Misplaced Pages

#928071

99-438: The track has a capacity of 25,000 as of 2023. NWS retains a vintage aesthetic from the 1990s as part of an effort to preserve the historical value of the track. As a result, the facility retains some of its original buildings built before the track's first closure in 1996, including buildings featuring Winston Cigarettes sponsorship and suites built in the 1980s. Developers in recent years have also added other amenities as part of

198-475: A COVID-19 relief economic package that would give $ 10 million to the government of Wilkes County to repair the facility. By August, the amount increased to $ 20 million. A renewed sense of hope rang through Wilkes County Board of Commissioners, with commissioner Eddie Settle giving an "optimistic" prediction that racing would resume at the facility by July 2022; a major boost to the financially riddled Wilkes County, which had seen most of its economic bloodlines abandon

297-644: A PASS event. After holding a one-off PASS race in April 2011, on May 10, McBride announced the second closure of the facility due to a lack of funding. STS, who had worked with McBride Jr. until April, stated that McBride Jr. had "alienated volunteers and the local power structure". Years after the closure, McBride Jr. blamed the local government for the closure, claiming that the city council refused to give him an annual investment that he claims they promised. He stated in Autoweek , "[North Wilkesboro] Mayor [Robert] Johnson

396-518: A common tactic in NASCAR races. In 1963, Johnson had a two-lap lead in the World 600 at Charlotte before a spectator threw a bottle onto the track and caused a crash; Johnson suffered only minor injuries. Johnson also tried but failed to qualify for the 1963 Indianapolis 500 . Johnson retired as a driver in 1966. In his career, Johnson claimed 50 victories, 11 at major speedway races. He retired as

495-426: A date up here to New Hampshire." Bob Bahre's comments on his resistance to sell his interest to Bruton Smith , April 11, 1996 Bahre stated on April 11 a reluctance to sell his interest to Bruton, saying, "Bruton is pretty bitter about [my purchase]"... I won't accept any offer he gives me." At the 1996 First Union 400, the duo met for the first time in more than two months; although they stated intents on running

594-475: A fictionalized Johnson, and Johnson himself served as technical advisor for the film. The movie was critically acclaimed and featured the Jim Croce hit song "I Got A Name". Follow Your Dreams Productions' President and CEO, Fred Griffith , has signed a rights deal for a true-life story movie about Junior Johnson (Sports Illustrated Vault, 2006). Griffith, an American actor and producer from South Carolina,

693-476: A last-ditch effort to purchase the facility, but Bahre refused to accept the offer. Bahre stated hopes of selling his share of the facility back to the Staley family, but he was only willing to do so on the condition that Bruton did the same. NWS' final points-paying Winston Cup Series race, the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 , ran on September 29, 1996. Two months later, NASCAR released their 1997 season schedules for

792-550: A multi-purpose building were constructed in the track's infield; before, crews had to stop working when rain pelted the track due to a lack of cover. In 1990, along with the addition of 3,100 seats, an electronic scoring pylon was added, replacing the last manual scoreboard on the Winston Cup Series schedule. The original West Grandstands were also expanded and renovated in 1992, with chairs replacing barren concrete tiers. Additional suites were added three years later. In

891-553: A quarter-million dollars. North Wilkesboro (and other short tracks like Bristol, Richmond and Nashville) couldn’t even put up $ 50,000. Flush with cash from ticket sales, bigger tracks could offer more and build more. A sellout a Daytona meant 110,000 fans then. North Wilkesboro? Fifteen thousand." Jeremy Markovich in a 2015 SB Nation article, which in part addressed the lack of capacity and purse money for North Wilkesboro Speedway compared to larger tracks NWS remained slow in improving amenities through most of its lifespan prior to

990-531: A revival effort that started in 2022. In the mid-1940s, local Carolinian Enoch Staley built a track near the Brushy Mountains with help from Lawson Curry, John Mastin, and the Combs family. NWS was propped up with NASCAR Cup Series races soon after with help from NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. Until the 1990s, the track was owned by the Staley and Combs families with each controlling half-interest, in

