundation, Headbands of Hope, Piedmont Moving Systems, Wiley X, Blue Emu, Goody’s and Fuel Me.
This year’s Ride also featured several celebrity riders, including NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty; NASCAR legends Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace; former NFL great and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker; and NBC Sports NASCAR personality Rick Allen.
For more information about the 27th anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America or to donate, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.
If gratitude powered race cars, then Christopher Bell has to be an odds-on favorite to hoist Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 trophy at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will carry a very special paint scheme – representing a very impactful organization in this year’s annual Memorial Day 600-miler. Semper Fi & America’s Fund will join longtime JGR sponsor Interstate Batteries on Bell’s Camry – a nod to an organization committed to America’s military members and their families. A group that legitimately changes lives.
And the partnership is a mutual feeling of excitement and honor for Bell and for “The Fund,” as it is called.
“There are so many things that go into Memorial Day weekend and even driving for Interstate Batteries, one of the most iconic brands in the sport of NASCAR, to be able to represent them and Semper Fi and America’s Fund. Words can’t really do justice to what it means, but I know I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity,’’ Bell said.
“Racing is obviously secondary (in the big picture). If it wasn’t for (the Fund), we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
For Army Sergeant Jason Smith – a proud second-generation member of the United States military – The Fund has been a crucial, life-changing aid since his return from a tour in Afghanistan. While deployed in 2012, Smith, 38, was critically injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack, ultimately losing both his legs.
Photo courtesy of Joe Gibbs Racing
The Fund provided Smith with not only a mobility chair but financial help to have an adaptive vehicle customized to meet his needs as well as adapting Smith’s home to better accommodate the busy father of two. It’s now a place of hope and resilience he shares with his wife Lauren and their two children, Lauren, 8, and Bear, 6.
Although he suffered that devastating physical loss, Smith said he has adopted a vastly different outlook on life since his recovery. The help provided by The Fund made such a crucial difference in that and he is eager to share – and have NASCAR draw attention to — what that impact has meant to him and can mean to others.
“For me, personally, there’s been so many things they’ve helped me with and times I had nowhere else to go,’’ Smith said. “The Fund chooses to help and treats us all like family.
“There’s a lot of things that are uncertain and I’ve found that no matter where life takes me, Semper Fi and America’s Fund is there to help me navigate. When you’re younger and you fall, someone’s there to lend a hand and help you get up, your mother or father. It’s similar. It’s just nice to have someone there that really gets you and helps you. They treat you like family and it’s been life-changing for me. I owe them a debt of gratitude for sure.”
Smith, a decorated bodybuilder since his injury, plans to open a mobile gym called “Battleborn” – an opportunity facilitated through The Fund’s “Apprenticeship Program.’’ He’s competed in the Warrior Games and would like to qualify for the internationally-acclaimed Invictus Games – a competition for wounded service members started by Britain’s Prince Harry.
So being able to celebrate The Fund on such a huge national stage as NASCAR during such an iconic holiday weekend is something this longtime race fan is particularly excited about. He even flew from his Chattanooga home to Charlotte this week to tour the JGR shop, meet Bell and get an “all-in” look at what this partnership is all about.
“It’s something I never imagined,’’ Smith said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to really get out there and spread the word and raise the awareness for such an amazing organization. I’m just really blessed and happy to help.’’
Bell, who won on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in April and sits in second place in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings, has been particularly receptive to welcoming Smith and The Fund to his team. This will be the first time he’s had a car honor a veteran in this way and he’d like to provide the ultimate salute – in Victory Lane.
“Charlotte was one of my best races last year,’’ Bell said. “I certainly think we are capable of racing for the win this weekend and it would be really cool to get these guys into Victory Lane and see all the guests we have with us and share the victory with them. That resonates strongly. If I win, not only is it a big win for me, but there’s so many people it would help and encourage.’’
“This opportunity is amazing to me on many levels,’’ said Smith, who says his love of NASCAR started as a fan of Hall of Famer drivers Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt.
“Surface level, it’s just exciting to be able to tell people about, but on a deeper note, it’s getting the word out for other veterans that really need the help and don’t really know that there’s help there. Being able to help navigate through trials and tribulations post-injury, the fund being there helps make things so much easier to navigate.’’
And that’s ultimately what he believes this partnership with NASCAR will reinforce.
“You have the opportunity to get down and just say, ‘I’m done,’” Smith explains, his voice full of emotion.
