It definitely did have. Junior has been the saving grace to many facets of NASCAR. The sport itself surviving owes him. But you also have to give it up for the Towns folk there. They were done really bad by NASCAR and now they welcome everyone back the way they have with open hearts and open arms. They are very gracious and kind community to say the least
I dont know about huge..... Jr could have bought the track and had it restored with "donations" if he wanted to. "Hi, Jr here, when we asphalt our infield, we used Bo's Asphalt".....Thanks for doing the infield Bo. Imagine if he would have put a little museum on site with a couple cars, firesuits and a gift shop. It would be a year round destination. He just wanted the track on the game before it disappeared because he figured it would be gone forever. In other words, he had no intention of doing anything else but what he did. Not that it didnt bring some attention to it but there were lots more people involved for a lot longer. To be honest this track and others have benefited by the trend with You Tubers and such "influencers" buying up these smaller local tracks so they have a playground. Without that happening there would be no motivation for the state to hand over millions for a dying industry. I hope North Wilkesboro knows when they buy these tracks they also put on events that a lot of tracks have forgotten about or won't do. Like drifting, burn out contests, run what you brung 2 lap drag races, bus races. What the kids want. They just hold on to this one Nascar event and what they used to do and they will end up with just a brand new parking lot. I've followed 3 local tracks being saved on here. People come out of the woodwork to help that may have never been to the state let alone to the track. North Wilkesboro got a whole lot of attention from YT channels like slapshoes, Stapleton and such. Their videos reached millions over the years. I dont see this slowing down either. There is a whole new generation of (street, drag, circle) racers that when growing up always thought, I wish I could own something like this. Some of the tracks are on hard times and these kids are young and with pockets full of cash and can get all the help and "donations" they need by mentioning it in a video. Not saying everyone can do it. There are different levels. One small track I followed they bought the track for less than some would pay for a family car. A year later with help from family and friends they were holding events. Others have millions involved but trust me they can afford it.
Yes and I remember Dale Jr talking about when they wanted to have iracing at NWS he and a few guys went up with weedeaters and cut the grass strip that had grown threw the asphalt over the years. He really dedicated himself and alot of time in getting this great little track back in racing with the new owner and then working to get nascar back nvolved again with races. I love it its the very first track and nascar race I ever went to after moving to the Hickory NC area back in 1987 after growing up in Northern Pennsylvania my first 27 yrs. I will never forget the great battles my favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Sr had with Ricky Rudd,Rusty wallace,Darrel Waltrip and Harry Gantt and many others. The first race I went to in 87 the buddy I went with said keep your on on that #3 car he's amazing and really good.And from that day forward I loved watching Dale Sr race. So very happy to see Dale's hard work paid off and nascar is back an I hope we don't end up with another Bruton Smith that buys it out again and shuts it down ever again. Now I hope we see Rockingham get rolling again and get it back on the nascar scene. It was a shame when Bruton shut all those tracks down so he would have there race dates and build bigger faster tracks.i for one love the small tracks where all the door to door action is and its all right there in front of you not spread out so far you can't see what going on. This is where nascar grew to be what it was when it was so great and not so damn expensive. I'm sure it won't be cheap at NWS now but getting it back in Wilkes county is what that whole area needed and I'm so glad that some of the old timers are still alive to see it happening again now. This old boy that's telling about his racing career and winning 15 races at his home race track NWS is a treasure.just one of the good oh boys that were around when the moonshine was being produced illegally and I'm sure he can tell us about the runners that delivered the wisky to there buyers he may have even done some of it himself. Just love listening to him talk about his great experiences. He was so excited that he was being asked about it.he couldn't get his stories out fast enough.smiles and happiness were pouring our if that old boys soul. What a great thing this is. Thank you Dale Jr and the bew owner of NWS.this is so huge.
It looks amazing. Thank You to everyone who had a part in bringing back this magnificent, historic racetrack. It's part of history, and I will be coming from California for both the all star and truck races. Onward and upward.
What a wonderful thing that is happening here. God bless everyone involved in bringing back this fantastic old short track. The demise of North Wilkesboro is indicative of the demise of Nascar; they got all high and mighty trying to spread out to new venues and forgot the people that made them in the first place.
I wish Benny Parsons was still around to see this, no doubt he would have had a huge smile on his face. It is commendable that Terri kept her promise to her late husband. Find yourself a partner like that in life!
Awesome job Greg. You don't think it's possible to get any more excited and then we hear and see from other people and the hype machine is cranked up another notch. 😂
The WCS painted on the retaining walls, if kept, will be hidden by safer barrier. I think they had to pour new walls to upgrade the catch fence. Word is the Winston tower wall will stay as is. Any restoration or reproductions could be construed as new advertising by Imperial Tobacco under the tobacco lawsuit settlement is what I read.
