All-Star Race returning to North Wilkesboro The 0.625-mile oval will host its first ever triple-header in 2027 August 23, 2026 Ryan Henkel Article , NASCAR , Sports Action during the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race, the last time the event was held in North Wilkesboro | Jason Jackson for North State Journal After a one-year hiatus, the NASCAR All-Star Race will be returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway. The historic track, which hosted the 2023-25 All-Star races after revitalization efforts brought the site back into action beginning in 2022, will host its fourth All-Star event in the past five years in May of 2027. “Four years ago, on the steps of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, we announced what many believed was impossible—that NASCAR was returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy in a press release. “Today, seeing this iconic venue host a historic NASCAR tripleheader weekend is a testament to just how extraordinary that revival has been.” Earlier this year, Dover Motor Speedway served as the site of the All-Star Race, with NWS hosting a points race, but it seems NASCAR missed having Wilkes County’s 0.625-mile asphalt oval for its summer showcase. And not only will North Wilkesboro be hosting the All-Star race, but the track will also host a weekend triple header with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the first time it’s returned to NWS since 1985, and Craftsman Truck Series as well across the three day event (May 21-23, 2027). The prime time event, Sunday’s all-star race, will also be the 35th anniversary of “One Hot Night,” which was NASCAR’s first night time All-Star Race. “‘One Hot Night’ at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first superspeedway NASCAR race under the lights, and that’s when I truly became a race fan,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith in a press release. “There was electricity in the air, and an entire generation of race fans was captivated by it. We’ve seen the same excitement amongst fans at North Wilkesboro every day and night we’ve been on track since re-opening. It’s a pilgrimage every NASCAR fan should take, and now we have the biggest race week ever to look forward to for 2027.” Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Christopher Bell won each of the last three All-Star Races hosted at North Wilkesboro, with Logano also having won this season’s points-paying race, the first at the track since 1996. While there has been no confirmation for potential twists and changes to the All-Star Race format, the press release stated that NASCAR “plans to collaborate with teams, the track and drivers to add a unique element to the event, which could include adjustments to the race format itself or to the technical elements of the race car.” “I’ve always considered All-Star the race of innovation,” Smith said. “It’s such a unique opportunity for the race teams, NASCAR and the speedway to be bold, take some chances, have fun and just see what happens.” While the format might not be known, what is is that the winner of the All-Star Race will take home a $1 million cash prize. The weekend will also be the perfect celebration for the 80th anniversary of North Wilkesboro Speedway, which can trace its lineage all the way back to the 1940s. Originally starting as a dirt track, the first official race at NWS was held on May 18, 1947 and NASCAR concluded its inaugural stock season there on Oct. 16, 1949. The site served an integral part of NASCAR’s history through the years, but ended up in a period of abandonment starting in 1996 due to ownership issues. Revitalization efforts were begun in 2019 thanks in part to Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had the track digitally scanned for the iRacing video game, but it was an $18 million allocation from the state of North Carolina that got NWS the funding it needed to be fully revived. Now, the track is ready to host its biggest weekend ever. “North Wilkesboro has once again become a place where NASCAR’s rich history, current momentum and exciting future come together,” Kennedy said. “We’re incredibly proud of what this weekend represents—not only for this legendary track, but also for the community that helped bring it back and for the continued growth of our sport.” Ticket packages are available for purchase online at North Wilkesboro Speedway’s website or by calling 336-844-4735. According to NWS, race week on-track and fan event schedules, broadcast networks, green flag start times and NASCAR All-Star Race eligibility and format details will be announced at a later date. All-Star Race Ben Kennedy Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joey Logano Kyle Larson Marcus Smith nascar North Wilkesboro Speedway
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: nsjonline.com