“Anybody can give up, but it really takes true grit to push through and live the life you choose to live.’’
“If I had to sum it up to one word what Semper Fi & America’s Fund means to me, it would be: hope. They make sure we aren’t forgotten and that our needs are met.’’
daBrandon Pierce has seen the CARS Tour change tremendously since running his first race with the series back in 2017.
From weathering a global pandemic and witnessing the CARS Tour travel to different venues that include the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, Pierce has been a loyal supporter of Jack McNelly’s vision in creating a sustainable series in which Late Model Stock Car drivers can showcase their talents to the motorsports industry.
The formation of a new ownership group consisting of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Justin Marks only reinforced Pierce’s commitment to the CARS Tour. He knows their influence will only lead to more exposure for short-track drivers like himself.
“This year probably features the most drastic changes,” Pierce said. “Instead of Jack and [competition director] Keeley [Dubensky], you have four well-known and respected people of the sport headlining the ownership. I’m proud to be a small part of it, and I’m excited to see where everything goes.”
Pierce’s motivation for initially joining the CARS Tour was simple. Even back in 2018, the series provided some of the toughest competition any Late Model Stock driver could face.
Having competed against Peyton Sellers and five-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion Philip Morris at tracks like South Boston Speedway, Pierce believed he was ready for the challenges provided by the CARS Tour but understood victories were not going to come easy.
Josh Berry, Lee Pulliam, Timothy Peters, Layne Riggs and Ty Gibbs were among the names Pierce had to deal with in his first full-time season with the CARS Tour. It would take another year for Pierce to break through for his first and only win to date, which came after he passed Berry at Southern National Motorsports Park on the last lap.
The driver roster has only improved for the CARS Tour over the years. Short-track veterans like Chad McCumbee, Brenden Queen and Mason Diaz now have a home in the series, while others like Corey Heim, Taylor Gray and Kaden Honeycutt have used the platform as a steppingstone to develop their own careers.
Pierce said a key catalyst behind the CARS Tour’s success has been the transparency McNelly and Dubensky have with the drivers, which in turn has kept organizations like JR Motorsports around through highs and growing pains.
Now that Earnhardt Jr. directly oversees business decisions with the other new owners, Pierce believes this is an ideal time to bolster the loyal CARS Tour fanbase with ideas that will keep the series thriving in modern times.
“You hear quite a bit about supporting short-track racing,” Pierce said. “Even with the social media movement these days, you still need action. Dale obviously fields cars in this series and is present at the track. He’s been involved for quite some time, but it’s cool to see those other three jump on board with him. Hopefully with everyone working together, we can see this thing take off.”
Brandon Pierce has raced in the CARS Tour since the end of 2017, having earned one victory at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Pierce has already started to see the positive impacts of the new ownership group. Every single Late Model Stock division has feature over 28 cars, while the CARS Tour’s Pro Late Model class has averaged just over 29 cars in its first four races this year.
The allure of competitive depth is what initially convinced Connor Hall to venture away from his home track of Langley Speedway and go full time in the CARS Tour last year. Hall’s first season in the Late Model Stock division rewarded him with three victories and a second place points finish to JR Motorsports driver Carson Kvapil.
While Hall would have loved to defeat a JR Motorsports driver for a CARS Tour championship, he said Earnhardt Jr. has been a tremendous asset for not only elevating the series’ platform, but also revitalizing short-track racing through efforts that include the return of North Wilkesboro Speedway last August.
Earnhardt Jr.’s expanded involvement with the CARS Tour has only reinforced Hall’s commitment to the series, which he believes will keep growing in both noticeable and minuscule ways through the rest of the decade.
“Dale Jr. has almost turned into the godfather of short-track racing,” Hall said. “He’s always had a very big imprint on what we do, but I felt like North Wilkesboro is where all this started. We have diecast bodies now, and iRacing is scanning a new [Late Model Stock] car.
“That might seem small, but we didn’t have any of this before, so imagine what this series will look like in the future.”
One initiative Hall hopes to see from the new ownership group is an efficient method of cutting costs for teams.
Hall has seen Late Model Stock racing grow more professional in recent years with teams bringing in paid crew members as opposed to volunteer help. Although he sees the positives in that growth, Hall is worried the trend will gradually price out smaller programs that have been a cornerstone of the discipline for decades.
