North Wilkesboro Speedway 2023 Update
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- čas přidán 6. 04. 2023
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For years now, the North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, has sat abandoned. Dormant and decaying, long gone from the iconic days of Nascar Winston Cup races and thousands of fans. Back in 2018, the future wasn't looking so promising. But, after new support from the state and famous racing driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., the track is back! Renovations have been made with the new 2023, Nascar All Star race taking place at North Wilkesboro on May 21! Join me today as I take a look at how this all happened and how this iconic abandoned location was resurrected.
My original video on NWS - • Abandoned - North Wilk...
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Bright Sun Films 2023
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Thanks for doing this follow up. This is perhaps one of the most poetic back-from-the-dead stories in all of NASCAR, and it's great to see the track come back alive.
Was hoping to see you here. :)
Your turn to make an update on your Wilkesboro video 😉
Thank you Steve Phelps! Steve Phelps made this possible!
I saw this in my feed, clicked on it, and then went "wait where southern man talking nascar go?", then I realized it wasn't yours XD
Hey Slap, yours and Jakes videos about Norh Wilkesboro are 100% the reason why Im now OBSESSED with NASCAR as a 40+ year old Aussie who was initially raised on V8 Touring C
Thank you both for opening my eyes to this amazing form of racing that we dont have here in Oz
Im now going to the All Star Race, its gonna cost me a fucking fortune and all my friends here think Im nuts but I HAVE to be there!
The poetic karma of Wilkes replacing TMS as the all star race, love it, can’t wait for next month!
Top 10 Anime Comebacks
Can I get an aaaaamen?!
What goes around comes around
Now we just need Rockingham to take back it's date
As someone that attended TMS twice a year for 13 years I could not agree more! TMS just kept jacking up the price while cutting the benefits of going. Oh and the Racing at TMS really did suck. Just went because it was the closest track to Louisiana.
This NASCAR fan couldn’t be more proud of them bringing it back
Even though NASCAR these days is pretty much 💩 especially with all the complicated and confusing systems I’ll probably give this year’s All Star Race a chance
“more prouder” self proclaimed nascar fan.. checks out😂
@@JuNkyMuNky60 sorry my brain is messed up sometimes just who I am 🥴
They brought the simpler All star race system too, I can’t wait. Wilksboro first, maybe Nashville fairgrounds next???😊😊😊
@@drewmobley3924 maybe Nashville will replace California one day
I went to the races in August and there is no way I can explain how magical those nights were, especially the one with Dale Jr seeing the grandstands completely full of people and cars on the track was something special and I can't wait to go back in May. I'm so happy it returned and thank you for covering the track 5 years ago and raising awareness!
As someone who's been a NASCAR fan since 2005 and a BSF fan since about 2015, this video is arguably my favorite video you've ever uploaded. If it's possible to get you and Emmi tickets, you should really go to the all-star race. After all, I fully believe your video was a significant part of the track's revival. On behalf of NASCAR fans, thank you Jake. Congrats on 10 years.
I miss the brightsungaming days
Now there’s a rare take haha!
98% sure tickets are sold out.. but if they’re not, I would be more than happy to do my part and put in $25-$50 to donate so BSF can get tickets??? Come on y’all who’s with me? If tickets aren’t sold out lol
I've mostly been an F1 fan all my life, but this project tops any Vegas or Miami spectacle...This is what authentic racing feels like
Nothing beats a hometown short track. It's a vibe that just can't be captured at these bigger tracks
One thing F1 and NASCAR fans can agree on is that the trend of bland samey track in big cities needs to go
But fake boats... XD
@@x808drifter
I was born in Florida and have lived here my entire life. That fake marina made me feel embarrassed as a Floridian to have my state host an F1 race. What a disappointment. They should have just had it in Daytona, Homestead, or Sebring. Forget the "city" circuit in Miami. It's not even downtown, so what's the point of having it there? Added tourism, I guess? That's pretty silly.