1089-534: A safer cigarette. In 1999, R.J. Reynolds was spun off from RJR Nabisco and subsequently sold its non-U.S. operations to Japan Tobacco. On July 15, 2014, Reynolds American (R.J. Reynolds parent company) agreed to purchase the Lorillard Tobacco Company for $ 27.4 billion and as a result, (to alleviate antitrust concerns) Winston, along with the Kool , Maverick , and Salem cigarette brands,

SECTION 10

#1732779889929

1188-485: A testing facility; however, the possibility of a sale was shot down by Bruton, who thought that the amount of money required to revive it was too much, stating that it was "fast returning to the earth". Later that year, a petition organized by real-estate agent Robert Glen that proposed to condemn the track so the Wilkes County government could sell it to an investor through eminent domain got 3,312 signatures; it

1287-418: A track cleanup to remove weeds as part of an effort for racing simulator iRacing and its developers to scan the track. The scan was eventually completed and added to the simulator by May 2020. In March 2021, Barry Braun, owner of a racing streaming service, met Marcus and proposed the idea to run dirt races at the facility. Within the month, Marcus stated on a podcast episode of The Dale Jr. Download that he

1386-610: A variety of industries, went to watch a stock car race in Spartanburg, South Carolina , with his friend, John Mastin. According to Staley in an interview with the Winston-Salem Journal , after watching the race, "I fell in love with racing... I was hooked." Soon after World War II , Staley was offered to purchase a plot of land from Lawson Curry, which Staley accepted. Staley later partnered with Curry, Mastin, Jack Combs, Charlie Combs, and Bill France Sr. to build

1485-579: A voice role in the animated film Cars 3 , as Junior "Midnight" Moon, a reference to his Moonshine Company. In May 2007, Johnson teamed with Piedmont Distillers to introduce the company's second moonshine product, called Midnight Moon. Johnson became part-owner of Piedmont Distillers, the only legal distiller in North Carolina at the time. Piedmont Distillers is located in Madison, N.C., in the town’s former train station built in 1915. The moonshine

1584-424: A windstorm, kickstarting the facility's deterioration. Three months later, SMI leadership stated hopes of holding a charity Busch Series race at NWS; the proposal, however, was considered dead by July according to Bahre. The owners later sold off the track's equipment the following year. Updates on the facility remained at a slow pace afterward, with the track continuing to deteriorate. In 1999, both owners petitioned

1683-407: A year and a half. Two years later, hopes of reviving the track under joint ownership were reported to be essentially dead; Bahre stated in an interview that although he saw the possibility of the track's revival, it was "probably going to be after Bruton and I are in heaven or hell". In early 2003, Johnson stated renewed interest of purchasing the track to run lower-series racing or to redesignate it as

1782-419: Is being made. As a result of it, most of the original structures built before 1996, including suites and a tower featuring a Winston Cigarettes -sponsored mural have been preserved. Modern amenities, such as new SAFER barriers , lighting systems, and sewer systems have or are planned to be added to modernize the facility as part of renovations. In 1945, Enoch Staley, who at the time was working numerous jobs at

1881-520: Is considered to be a key point in expanding the knowledge of NASCAR outside of its core Southeastern United States market. "Maybe [North Wilkesboro] already seemed like an oddity [early] because NASCAR had already started its push toward bigger, faster and longer. In the 1960s, superspeedways broke ground in Atlanta , Pocono and Talladega . By 1975, the Daytona 500 was offering a purse of more than

1980-468: Is currently adapting a screenplay based largely on the book, Junior Johnson, Brave In Life , written by Tom Higgins and Steve Waid (Big West Racing, 2006). Veteran actor and producer Chris Mulkey is a writing producer for the film. According to Griffith, this film—unlike The Last American Hero , which was about a fictionalized version of Johnson named Junior "Jackson"—will remain true to the real life of Junior Johnson.(Morris 2006, p. C-1) Johnson had