The growing exposure on Late Model Stocks courtesy of Earnhardt Jr. and his fellow CARS Tour owners is something Hall believes will gradually introduce cost-effective measures that bring in more cars for the series and marquee events, but he admitted to being unsure over what such actions will look like.
For now, Hall is focused on ensuring the financial investments made into his own career pay off with results in the CARS Tour. He considers himself fortunate to be with such a strong team like Chad Bryant Racing, and he hopes the opportunity to race with them allows him to build a sustainable career regardless if he moves on from Late Model Stocks or not.
“What puts the most pressure on me to perform is I have a lot of people sacrificing a lot of things for me to be here,” Hall said. “I’m talking about both my family and my sponsors. That’s what makes me go as hard as I go, because people are giving up a portion of their livelihood to see me succeed.”
Connor Hall has made starts in the ARCA Menards Series during his career, but now has a home in the CARS Tour driving for Chad Bryant Racing (Photo: ARCA Racing)
Even if Hall does not advance into the top levels of NASCAR, he feels more comfortable about his longevity in Late Model Stocks now that so many resources are being poured into the CARS Tour.
Like Hall, Pierce plans to fully take advantage of the spotlight that’s been cast upon him and his fellow CARS Tour competitors because of the new ownership. He admitted to feeling some pressure knowing who oversees the series, but said his mindset remains unchanged about how to claim a second CARS Tour win.
McNelly and Dubensky staying involved with the CARS Tour has made the transition much easier for Pierce, as he is familiar with the standards they have established for the series and knows those are always going to be prevalent as long as they have a presence at the track and behind the scenes.
“It all comes down to loyalty on both sides,” Pierce said. “Ever since joining, I’ve really liked how [the CARS Tour] runs things and what they stand for. They are fair on the rules and keep them enforced. I know I’m competing in the most prestigious and competitive Late Model Stock Car tour there is, and as a competitor, you want to know that you’re going up against the best of the best.
“I beat one of the best [for my win] and we all know where he is now.”
Now a six-year veteran, Pierce has no idea what the CARS Tour will look like six years into the future, but he’s confident the new owners are going to build upon a sturdy foundation that will further reinforce the goals McNelly laid out when he started the series nearly a decade ago.
For the seventh time in series history, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to Lee USA Speedway this Saturday night for the running of the Granite State Derby.
The event, a JDV Productions race, also serves as Round 2 of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, a special bonus program offering participating teams more than $15,000 in bonus money.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debuted at Lee USA Speedway in 1993, with Tour legend Reggie Ruggiero picking up the victory. Jamie Tomaino, Tim Connolly, Rick Fuller and Ed Flemke Jr. scored victories in the years that followed before a lengthy hiatus by the Tour at the 0.375-mile oval. Doug Coby triumphed in the Tour’s return to the track in 2022.
Tickets to Saturday’s Granite State Derby are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the fifth race of the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.
Granite State Derby at Lee USA Speedway
What to watch for:
Momentum is on the side of Justin Bonsignore, who enters Saturday’s Granite State Derby as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship leader following his victory Sunday at Riverhead Raceway.
He’ll be looking to continue that positive momentum this weekend at Lee USA Speedway, one of a few tracks on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule where Bonsignore has never won.
Major competition is expected to come from Doug Coby, the defending Granite State Derby winner who was never in contention last week at Riverhead following an early penalty that trapped him two laps down.
Ron Silk enters the Granite State Derby one point behind Bonsignore in the battle for the Tour championship. Silk dominated the most recent race at Riverhead but lost the lead to Bonsignore late and was forced to settle for second. Defending Tour champion Jon McKennedy finished second at Lee USA Speedway last year and will try to do one spot better this weekend.
Matt Hirschman, who led a race-high 100 laps last year at Lee USA Speedway, returns to Tour competition after being forced to miss the most recent event at Riverhead due to a scheduling conflict. Austin Beers, who enters Saturday’s race third in the series standings, will also be in the field and should be considered a potential threat to win.
Jake Johnson, back at the wheel of the Ole Blue No. 3 for Boehler Racing Enterprises, returns to the site of his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole one year ago. He led three laps and finished fifth last year, which could be a good omen ahead of Saturday’s race.
Other notable entries include Anthony Nocella, Woody Pitkat, Tommy Catalano, Sam Rameau, Craig Lutz, Tyler Rypkema and Kyle Bonsignore.