@farhanatashiga3721 were not that much different from each other. Both long for the days of yester year when racing was good. We both miss the old sounds of our cars, we are getting tired of the Governing Body fucking with the sport
The most ironic part: North Wilkes lost its date to Texas Motorspeedway, and now Texas-the previous host of the all star race-is losing its first of two dates back to North Wilkesboro
As a diehard NASCAR fan, what they’ve done here - specifically Dale Jr - is absolutely beautiful and SO rare. Cannot take these moments and victories for granted. Thanks for covering this!
It’s a damn racetrack! You act as if it is solving world hunger. This should have been down with only private funds, not taxpayers’ money. The Governor is an idiot.
Glad to see historic sites like this being re-renovated for future generations
Unlike malls that fall into decline and are either abandoned or demolished into an Amazon. See the reference I really like the BSF abandoned mall videos
I am so stoked about this in a good way
As someone who lives in Wilkes County, I can't tell you how hard the people here fought to keep the track alive... When it was the First Union 400, this track brought soo much money and excitement to this community. When it was removed from the NASCAR season, our county struggled a lot economically. Tyson and Lowe's Hardware were our only big cooperate employment opportunities.
Big thanks indeed to the NASCAR legends who respect and love our track. So much life has been brought back to our community because of them.
It feels slightly weird to get an uplifting ending on this channel, but I'm here for it. lol
I know right?
The update video we racing fans have been waiting from BSF, especially after the many changes 5 years later. NWS is back 👏🔥
My grandmother grew up on speedway ln, and was lucky enough have driven on the track many times. Her brothers were big time bootleggers in wilkesboro and had connections deep in the stock car racing scene. Bringing back a track like is legendary because it doesnt just bring back that old spirit, it brings back the people who made life long memories and nascar history in that community. That first race back will have a very unique feeling, almost 100 years of racing resurrected from the dust
I was able to attend when they reopened the track in 2010, and got a personal tour from the Groundskeeper Mr. Call when i stopped by one day on action in 2017. I bought the iRacing version, because i figured it would never come back. This is the coolest thing ever.
Funnily enough I think it was iracing that got people to notice the track in the first place
I attended the grassroots revival they did back last summer, and to see the progress made since then has been nothing short of incredible. I've lived in this part of North Carolina all my life, and to see this historic track back up to not only operating status, but looking better than it EVER has, brings a tear to my eye, every time. BSF, if good fortune ever finds you in this part of America, I hope you can see the place in person. Your jaw will drop when you see its transformation up close and personally
Wilkesboro was the first place I lived when I moved to the US. I always loved getting to drive by it, and even walk around it as a kid. I've since moved closer to Charlotte, but when I visited recently I was blown away by the progress they've made since I lived there. Can't wait to watch the cup race in person next month.
I have very little interest in NASCAR, but I'm really happy that this circuit is coming back - it's an historic monument and deserves to be preserved. It matters.
Same here, left Nascrap years ago but way to use public funds to enrich Speedway executives. Rich get richer but at least this track got preserved for another few years.
Agree 100%
I love that this track is coming back, and it’s hilarious that the track it’s replacing for the All-Star Race is the same one that replaced it in 1997: Texas Motor Speedway.
It might be a misplacement of funds, but I say it's better that the money go to a historic site that generates revenue as opposed to some gaudy mall or condos that a senator coincidentally has investments in. Also, it's pretty neat that Junior is so involved with the revival of this track. I think Dale would be proud.
Glad he was also the guy who made the format...brought back the pit crew challenge(last seen in 2010) and he is also the vice chairman at the track
Jr has enough money that he could have bought the track and renovated himself. Just because the waste of money goes to something you personally approve of, doesn’t mean it isn’t still a waste. Government has no place in private business what so ever.
@@mopar_dude9227 And yet you say nothing when that said-taxpayer money was used for NBA stadiums that have no historical value behind them
I'm very glad that they brought this track back. It's from the golden era of nascar. The Winston cup Era Thank you for Dale junior and the rest of nascar to bring this track back. I'm looking forward to that race in May. Old school nascar.
not only winston cup era, from way before. Nascar's first champion, Red Byron, was crowned there, when it was still a dirt track. A place like this inactive the way it was is close to a crime or a sin. Nascar itself should've brought the track and make a memorial, museum or something if they weren't willing to race there
The Speedway is located in my hometown and the re-opening of the track is almost a saving Grace to an otherwise area in decline.