They need to get a picture of Harvick, Jimmie, and Kurt in front of that wall. They're the last active drivers who raced in the Winston era. Kurt was also the last to have raced Earnhardt, after looking at last year's final standings. 2 years, two milestones.
Love this... Keep it coming. Can't wait till May. If anyone has camping suggestions close by please let me know. I was unable to get at track camping due to website issues.
@@hankhell5663 no he didn’t, but credit should got to Both Benny and his wife, for continuing to want to see the track reopened. I just wish it had been done without Taxpayer Covid funds …
I believe highway 421 should be renamed DALE EARNHARDT JR. Highway or Benny Parson I just think credit is due to at least someone who was a BIG influence on this REVIVAL.
I'm pretty surprised they didn't go there first especially considering The Rock was just repaved. But probably because NASCAR/Smith's aren't involved with The Rock.
I wish I had the money to buy Hickory and totally restore it. Right now, it's an eye sore, but it can be restored. There have been so many local tracks swallowed up by the builders stacking house on top of a house that looks like total shit and garbage.
@@ryanclark5254 I just can’t help but thinking about the many times in the history of NASCAR when the track fell apart during a race. Jamie Mc Murray and Ryan Newman at Dover, Jeff Gordon at Martinsville, Daytona several years ago. I hope my concerns are wrong and the track surface holds up.
Dale Jr. played a huge part in getting NWS back on the map. I also think iRacing mapping the track and getting it relevant again got fans excited.
It definitely did have. Junior has been the saving grace to many facets of NASCAR. The sport itself surviving owes him. But you also have to give it up for the Towns folk there. They were done really bad by NASCAR and now they welcome everyone back the way they have with open hearts and open arms. They are very gracious and kind community to say the least
I dont know about huge.....
Jr could have bought the track and had it restored with "donations" if he wanted to. "Hi, Jr here, when we asphalt our infield, we used Bo's Asphalt".....Thanks for doing the infield Bo. Imagine if he would have put a little museum on site with a couple cars, firesuits and a gift shop. It would be a year round destination. He just wanted the track on the game before it disappeared because he figured it would be gone forever. In other words, he had no intention of doing anything else but what he did. Not that it didnt bring some attention to it but there were lots more people involved for a lot longer.
To be honest this track and others have benefited by the trend with You Tubers and such "influencers" buying up these smaller local tracks so they have a playground. Without that happening there would be no motivation for the state to hand over millions for a dying industry.
I hope North Wilkesboro knows when they buy these tracks they also put on events that a lot of tracks have forgotten about or won't do. Like drifting, burn out contests, run what you brung 2 lap drag races, bus races. What the kids want. They just hold on to this one Nascar event and what they used to do and they will end up with just a brand new parking lot.
I've followed 3 local tracks being saved on here. People come out of the woodwork to help that may have never been to the state let alone to the track. North Wilkesboro got a whole lot of attention from YT channels like slapshoes, Stapleton and such. Their videos reached millions over the years. I dont see this slowing down either. There is a whole new generation of (street, drag, circle) racers that when growing up always thought, I wish I could own something like this. Some of the tracks are on hard times and these kids are young and with pockets full of cash and can get all the help and "donations" they need by mentioning it in a video. Not saying everyone can do it. There are different levels. One small track I followed they bought the track for less than some would pay for a family car. A year later with help from family and friends they were holding events. Others have millions involved but trust me they can afford it.
One good thing to come out of 2020!
Yes and I remember Dale Jr talking about when they wanted to have iracing at NWS he and a few guys went up with weedeaters and cut the grass strip that had grown threw the asphalt over the years.
He really dedicated himself and alot of time in getting this great little track back in racing with the new owner and then working to get nascar back nvolved again with races.
I love it its the very first track and nascar race I ever went to after moving to the Hickory NC area back in 1987 after growing up in Northern Pennsylvania my first 27 yrs.
I will never forget the great battles my favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Sr had with Ricky Rudd,Rusty wallace,Darrel Waltrip and Harry Gantt and many others.
The first race I went to in 87 the buddy I went with said keep your on on that #3 car he's amazing and really good.And from that day forward I loved watching Dale Sr race.
So very happy to see Dale's hard work paid off and nascar is back an I hope we don't end up with another Bruton Smith that buys it out again and shuts it down ever again.
Now I hope we see Rockingham get rolling again and get it back on the nascar scene.
It was a shame when Bruton shut all those tracks down so he would have there race dates and build bigger faster tracks.i for one love the small tracks where all the door to door action is and its all right there in front of you not spread out so far you can't see what going on.
This is where nascar grew to be what it was when it was so great and not so damn expensive.
