NASCAR his heading back to North Wilkesboro Speedway next year.
The 2024 All-Star Race events will be held at the North Carolina track the weekend of May 17-19.
The historic .675-mile oval that held its first NASCAR race in 1949 had fell into disrepair after its last Cup Series race in 1996, but was purchased by Speedway Motorsports and refurbished in recent years through an effort promoted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
It was modernized, but its worn surface was left intact along with its overall look, which includes a small grandstand capacity of around 20,000. According to Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, the racing surface will be repaved before the 2024 event.
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The track hosted the $1 million 2023 All-Star Race, which was won by Kyle Larson.
“We are very grateful that NASCAR and FOX Sports have supported our efforts to bring the NASCAR All-Star Race back to North Wilkesboro in 2024,†Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith said in a press release.
“While NASCAR’s current 75th anniversary season still has some memorable moments to come, it’s hard to imagine a more magical moment than what we witnessed with NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway this past May.”
The All-Star Race weekend will include a pit stop challenge on Friday, a Truck Series race on Saturday and the All-Star Race Sunday.
The CARS Tour late model series will also be at the track on May 14-15.
There had been talk about North Wilkesboro possibly hosting a points race in 2024, as NASCAR looks to fill a slot in the schedule vacated by the temporary closure of Auto Club Speedway in California, but that won’t be the case.
The full 2024 NASCAR schedule is expected to be released soon, but one other change has already been confirmed, as the Bristol Motor Speedway’s spring race will be held on concrete instead of dirt next year.
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The season will also kick off once again with the Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Coliseum on a temporary paved quarter-mile track built in the stadium.