However while all attention is being focused on the remodeling and re-opening of the Speedway, what isn’t being reported is the almost non existent parking and infrastructure in place to handle the NASCAR race.
Right, and that’s one of the reasons why it closed since there is no infrastructure for such a large event. So it’s going to be interesting to see how this goes!
should be an opportunity for the locals to make some extra cash charging for parking ?
God bless folks like you for covering these historic places. Thank you to Dale Jr. for being such a voice for the sport.
I may not be a racing fan, but I can appreciate something like this managing to come back around.
Absolutely awesome!! I love this video and I especially loved the old North Wilkesboro Speedway! This video is even better news that the original video! I’m so glad the NASCAR track is working again and I cannot wait to visit! Also congratulations on 10 years of BSF!
Thanks for the heart! Also are you planning on going to the All Star race there in May? I will be hopefully!
It’s so cool that North Wilksboro went to it’s original ways. Nice and classic look.
The Update Us Nascar fans we needed the most
As a North Carolinian, this makes me so happy.
When I did watch Nascar, this was one of my favorites to watch.
We saw the Freedom Factory (former DeSoto Speedway) come back to life and sell out events, and now this track is coming back from the dead. I love seeing renovations like this! There's so much soul and history in these types of places that you can never replace.
you were the first person I thought whenever I heard updates. From Dale Jr bringing his show “Lost speedways” there to the current remodeling before the Nascar All Star weekend. Thank you for these videos!!!
Having seen this track at its worst in person... and doubting every good bit of news i heard before the pandemic hit... it just brings a chill through my spine seeing it all come together the last couple of years. The all star race sold out in a matter of seconds. They supposedly signed a contract to host it the next FOUR years. The whole is still just surreal and i couldnt be more proud of this sport ive supported nearly my entire life. Thank you for giving an up bright sun!
Jake you should do a video of Abandoned on Julia Keen Elementary here in Tucson, AZ. I have details and the history is really interesting.
I'm not a NASCAR fan so I can't share the same feelings they have for the speedway, but as fan of the channel and its great every time we see an abandoned location actually being brought back to life as the very thing it was, and not as some modern structure that in no way resembles what it was that made it important.
This is so satisfying because North Wilkesboro didn't die of natural causes. It was straight up murdered, sacrificed just so another track could get a second date. NWS is the Maximus of NASCAR tracks: "I will have my revenge in this life or the next."
reminder that Sonic Automotive and Bruton Smith killed it and still own it.
The best part is it's replacing a race at Texas, which is the track that resulted in it's closure (although it wasn't a second race, that didn't happen until 2005 when it got Rockingham's date).
@@RacingVagabond - I thought New Hampshire got one of the NWS dates?
@Christopher Weise You are correct, forgot about that.
It was because it didn’t generate near the money that other tracks did. NASCAR is a business, and businesses need to make money.
Idk how many times between Twitter and here I've asked about it. But thanks for this beautifully done update video.
Glad I can make it happen for ya!
I heard about this race yesterday and 1st thing I thought of was your video on it, so happy to see it back
Im obsessed with stories like this. This needs to happen more.
Every time Jake uploads. It makes me happy. You truly have a great narrator's voice. I'm glad I subscribed a long time ago.
Thanks for sticking with me!
Always BROTHER. I introduced your channel to my sister, and she let me know that some teachers show your videos in the class sometimes. It also plays on the school employee break room tv. You have a large fan base of 5th graders in the northeast.
God Bless Dale Jr for getting the ball rolling on this project. he truly has a love for the history of the sport
He also has a big enough checkbook to have done this without help from the government. I was a big fan of him, and even a bigger fan of his dad, but I have lost a bit of respect for him now.
Glad to see this place is getting a lot of work to redone
Im so glad you covered this! Its been great following the news and progress of this track coming back to life!
I live in the uk and know about this track and I am glad it has been saved. My local tack Goodwood was abandoned at one point and know holds one off the biggest race weekends in the country the Goodwood revival.