2079-468: Is fifth to Petty Enterprises , Hendrick Motorsports , Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing on the all-time list. His drivers won six Winston Cup Championships — three with Yarborough (1976–1978) and Waltrip (1981–82, 1985). In 2011, Johnson announced that he would restart a race team with son Robert as the driver. Junior Johnson Racing will be located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Robert,

SECTION 20

#1732779889929

2178-649: Is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series . From 1975 to 2001, Winston was also the sponsor of the NHRA drag racing series , which is currently sponsored by Camping World . Winston sponsored the Ten Kate Racing team in 2005 and 2006. In countries where tobacco advertising was prohibited, the acronym "WinWin" was used instead. Winston was a sponsor of the 1982 FIFA World Cup . Sailing Winston sponsored Dennis Connor's 1993/94 Whitbread 60 in

2277-527: The Marlboro man . In 1988, he publicly denounced the tobacco industry and joined the emerging anti-smoking movement after suffering health issues related to smoking. He has spent more than 20 years working in schools as a public speaker, encouraging kids not to start smoking. In September 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned ITG Brands, the makers of Winston cigarettes, that labeling

2376-518: The NASCAR championship with Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip three times each; Johnson was the first owner to win multiple championships with multiple drivers. He is credited as the first to use the drafting technique in stock car racing. He was nicknamed "The Last American Hero," and his autobiography and movie based on his upbringing is of the same name. In May 2007, Johnson teamed with Piedmont Distillers of Madison, North Carolina, to introduce

2475-478: The Philippines , Timor Leste , and Ethiopia . Junior Johnson Robert Glenn Johnson Jr. (June 28, 1931 – December 20, 2019), better known as Junior Johnson , was an American professional stock car racing driver, engineer, and team owner as well as an entrepreneur. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966. In the 1970s and 1980s, he became a NASCAR racing team owner, winning

2574-495: The 1940s was reportedly found underneath the grandstands; this has been disputed due to NWS' reputation with poor drainage issues before SMI's purchase of the track. Since 2023, North Wilkesboro Speedway has hosted the NASCAR All-Star Race , an exhibition, non-points paying race. Along with its exhibition Cup Series race, the track has also hosted a third-tier NASCAR Truck Series race since its revival. Until 1996,

2673-477: The 1980s, making gradual improvements every few years. In 1955, construction started on a new concrete grandstand to replace the original wooden grandstands, with the new grandstand seating around 5,200. It was completed by April 1956. Enoch announced the track's paving in June 1957; it was completed by September of that year. Four years later, renovations to the infield and the addition of 3,500 seats were made. By 1963,

2772-515: The 2010 UARA Rookie of the Year, planned to run a 28–30 race schedule in 2011, which includes the entire K&N East Series schedule and some races in the UARA and Whelen All-American Series . Johnson was briefly married in 1949 to Mary Gray. His marriage to childhood sweetheart Flossie Clark (1929–2020) ended in divorce in 1992; they were legally married in 1975, although they had been together since

2871-516: The Busch and Craftsman Truck Series; NWS was left off both of them. Though the track was essentially considered defunct, Bahre still stated hopes of hosting some type of local racing at the facility, with Bahre accusing Bruton of an attempt to "throw the Staleys under the bus". After a failed stockholders' meeting on December 19, on January 3, 1997, the Winston-Salem Journal reported that the facility

2970-516: The Holly Farms 400, they did not clarify NWS or Texas' future in remaining on the Winston Cup Series schedule. The Holly Farms 400 was later confirmed to run on April 24, with France Jr. vetoing Bahre's offer to move the race to New Hampshire within the 1996 season due to time restraints within the month. In May, although Bahre had engaged in multiple previous meetings with Bruton's close associate, Humpy Wheeler , no agreement between him and Bruton