Cars in action during the Inaugural Granite State Derby presented by USA Insulation for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, New Hampshire on May 21, 2022. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
Schedule: Saturday, May 27 … Final practice from 1:40 – 2:25 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET … Race at 7:45 p.m. ET
Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Granite State Derby is limited to 28 starters including Provisional Positions.
Tire allotment:The maximum tire allotment available for this event is fourteen (14) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is six (6) tires, any position.
GRANITE FALLS, N.C. — FilterTime, a leader in air filter subscription service officially confirmed today their partnership with motorsports sensation Kenny Wallace in the upcoming Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour race at Tri-County (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
The partnership between FilterTime, founded by former NASCAR driver Blake Koch and now also heavily supported by partner and NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr. reignites a career on asphalt pavement for Wallace, one of the most decorated NASCAR personalities of all time.
Wallace will drive the No. 36 FilterTime Chevrolet for South Boston, Va.- based R&S Race Cars in the Late Model Stock event at the 4/10-mile banked asphalt short track in his CARS Tour debut.
The CARS Tour event on Memorial Day weekend promises plenty of fireworks both on and off the track as the best Late Model competitors in the Southeast battle for a $30,000 winner’s payday.
The race will signify Wallace’s return to asphalt competition for the first time since competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015 at Iowa Speedway.
“I’ve been doing a lot of dirt racing over the last 15 years,” said Wallace. “I talked to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and told him that I wanted to do some asphalt racing. He told me I should try the CARS Tour Series.
“I’m excited to realize my dream and race at Tri-County Speedway and partner up with a quality company like FilterTime and driving for a powerhouse team like R&S Race Cars.”
Kenny Wallace will drive the No. 36 Late Model Stock Car with sponsorship from FilterTime this Saturday at Tri-County Motor Speedway.
Earnhardt, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, a 15-time NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver and current television analyst for NBC is equally excited about supporting Wallace in his return to asphalt racing, especially in the vastly popular CARS Tour Series, which he co-owns with Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick, Cup team owner Justin Marks and former Cup Series driver and NBC television analyst teammate Jeff Burton.
“I’m really excited about Kenny coming to race in the CARS Tour,” explained Earnhardt. “And I’m even more excited it’ll be in a FilterTime car. When the chance came up to sponsor Kenny, Blake (Koch) and I both agreed it was an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.”
Koch, a successful racer in NASCAR himself with 229 combined starts across the sport’s top-three series knows the benefit of having a star driver like Wallace representing their brand.
“Kenny Wallace is one of the best there is at promoting his sponsors, for years I have been trying to think of a way to partner with him and this opportunity is the perfect fit,” offered Koch, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla.
“Kenny shares our competitiveness, he is a great driver, and his hard work and perseverance are evident in his long NASCAR career. It’s a great and rewarding partnership.”
Wallace, a native of St. Louis, Missouri with over 900 combined NASCAR starts echoed Koch’s sentiments.
“My history with FilterTime founder Blake Koch goes way back to when we raced in NASCAR together, I’m honored to be part of the FilterTime family,” added Wallace, a nine-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner.
“It is such a quality company with hard-working people, striving to make a difference in people’s lives. Please remember to sign up and get your monthly subscription for FilterTime air filters at FilterTime.com.”
Founded in 2020 after former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crew chief Marcus Richmond and Steve Stallings purchased A&E Race Cars, R&S Race Cars now provides chassis for several Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour teams, while also fielding their own entries on-track in 2023.
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Marcus Smith shouldn’t have to buy a drink — moonshine or otherwise — in Wilkes County ever again.
North Wilkesboro Speedway was the picture-perfect setting that many in the NASCAR industry imagined it would be for the annual All-Star Race, and the “Field of Dreams” comparison seemed apt. Fans from all 50 states came to see the spectacle, but many others visited from closer to home in the North Carolina foothills to see the restoration of their home track — updated for the next generation, but preserved with its original charm.
Smith, the Speedway Motorsports executive who worked alongside the community to resurrect the track, made sure to make the visitors feel welcome.
“People have talked about how special this is,” Smith said after Sunday night’s event, the first for the Cup Series here since 1996. “Thousands of people have said to me, you have no idea what this means to our community. I think we all kind of feel that. This is a special place and a special event, and it’s because of this rebirth opportunity. It’s never happened before that you’ve taken a sporting venue and left it for dead and it’s been revived. It’s a true Lazarus story.”
