Where in Carolina Country is This?
The April "Where Is This" photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon features North Wilkesboro Speedway (turns 1 and 2), located off US Highway 421 North in Wilkes County. Since the photo was snapped late last year, the 30,000-seat speedway underwent major renovations in preparation for the NASCAR 75th anniversary All-Star Race in late May, the first race to be held on this 0.625-mile short track since 1996. The track hosted NASCAR races from its opening in 1949 to 1996. After a years’ long campaign to bring the speedway back, those efforts finally received state and federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to open the track to racing once again. Submissions for this photo nearly broke a record with more than 1,000 total entries. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from of Janie Stephens of Mooresville, a Blue Ridge Energy member.
The speedway is a stop along the newly recognized Moonshine & Motorsports Trail, an educational initiative of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at ncmmtrail.com