3069-545: The NASCAR Cup Series) ran their first races at the facility. In 1953, both Mastin brothers sold their interest of NWS to Jack Combs. Throughout the track's history, it became renowned for its connection to moonshine runners ; a common activity within the Wilkes County area that has its roots in the American Prohibition era . The town of North Wilkesboro , considered to be the "Moonshine Capital of

North Wilkesboro Speedway - Misplaced Pages Continue

3168-596: The North Carolina Property Tax Commission to reduce the track's tax value because it was "outdated". That same year, Bruton stated to The Charlotte Observer stated that as long as he did not have full control over the speedway, he would not do anything to revive it, stating, "[SMI] only own[s] 50 percent and we’re not going to use our wonderful assets — our people — for something that we only own 50 percent of." By August 1999, according to Bahre, he and Bruton had not talked to each other in

3267-439: The Staley family expressed "pure agony" at the offer, they relented after realizing their financial situation. On January 2, 1996, Bahre's purchase was officially announced, which was later revealed to be at a price of $ 8 million. At the time, the purchase led to thoughts of NWS's Winston Cup Series dates being in jeopardy. Two days after Bahre's purchase, Bruton and Bahre announced while the 1996 First Union 400 would take place,

3366-561: The U.S. The brand is named after the town where R. J. Reynolds started his business which is Winston-Salem, North Carolina . As of 2017 , Winston has the seventh-highest U.S. market share (2 percent) of all cigarette brands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maxwell Report. This market share has been falling since 2003, when it peaked at 3.92 percent, although Winston has consistently been in

3465-569: The U.S. while the American version of the brand has faced steadily declining sales, dropping to sixth place by 2005 in the last national survey. The American version of Winston is also known for its more recent claim of becoming additive-free in the late 1990s. This in turn led to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission requiring Winston to clarify subsequent advertisements that the lack of additives did not result in

3564-621: The Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. Connors sailed 2 legs of the race with Winston finishing 6th overall & 4th in the Whitbread 60 class Winston was one of the original sponsors of The Flintstones , from 1960 to 1962. In the commercials, Flintstones characters Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble were seen promoting Winston, and every episode ended with Fred lighting a Winston for his wife Wilma while singing

3663-595: The Winston branding as last used in 2003). Following a four-year legal battle against ITG Brands, which argued that the sale of Winston brand from R.J. Reynolds in 2015 meant that the history of the Winston Cup Series belonged to them, the museum closed in July 2023 as part of an injunction before permanently closing on December 18, 2023, following a brief reopening in September. Winston cigarettes were or still are sold in

3762-669: The World" by the 1950s, was a moonshine runner haven, with moonshine contributing a sizable part of the North Wilkesboro economy. Many within the Carolinas who participated in moonshine running were also directly involved in the formation of stock car racing , which subsequently created NASCAR. In 1965, the track, along with North Wilkesboro native and former moonshine runner Junior Johnson , were featured in an Esquire article written by journalist Tom Wolfe . The article itself

3861-724: The agency shipped out in August 2015 to cigarette companies whose products were labeled "additive-free", "natural" or both. Winston had been previously settled with the FTC (when tobacco advertising was under their purview) regarding similar claims in 1999. After Winston relinquished their sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004, a museum honoring the Winston Cup era opened in 2005, operated independently of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company or NASCAR themselves (but otherwise using

3960-482: The buzzards came in". According to Markovich, soon after Enoch's death, motorsports businessman Bruton Smith , founder of Speedway Motorsports, Inc , (SMI), drove over to the Combs family to negotiate the sale of the Combs' half interest of the track. Having started on building the Texas Motor Speedway that year, he proposed to the family to move one of North Wilkesboro's race weekends to Texas and move

4059-457: The community." Due to Bruton's claims, predictions were made that the September race, the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 , would still run, with Texas gaining a race weekend later that year in November. Bahre later claimed that although he had scheduled meetings with Bruton over the approval, Bruton had not contacted him back by January 6; he also stated that he did not know Bruton's plans of leaving