The All-Star Race was the culmination of a major, earth-moving renovation at a breakneck pace to get the track back up to Cup Series code. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, on hand for events throughout the week, had confided to Smith during a visit one year ago that he’d given him a 50-50 chance of meeting the deadline to bring the track back to life — “and I was being generous at the time,” Smith recalled him saying.
With all the kudzu, weeds, poison oak and saplings that had overrun the track for its decades of disuse cleared away, North Wilkesboro was ready for its All-Star spotlight. The travel logistics of moving everyone in and out of the countryside facility never seemed to reach the gloom-doom scenario that some feared, the aged racing surface never crumbled away and the track’s tight quarters felt cozy, not cramped. Greetings at the main gate were among the warmest on the circuit.
“I’ve never been to a NASCAR week where everybody was in such a good mood and everything was just going so well,” Smith said, speaking of the possibilities for the track’s future. “We just started working on next year’s schedule with NASCAR, so we’ll see. I think that — not speaking to next year specifically, I do think that there’s definitely a place in the NASCAR world for North Wilkesboro Speedway, and whether it’s a special event like All-Star, maybe one day it’s a points event, I don’t know.”
The NASCAR All-Star Race is still in a nomadic phase after a nearly uninterrupted run at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 1985-2019. The event’s future hasn’t been etched on the 2024 schedule yet, but its debut at North Wilkesboro seemed to resonate with more vibrance than the single-year whistle-stop at Bristol or its two seasons at Texas. The electricity was there — a carryover from the revival racing events there last August, through a week’s worth of preliminaries to a charged-up setting for driver introductions.
“For me, it’s extra special growing up around here and driving here, going to family reunions and doing all those things. Wanting to race here one day was what I really wanted to do,” said Rodney Childers, crew chief of Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 Ford and a racer with short tracks encoded in his DNA. “And then as the years of coming by here with my kids, walking around here and wishing that it would come back. I mean, it was definitely the type of atmosphere that you wanted.”
As for the race itself, Kyle Larson’s dominance squelched some of the drama from the 200-lap affair, which was bereft of caution periods but also lacked the race-format quirks of previous runnings. It didn’t stop him from basking in the intimate surroundings, and his wife, Katelyn, punctuated the frontstretch party by shotgunning a cold one to the crowd’s delight.
“Just the excitement, I thought the racing was like, it was old-school short-track race. And if you don’t like that, then you’re not an old-school fan,” said defending Cup Series champ Joey Logano, who placed 10th. “Maybe that’s what it is, right? I mean, there’s something for everybody. That’s what I said earlier. If you’re a NASCAR fan, you get it all. So you better learn to love it all, because it’s not gonna be the same week to week. You’re gonna get weeks where you have a mile-and-a-half, there’s going to be weeks where you get a high-wear track. It’s gonna be dirt, there’s gonna be superspeedways, and not everybody’s gonna love all of them.
“So I think this is good and cool and different, and I enjoyed that the smart racers can make a difference. I enjoyed that. Like I said, we don’t have that every week.”
It’s not every week, either, that a race track on a 27-year hiatus that felt permanent gets to glow in an All-Star moment.
To the casual observer, Millbridge Speedway may seem like nothing more than just another dirt track hidden deep in the woods.
Yet on weeknights night during the summer, Millbridge turns into a de facto gathering spot for the NASCAR community, where many of the sport’s top drivers share the tiny oval with the promising young stars of the future and local veterans.
The people responsible for Millbridge’s transformation are track owners Ashly and Jeremy Burnett, who have poured endless resources into modernizing the track since they first started working there in 2011.
While Ashly did not initially foresee NASCAR Cup Series drivers like Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch and others competing in races at Millbridge, she said that the current state of the track perfectly encapsulates the passion she and Jeremy share towards keeping auto racing alive from a grassroots standpoint.
“We just have a love for racing,” Ashly said. “Jeremy and I grew up around racing and we both moved our families from the St. Louis area even though we didn’t know each other at the time. The opportunity [to run Millbridge] came about and we both jumped into it. This is something we felt could help grow the racing community.”
When Ashly and Jeremy were still traveling around the country competing in Outlaw Kart events, Millbridge was one of their favorite venues to compete at, which is why they were both stunned when the track ceased operations.
Not ready to see Millbridge’s story end, Ashly, Jeremy and two of their closest friends came together to purchase the lease of the track before purchasing it outright in 2014, beginning a long and arduous process to revitalize the small but entertaining complex.