*now
ABOUT TIME YOU UPLOADED THIS
i love the modern look of the track! it still screams old Wilkesboro but with a modern twist.
Great video, but just to note that "The Winston" was never held at North Wilkesboro, that mural on the wall is merely the old "NASCAR Winston Cup Series" logo, as it used to be known.
Loved the follow up video! I was lucky enough to be part of the crowd in August 2022 and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. The entire time I kept finding myself thinking of your abandoned video of North Wilkesboro. I thought the only way I'd ever get to see the speedway was if I hoped the fence and tried not to get caught. Watching your first video so many times, it was surreal taking in the real thing! I got emotional right before the green flag because the energy and weight of the moment as a piece of, not just history, but reviving history was incredibly special, and I will remember it for the rest of my life!! Got my tickets for the All-Star weekend soon as I could and can't wait to be heading back to NWBS in May!
It's great to get this track back from the dead just in time for the 75th anniversary of NASCAR. Also I find it ironic that Texas took a date from North Wilkesboro and now as the saying goes, what goes around comes around, took about 28 years to come back around but it came back around nonetheless.
I’m in that area a lot and couldn’t be happier that this is coming back! Top gear featured it on their USA tour when Jeremy clarkson drove the Mercedes SLS and killed the rear tires there!
Your first video is what originally made me think it was unrealistic to ever bring it back or salvage it.
But did a miracle ever happen and it’s an amazing, beautiful thing!!
Went to the truck and All Star race last weekend and the "Racetrack Revival" back in August. Its simply amazing what they did with the place in 9 months time. LOTS of port-a-johns but even the brick and mortar facilites were cleaned up and brought back to cutrent standards.
jake i recommend checking out texas world speedway it was another former nascar track that was 2 miles long and had closed down in 2017 and had been used as a car lot for cars during the 2017 hurricane season and recently was demolished it has some crazy history too it
Absolutely love the vids you do of this track. Would love you to do others and possibly abandoned places in video game history.
We did a tour video there right before they ripped everything up for renovation. I would love to see you cover more automotive/racing stuff
As a CDL Driver I used to pass this track all the time, Used to break my heart to see it. Excited to see people haven' forgotten.
Racetracks across the country have been closing because apartments and homes are being built close by the tracks and people complain then the tracks close and its been a never ending cycle for the last few years.
so this change i welcome and it is really promising for the future of racing i just hope more tracks will be saved.
I love seeing tracks getting saved and im tired of seeing them demolished for apartment complexes.
Been waiting for this video 🤝
Hope you enjoyed it!
What I like is they are blending the old school by keeping the track the way people remember it just updated a bit. We need nostalgia in this country so badly and to see this track get a new lease on life is great news!
The race I went to when Jr ran the cars tour was the most amazing crowd n vibes. Gives me chills thinking about it!!
I'm not into nascar, I'm more a Le Mans and F1 fan but it's good that this track got saved & revived.... it's good to see something be preserved rather than be turned into another skyscraper or whatever lol
Lmao no one is building a skyscraper anytime soon in north Wilkesboro.
@@kylejohn44 I don't mean literally, I mean how every time something goes into disrepair we repurpose it into something trashy yeah? cheaply made but expensive rent? big eyesore nobody likes when the original structure was liked?
like i said the sport might not be my thing but glad it was rebuilt and restored
I'm glad their bringing it back! I'm born and raised in NC and grew up with my family loving nascar. I remember driving past the track on race days and just listening to the roar of the cars and crowds. Wilkesboro is a great little town and they can really use the boost in tourist that comes with the races. I live and work in Winston-Salem (about 35 minutes away) and it will bring a lot of folks to our area as well.
I’m not even a huge fan of nascar. But I will say that ever since I watched your first video I’ve been following this racetrack and I’m so glad it has returned. I hope to go watch a race there one day.
I’m sorta the same way
Earlier today, I was wondering when this video would come out. NASCAR is inevitable.
This warms my heart. I love seeing old tracks be brought back. Also, Dale Jr wears some thick ass glasses. They look as thick as my wife's coke bottle glasses.