North Wilkesboro Speedway - Misplaced Pages Continue

4158-462: The company's second moonshine product, called "Midnight Moon Moonshine", a nod to the days of his early youth in the 1940s when he made a living as a moonshiner/moonrunner and bootlegger. Johnson was born in Ronda, North Carolina , the fourth of seven children of Lora Belle (Money) and Robert Glenn Johnson, Sr. His family is of Ulster Scots descent, and settled in the foothills of North Carolina in

4257-589: The county in the years following Bruton's purchase of the track. The funding was finalized to be voted on by the North Carolina General Assembly in November, with the final amount totaling to $ 18 million; the budget proposal passed within the month. Soon after, SMI began construction and the demolition of dilapidated buildings within the facility. Smith unveiled revitalization plans and conceptual drawings in January 2022, stating that there

4356-470: The director of Wilkes Economic Development, found out that McBride Jr. was involved in several bouts of legal issues, including bankruptcy and marriage issues. Despite this, Alexander pledged his support to McBride Jr. The track held its first activities in May of that year, hosting a movie premiere and amateur racing. Four months later, NWS held its first official races in over 14 years, with Chase Elliott winning

4455-546: The early 1950s. (Racing Legends have them as married in 1958). His marriage to Lisa Day (b.1965) in 1992 resulted in two children: daughter Meredith Suzanne (b.1995) and son Robert Glenn Johnson III (b.1993), both of whom attended Duke University. Johnson built a new home for his family in 1997, ultimately selling in 2012 because of poor health. He resided in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the time of his death in 2019. Until Flossie's death on April 9, 2020, she still resided in

4554-518: The eighteenth century. The Johnson family was involved in the whiskey business before he was born. His maternal great-grandfather served as the second-highest-ranking Confederate general in North Carolina. His father, a lifelong bootlegger , spent nearly twenty of his sixty-three years in prison, as their house was frequently raided by revenue agents. Junior was arrested and spent one year in prison in Ohio in 1956-57 for having an illegal still, although he

4653-406: The end of the 1970s, the track surface was repaved. However, by September 1980, the track surface drew complaints from drivers for its quick deterioration. At the end of the 1980 Holly Farms 400 , winner Bobby Allison stated that it was a "disgrace to have to run on a track [surface] like this". As a result, it was repaved by December of that year. Eight years later, a new infield, roofed garage and

4752-448: The facility open. At the time, many within the industry met the decision with a reluctant acceptance for the move, finding it necessary to continue NASCAR's "progress" of expansion. Immediately after the purchase, however, the future of any NASCAR racing at NWS was met with doubt due to Bahre and Bruton's relationship, entering a bitter dispute because both wanted full control of the facility for themselves. Bruton then threatened to shut down

4851-571: The facility ran two points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race weekends for most of its existence: the spring First Union 400 and the fall Tyson Holly Farms 400 . The former, traditionally known as the Gwyn Staley 400, was first run in 1951. The latter, traditionally known as the Wilkes 400, was first held in 1949 in October. Both races remained annually on the schedule until they were both taken off

4950-439: The facility to last more than a year, stating, "back then, promoters built tracks like they might not run but one race. We were like the rest of them... We didn't know where we were going, and we didn't have any long-range plans." Initially, Enoch, John Mastin, and John's brother Oscar each owned some interest the facility. According to NASCAR personality Junior Johnson , unofficial races organized by local moonshiners christened

5049-477: The facility was recorded to have 8,500 permanent seats, with a total capacity of 15,000 according to the Winston-Salem Journal . A year after, NWS went through its first repave. In 1976, a 3,500-seat grandstand named in honor of Junior Johnson was constructed along with a 1 ⁄ 4 mile (0.40 km) concrete retaining wall that replaced a guardrail. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, efforts were made to add additional amenities and capacity to modernize NWS. At