The goal for Ashly and Jeremy was simply to survive running a track of their own, which became slightly more challenging after their friends elected to step away from handling the day-to-day operations.
Ashly recalls many tough nights in which they struggled to break even. Once they developed a loyal fan and driver base, she and Jeremy utilized their knowledge of dirt tracks around the country to completely overhaul Millbridge.
Among the improvements Ashly and Jeremy have made to Millbridge during the past several years include refining the walls and fencing, installing more grandstands, the addition of a big screen television on the backstretch, the construction of a tech shed and adding more space for parking.
The strenuous undertaking in transforming Millbridge from a track that Ashly said was a circle with tires in the infield to a modern facility gradually began to catch the attention of both seasoned dirt track veterans and the top stars of NASCAR.
Racing action at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina, on May 24, 2022. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
One name that now regularly frequents Millbridge on weeknights is two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who has enrolled his son Brexton in Millbridge’s Beginner Box Stock division while occasionally making laps around the track himself.
Busch has been impressed by how quickly car counts have grown at Millbridge since he and Brexton began racing there, but he attributes that trend to Ashly and Jeremy running a streamlined show that puts competitors first.
“[Ashly and Jeremy] are doing a really good job out there [at Millbridge],” Busch said. “They do a quick show, which is nice. We’ve been to some of these other places where they draw it out for six, seven, eight hours and there is no need for that. We can get in and out of there in three-and-a-half hours probably, which I think the competitors really like as well. You just roll across the scales, and you go home.”
Busch’s presence highlights a growing list of NASCAR drivers that now spend time at Millbridge on summer weeknights before traveling across the country.
Defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson can be frequently spotted assisting his son Owen, who competes alongside Brexton in Beginner Box Stocks. Larson occasionally competes in Millbridge’s 600 Micro division, sharing the track with a bunch of familiar names like Christopher Bell, Ben Rhodes, Brandon Jones and others.
Larson said the atmosphere at Millbridge compares to what he experienced at California’s Cycleland Speedway during his childhood and is thrilled that Owen gets to share similar experiences as he and so many other young drivers develop their skills, build connections, and enjoy their time on track.
“It’s a great little thing they have over [at Millbridge],” Larson said. “For me, it just makes me kind of reminisce on the memories I had at Cycleland Speedway growing up and just playing with my buddies. Building memories is the cool thing that I take away from us going to Millbridge. Whether [these kids] all grow up to be race car drivers or not, they’re all just making memories right now which is great at their age.”
Kyle Larson (86) races ahead of Sam Johnson (72) during midget hot laps at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina, on May 24, 2022. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Larson has made plenty of positive memories himself during his time at Millbridge. He won a Carolina Midget Showdown event there in 2020 before a 600 Micro feature on May 25 of last year that served as a support event to the debut of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series sanctioned by the World of Outlaws.
Veteran Millbridge competitor Tim Nye also competed the same week the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series came to the facility, adding that the presence of a sanctioning body like the World of Outlaws further highlights the efforts that Ashly and Jeremy have put in towards modernizing the track.
“It means a lot to me to see what this track has become and what Ashly and Jeremy have done with it,” Nye said. “I’ve been racing [at Millbridge] since moving down here in 2004 and to see it change from a little go-kart track with very little work done into what it is now is just incredible.”
Nye added that the 600 Micro division has thrived at Millbridge in recent years. In his first few years in the class, Nye only shared the track with a handful of drivers, but now has to fight every evening just to make an A-Main with car counts that average between 25-30 drivers.
Nye said the vibrant, competitive atmosphere of Millbridge would not be possible without the relentless effort Ashly and Jeremy have made towards putting the facility on the map and creating a cost-efficient ladder system that enables drivers to progress from Outlaw Karts into 600 Micros.
With an active driver base and determined ownership, Nye believes Millbridge will keep thriving well through the 2020s and is eager to continue racing alongside the next generation of competitors as a veteran of the 600 Micro division.
“I just love these cars,” Nye said. “I have a passion for building my own chassis, so I want to keep having fun, especially after the races. There’s a bunch of families I really enjoy and I don’t think I can critique what Ashly and Jeremy are doing in any way. I want them to keep doing what they’re doing by bringing attention to Millbridge across the country.”
Sheldon Creed (94) races Trevor Cline (55) in non-winged 600 micro competition at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina, on May 24, 2022. (Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
As Millbridge continues to gain more national exposure, Ashly admitted that she still finds herself in disbelief over how popular the facility has gotten.
