It’s about time. That’s what many race fans said Sunday when the news came that there will be racing again at the North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time since 1996. The USARacing Pro Cup Championship Series, formally Hooters Pro Cup, will run at the famed speedway in October 2010.
So what? What is so great about North Wilkesboro Speedway and why care that a small series would go to a track that has been doing nothing but sitting and rotting for 13 years?
Well those fans who asked that question have missed out. North Wilkesboro Speedway was one of NASCAR’s best and famed tracks. The track was built in 1946. The track was suppose to be a high banked speedway, until the owner ran out of money and closed to the track to the .625 mile 14 degree banked oval we now know today. In 1995 Burton Smith bought the track and refused to make the necessary upgrades to the racetrack to keep the cup series going there.
Later in 1996, NASCAR announced the dates of the North Wilkesboro races would be moved to New Hampshire and Texas Motor Speedway.
Many drivers have missed going to North Wilkesboro, “Boy. I miss that place,” said Mark Martin when shown highlight films in 2005.
The track was up for sale for $12 million and a group of people bought the track, including Terri Parsons, wife of the late Benny Parsons, who grew up in North Wilkesboro and Parson fans know how near and dear North Wilkesboro was to his heart.
Over the years North Wilkesboro hasn’t seen much racing. In 2004, Roush Racing hosted his “GONG Show,” there giving drivers a change to compete for a ride in the NASCAR Truck Series.
But when the track was open many fans considered it a favorite. “You use to park on people’s front lawns, they use to barbeque for you and you could buy good food real cheap. You became friends with those people. They remembered me everytime I went and I remembered them. Then we’d walk a half mile to the racetrack and sit on cement seats and half one hell of a time,” said Eric who was an avid visitor to North Wilkesboro.
Perhaps, the biggest scoring mistake in NASCAR history also happened at the track. The incident involved two current broadcasters and the current pace car driver in the Sprint Cup Series.
The date was April 22, 1990 and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series headed to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the running of the First Union 400. The race was competitive, many drivers took the lead and Darrell Waltrip seemed to have the dominate car for the race. It was however, a late caution flag that started all the controversy.
Earlier in the event, Bodine short pitted, giving him an advantage, because North Wilkesboro was so abrasive and fresh tires was a huge advantage. Bodine had the lead because of the advantage and as soon as the pit stops cycled around, Kenny Wallace, who was making his cup debut, crashed with 79 laps to go.
NASCAR didn’t have electronic scoring back then and the pace car made a huge mistake. The pace car picked up second place driver Dale Earnhardt. Bodine then pitted for four fresh tires, which would have put him at the end of the pack anyway. But when NASCAR realized their mistake, they didn’t see Bodine pit, and gave him the lead, which was what they thought was correct.
“I’m Not the leader,” Bodine said on the radio. “Shh….they don’t know that, maybe we can sneak out a win before they realized we pitted,” crew chief Larry McReynolds said and McReyolds was right. Bodine would lead the rest of the way and take home his first and only Winston Cup victory.
“I remember sitting in the stands wondering if Waltrip would catch him,” said Eric, referring to Darrell Waltrip who finished second that afternoon, “He just didn’t have the tires at the end and Bodine drove away with it. It was a crazy day and one that I will remember forever.”
North Wilkesboro Speedway provided fans with thrills and memories that will last forever. It’s good to see the old track back running again to do the same to a new generation of racing fans.