SECTION 50

#1732779889929

5148-443: The facility, with Enoch and France Sr. investing $ 1,500 (adjusted for inflation, $ 25,386) each. Funding quickly ran out due to the cost of grading, causing the track to be shorter in distance than planned and uneven in elevation. Originally, North Wilkesboro Speedway utilized a dirt surface, with developers adding a 14 ton mixture of calcium chloride and salt into the track to prevent dust. In interviews given by Staley, he did not expect

5247-546: The facility. Official races promoted by Bill France Sr. were later scheduled to run soon after on May 18, 1947, with officials expecting the largest crowd at a sporting event within Wilkes County, North Carolina , at the time. In its first official race, a crowd of approximately than 10,000 saw Fonty Flock win a modified feature race. Two years later, the France Sr.-founded NASCAR Strictly Stock Series (now known as

5346-750: The family home, built by Junior in 1964 (next to Johnson's old Ingle Hollow race shop), which she kept as part of the divorce settlement. On December 26, 1986, President Ronald Reagan granted Johnson a presidential pardon for his 1956 moonshining conviction. In response to the pardon, which restored his right to vote, Johnson said, "I could not have imagined anything better." In the mid-1960s, writer Tom Wolfe researched and wrote an article about Johnson, published in March 1965 in Esquire , and reprinted in Wolfe's The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine Flake Streamline Baby . This

5445-411: The faster car's slipstream . Johnson was then able to stay close behind the other car until the final lap of the test run, when he used the "slipstream" effect to slingshot past it. By using this technique, Johnson went on to win the 1960 Daytona 500, despite that his car was slower than others in the field. Johnson's technique was quickly adopted by other drivers, and his practice of "drafting" has become

5544-423: The first event. Later events saw increased attendance; however, the dirt October races were cancelled. On September 7, The Athletic reported that NASCAR would move the NASCAR All-Star Race , a NASCAR Cup Series exhibition event, to NWS from Texas Motor Speedway ; the track Bruton moved one of North Wilkesboro's races to. The report was confirmed the next day. More renovation announcements soon followed, including

5643-869: The following countries: Iran , Canada , United States , Mexico , Chile , Peru , Argentina , Brazil , United Kingdom , Sweden , Denmark , Finland , Luxembourg , Belgium , the Netherlands , Germany , France , Switzerland , Austria , Portugal , Spain , Italy , Poland , Hungary , Iceland , Romania , Moldova , Croatia , Czech Republic , Slovakia , Slovenia , Serbia , Albania , Greece , Turkey , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , Estonia , Lithuania , Latvia , Belarus , Ukraine , Russia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , Tunesia , South Africa , Israel , Lebanon , Jordan , Kuwait , Kosovo , Morocco , Myanmar , Vietnam , Egypt , Indonesia , Malaysia , Nepal , Norway , Cyprus , Singapore , Hong Kong , Japan , Taiwan , North Macedonia ,

5742-448: The future afterward would be unknown; though, lower-tier NASCAR races were expected to be run in the future. Although Bahre stated a public desire to move the fall Winston Cup Series date to New Hampshire, he stated that both Bruton and NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr. would have to approve of it. Bruton then claimed that he had no plans to move a NWS date to Texas and stated concern for the state of Wilkes County, stating, "We need to think about

5841-510: The grass at the track's property in his efforts to preserve the facility. Call occasionally also let tourists into the facility and acted as a tour guide and storyteller if he was asked while mowing or at his motorhome. However, Call's preservation efforts were insurmountable to the deterioration of NWS; by 2015, buildings on the site had completely caved in, the Junior Johnson grandstands collapsed, and several suites were damaged. In 2017,

5940-501: The growing incomes of African Americans (called at the time the "emerging Negro market") gave the tobacco companies what was sometimes called an "export market at home". Additionally, a new kind of media started to appear after the war when several glossy monthly magazines including Negro Digest (1942, renamed Black World ), Ebony (1945) and Negro Achievements (1947, renamed Sepia ) began to be published. These relatively expensively produced magazines were far more attractive to