I'm sure it won't be cheap at NWS now but getting it back in Wilkes county is what that whole area needed and I'm so glad that some of the old timers are still alive to see it happening again now. This old boy that's telling about his racing career and winning 15 races at his home race track NWS is a treasure.just one of the good oh boys that were around when the moonshine was being produced illegally and I'm sure he can tell us about the runners that delivered the wisky to there buyers he may have even done some of it himself.
Just love listening to him talk about his great experiences. He was so excited that he was being asked about it.he couldn't get his stories out fast enough.smiles and happiness were pouring our if that old boys soul.
What a great thing this is. Thank you Dale Jr and the bew owner of NWS.this is so huge.
It looks amazing. Thank You to everyone who had a part in bringing back this magnificent, historic racetrack. It's part of history, and I will be coming from California for both the all star and truck races. Onward and upward.
The sweetest thing are how happy the locals are. I hope this venue can bring them the economic need they have been missing, they deserve it.
What a wonderful thing that is happening here. God bless everyone involved in bringing back this fantastic old short track. The demise of North Wilkesboro is indicative of the demise of Nascar; they got all high and mighty trying to spread out to new venues and forgot the people that made them in the first place.
We are Chompin At the bit to get to see a race here again. 😎
Nascar was hitting it's peak about when this track shut down sorta makes sense this is a huge step back to the roots of real racing.
I wish Benny Parsons was still around to see this, no doubt he would have had a huge smile on his face. It is commendable that Terri kept her promise to her late husband. Find yourself a partner like that in life!
And Junior Johnson.
Thank you for the update and video!!!
Looks awesome racy
Love It! 🏁
Awesome job Greg. You don't think it's possible to get any more excited and then we hear and see from other people and the hype machine is cranked up another notch. 😂
I hope the walls will still have the retro red and white color scheme!
The WCS painted on the retaining walls, if kept, will be hidden by safer barrier. I think they had to pour new walls to upgrade the catch fence.
Word is the Winston tower wall will stay as is.
Any restoration or reproductions could be construed as new advertising by Imperial Tobacco under the tobacco lawsuit settlement is what I read.
Give the spokesperson some props, guy is fantastic at his job!
I doubt they will, but it would be cool if they left all the Winston Cup stuff painted on the buildings
I heard they were leaving the Winston Cup paint on the buildings.
They did repaint the Winston eagle. So that’s definitely staying.
It's staying but will have to be covered for the Cup weekend.
@@RacingVagabond I can live with that compromise tbf
They need to get a picture of Harvick, Jimmie, and Kurt in front of that wall.
They're the last active drivers who raced in the Winston era.
Kurt was also the last to have raced Earnhardt, after looking at last year's final standings.
2 years, two milestones.
I can see the cars going around her right now can't wair to see cup racing there once again .
Love this... Keep it coming. Can't wait till May. If anyone has camping suggestions close by please let me know. I was unable to get at track camping due to website issues.
Everyone thinks it’s Dale Jr that got this whole thing going…Not true! Benny Parsons wife is the reason this is happening!
Thanks for that tidbit . 👍👍👍 I looked it up .
Jr didn’t hurt the situation though
@@hankhell5663 no he didn’t, but credit should got to Both Benny and his wife, for continuing to want to see the track reopened. I just wish it had been done without Taxpayer Covid funds …
@@kharnthebetrayer1575 I miss BP
was she there when jr and his crew took the time 2 clean the track up?i doubt it.jr should get the most credit imo.
North Wilkesboro lives on!
This track should never have taken off the schedule.
The Winston name needs to be stay put!
I believe highway 421 should be renamed DALE EARNHARDT JR. Highway or Benny Parson I just think credit is due to at least someone who was a BIG influence on this REVIVAL.
I live 40 mins from Texas motor speedway and I am glad to see it NWS get back to nascar 😊
Now if they could somehow get The Rock back on the schedule.........
I'm pretty surprised they didn't go there first especially considering The Rock was just repaved. But probably because NASCAR/Smith's aren't involved with The Rock.
It came back but the fans didn't support it
I wish I had the money to buy Hickory and totally restore it. Right now, it's an eye sore, but it can be restored. There have been so many local tracks swallowed up by the builders stacking house on top of a house that looks like total shit and garbage.
The lights and infield pavement will give them a lot more flexibility for other events including concerts , shows etc.
Are they going to repave the track or leave the old asphalt? I would hate for the race to be negatively influenced by the track coming apart.
Last years late model racing proved the asphalt was good to continue and they cancelled the repave.
@@ryanclark5254 I just can’t help but thinking about the many times in the history of NASCAR when the track fell apart during a race. Jamie Mc Murray and Ryan Newman at Dover, Jeff Gordon at Martinsville, Daytona several years ago. I hope my concerns are wrong and the track surface holds up.
I saw someone say the repave will be after the allstar race. How long after is the question.
hey are rebuilding North Wilkesboro bringing some history and
Heritage with some Modern conveniences