Paul Call, who worked as the caretaker for North Carolina’s North Wilkesboro Speedway since the 1960s, died on Sunday after a bout with cancer at age 88.
“For more than 60 years North Wilkesboro Speedway has been cared for by one man, Paul Caul who began working for Enoch Staley when he was just 16 years old watching the track flourish with the best NASCAR drivers in the world and the biggest of events,” the Save the Speedway organization said in social media posts.
“When the track closed in 1996, Paul continued his work as the only employee of the speedway caring for the track he lived next to, telling stories and keeping the facility safe. Paul never lost faith NASCAR would return and the speedway would reopen and it did with the 2023 NASCAR All Star Race right outside his front door as he watched the speedway reborn.”
The speedway’s facilities were refurbished in recent years under current owner Speedway Motorsports, but it hosted the All-Star Race on a track surface that hadn’t been repaved since 1981.
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New asphalt was laid down in early November in preparation for the return of the All-Star Race and other events next year.