I went there myself and did some drone shots about 3 years ago and I’m so happy to see this track resurrected! I plan on returning with some follow up footage as well. This makes me a very proud North Carolinian! 😁
Excellent job on this video, and awesome follow up. North Wilkesboro lost its race to Texas Motor Speedway and now it's come full circle where Texas lost a race to North Wilkesboro Speedway.
A resurgence we never saw coming but we are glad to see it happened.
Hot damn! Preserving history, pleasing fans, and creating jobs, well done.
I'm very happy but also very sad Nazareth Speedway will likely never be able to have this kind of treatment. Nazareth Speedway would be amazing if it could operate today :-(
I wish North Wilkesboro the best of luck and I hope to see Jeff Gordon somewhere with his rainbow suit :))
This brought a tear to my eyes. Thank you. 😢😊so happy this place is back.
Very cool. Nice to see an old location like this live again.
It sure is!
This is a VERY big deal for the sport.
Thank you for sharing this topic!
My dad is a huge NASCAR fan so I've seen a lot and Dale Jr is a special one! If he says it's good, it's good 👍
I live in a town very close by and am absolutely dreading the traffic this race will bring but on the otherhand am amazed by it returning!
I've never watched Nascar, yet I'm so excited about this. I love update videos.
wow!... thus is a really good and huge story!.. thank you!... i watched your earlier post on this track and yes, it was sad ... its so refreshing to hear this news!
You’re videos are amazing, I love learning the history of all the different places and things. And I LOVE that you do follow ups and updates
Great update on the track Jake!!! So glad it’s being brought back to life!! Such a beautiful track!
I know nothing about NASCAR, but I'm very happy for all of the NASCAR fans out there getting this piece of history back.
I told you in 2018 how much I appreciated you even covering the speedway. Not to mention what that kind of attention it could garner for a revival of sorts, and look where we are now. God I love my motorsports and my man Bright Sun Films. Thank you my friend in many ways you helped us push this narrative of a revival just by bringing to light the state of the facility. You rock and so does your work. Keep it up my friend and PLEASE do more abandoned racetracks across the US and Canada.
This made me smile. Old school brought up to date. I needed this today. Thank you.
Fantastic news. It's great to see this kind of follow-up story to something that appeared to be lost forever.
There is tracks like this all over the south. There is one in Asheville NC near Amboy rd that was turned into a cyclist track.
YES the update is finally here!! Awesome video!
Not a dedicated fan of NASCAR, you won’t see me following every little event or studying to learn every major event in the sport history. But as a blossoming car enthusiast it does make me happy to see a return of spirit into motor sports. Even if it is small, it goes a long way as car hobbyists and enthusiasts are greatly oppressed by law makers.
That intro jingle SLAPS!
I've been waiting for this video since they reopened the track. Great job!
Nice to see a little hope for the future every now and again.
Awesome update video, really appreciate all the detail and research you put into your videos
I appreciate that!
It’s so beautiful, the trucks having the only points paying race there this season is definitely a test to see what it would be like to bring all three series back there again. As long as the All-Star race does well too. I think we’ll be seeing North Wilkesboro every year.
Awesome follow up video. Haven’t seen a race run here since I was a little kid so I’m happy to see it back on the schedule!
WE ARE BACK! Thank you for doing this this track has been always my favorite and the history behind it
the locals could use the tourism big time. very smart move.
And that the annual Apple Festival they have will not be the only source of tourist income for North Wilksboro
Awesome update. Often wondered what they would do with it.
Thank you so much for the update Jake!!!! 🏁🏁
Yesterday they announced the format for the All Star Race at North Wilkesboro
Love your videos, man! I look forward to viewing them on Friday's.
Thank you so much!
Congrats on 10 years! Here's to 10 more and beyond! I sure do enjoy your channel. You take me places where I would never dare to venture on my own.
I'm so glad you did a video on this and I'm so glad this track is back it's going to be so cool to watch it on TV
As a racing fan, this is huge for nascar. People have been calling for this tracks return since the day it closed.
Thanks for revisiting this story. It's great to see this historic facility come back to life. I am looking forward to the May races.
Never thought I'd make a cameo in a Bright Sun video, but I'm in the crowd shot at 4:58 😂