What started as a mission to keep Millbridge alive evolved into sustaining a track populated by rising stars and NASCAR veterans. While Ashly attributes some of that to the track’s location in Salisbury, which is 45 minutes from Charlotte, she believes Milbridge’s popularity stems from creating an environment that mirrors other successful dirt tracks.
“I don’t really know how we got to this point,” Ashly said. “We just showed our passion and put it into the track through all the upgrades we made. We grew up around so many good dirt tracks in the Midwest, so we put that into [Millbridge]. Not a lot of tracks in the South venture out like we do, so we look at what places like Eldora are doing and bring that back here.”
Even though Ashly said that she and Jeremy are running out of room to expand at Millbridge, the two plan to keep making renovations while also working with competitors to ensure they remain satisfied.
What Ashly does not plan on changing is the family atmosphere at Millbridge, which she said has been the track’s strongest aspect since the day she and Jeremy took over the day-to-day operations more than a decade ago.
Ashly described the past 10 years as a hectic experience, but she and Jeremy take pride in the fact knowing that so many in the auto racing industry consider Millbridge to be so much more than just another dirt track.
“When you come to Millbridge, everybody is the same,” Ashly said. “We’re all one big family and it doesn’t really matter what your last name is. Little Jimmy down the road means the same as Kyle Busch or Kyle Larson, but a fan can come and walk up and talk to Kyle Larson or sit in the grandstands next to Kyle Busch. They will take the time out to sit with somebody and talk to them, so I really appreciate that.”
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. – The duo of Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick had a strong enough showing in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, finishing close together near the front of the pack for 23XI Racing. But Wallace’s runner-up evening and Reddick’s third-place effort were behind the stratospheric run of race winner Kyle Larson.
The 23XI teammates recorded their best All-Star Race finishes on a stellar Sunday night at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. Like Larson, the two were able to drive from further back in the field, but Wallace was still 4.537 seconds behind the dialed-in No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
“We won the best of the rest,” said Wallace in his third All-Star main event. “Larson was lights out, so congrats to him. Cliff (Daniels, No. 5 crew chief) and those guys, they’ve been hitting it on the head, really, all season. So to run second to them is not a bad thing, but to run second in the All-Star Race sucks, right? You go home with nothing but proud of my team.”
Wallace started 10th and Reddick 20th, based on the results of Saturday’s qualifying heats. Because of the track’s well-worn 42-year-old surface, Wallace said he had to go into tire-conservation mode early. “Even saving, I just didn’t have what he had,” Wallace said of Larson.
Reddick was also on a similar pit-stop strategy to Larson, among those stopping during the race’s first caution period 15 laps in. He gained two positions – from sixth to fourth – when he brought his No. 45 Toyota to the pits at the mid-race break but was unable to gain further ground.
“It was a solid night for us,” Reddick said. “I was really concerned how we were gonna get to the front end. Everyone at 23XI did a really good job of just saying let’s just do something different, and it paid off for us. … I was behind Bubba and just trying to figure out how much he was pushing, saving (tires). I definitely think the proximity, that route that I was running to him, I wasn’t really doing my tires any favors, but had an opportunity or two to get by him but made a mistake at the worst absolute time.”
Dave Rogers, 23XI Racing’s performance director, lauded the pit strategy that put Wallace and Reddick in position to potentially mount a challenge. But a race-changing caution period never materialized, and the second half of the All-Star event went green the rest of the way.
“Really happy with the performance that 23XI is putting on the race track right now,” Rogers told NASCAR.com. “We’re not content. We’ve got a lot more to go. Hats off to the 5 car and HMS – they were the class of the field tonight, and they deserved to win, but second, third, we’re happy.”
Reddick already has a win in the bank (at Circuit of The Americas in March) that has him in the NASCAR Cup Series’ provisional playoff picture. Wallace has two consecutive top-five finishes in points-paying competition that could be momentum-builders at the halfway point of the regular season.
Still, both had to marvel at Larson’s strength and settle for top-three days.
“Hell, it’s been like that ever since he got in the 5 car,” Wallace said. “Every once in a while, he’ll slip up, or Ross (Chastain) will get to him and take him out, but we’ve just got to continue to work hard and be better. We’ve had days where we’re better; we’ve just got to continue to capitalize on those moments and those races and just continue to put our name in the hat.”
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