6039-613: The mid-1990s, stock car racing oversaw a major rise in popularity. Despite NASCAR vice president of competition Mike Helton declaring that "the Cup schedule can't grow much more" in January 1995, a boom period of developers announcing plans to build modern, high-capacity tracks in new markets such as Las Vegas , the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex , and St. Louis was kickstarted. Due to this, NASCAR beat reporters began predicting that NASCAR would have to abandon longtime staples, such as NWS, in

SECTION 60

#1732779889929

6138-399: The month, the NASCAR Cup Series made its return, running races in late May; the races were the first in 27 years. Six months later, SMI announced the track's first repave since 1981. The repave was completed by March 2024, with tire tests being run in the same month. In 2024, a sinkhole was found beneath a grandstand. It was later alleged as a possible moonshine cave that would have been used in

6237-472: The name Save the Speedway (STS), drew around 2,000 online signatures. Bruton later proposed an offer to the Wilkes County government for $ 12 million for full interest pending Bahre's approval, which Bahre stated that he would most likely agree to. STS stated hopes that the county would later lease the track to them after they purchased. STS later announced in 2006 that an unnamed investor committed $ 1 million to

6336-617: The name Speedway Associates announced their intents to host USARacing Pro Cup Series races at NWS in October 2010. The group obtained a three-year lease from Bruton, and was viewed initially as a positive, legitimate offer by the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation. By November 10, events sanctioned by the American Speed Association (ASA) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) were also added. However, in January 2010, Don Alexander,

6435-505: The number one cigarette sold in the world by 1966, a position it held until 1972 when Marlboro overtook the brand. In the 1980s, Winston was the most favored brand in Puerto Rico, thanks to their advertising slogan "Winston y Puerto Rico: No hay nada mejor" ( Winston and Puerto Rico: There is nothing better ). Winston then became the #2 cigarette, a position it continues to maintain today under ownership of Japan Tobacco outside of

6534-438: The paving of infield garage, the addition of SAFER barriers and storm drain pipes, and other repairs to amenities were reported. Developers also stated a desire to maintain an old-school aesthetic for the facility. By February 2023, SMI leadership announced that renovations were ahead of schedule. Tire tests on the reopened facility were run in late March. By May of that year, Ronald Queen was named director of operations. Within

6633-458: The possibility of digitally preserving the facility. A physical renovation, however, was seen as an extreme long-shot due to the track's condition, which had deteriorated so much that writer Jordan Bianchi wrote that "the facility is closer to being condemned than anything else. It would require an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to bring North Wilkesboro up to par, and that is simply not realistic." Three months later, Earnhardt organized

6732-421: The process becoming ubiquitous for its connection to NASCAR's roots relating to moonshine runners . After Enoch died in 1995 amongst an explosion of popularity for NASCAR in the 1990s, Speedway Motorsports (SMI) owner Bruton Smith and businessman Bob Bahre each bought out half interest from the families. Due to a strained relationship between the two along with the facility's reputation of lacking amenities, NWS

6831-453: The product as "additive-free" violated federal law because the claim implied that the cigarettes were safer than other brands. The August warning letter to ITG marked the first time the FDA had used its authority under a 2009 tobacco-control law to take action against a company for making "additive-free" ("No Bull" ad campaign) claims on product packaging. It was one of three warning letters that

6930-498: The product's jingle. By the third season, however, the show's ads became more oriented towards children and Winston was replaced by Welch's . In the 1970s, Winston specifically targeted the Afro-American minority, similar to what Kool and Newport did during the time. After World War II had ended, American tobacco companies started to explore new markets to maintain their prosperity. The growth in urban migration and

7029-542: The proposal; however, the investor parted ways the next month, sending them "back to square one". Another offer made within in the year by a group led by Worth Mitchell was also proposed. However, by November, Bruton, albeit reluctantly, bought out Bahre's control of the track as part of a package deal in purchasing the New Hampshire International Raceway when Bahre retired from the motorsports business. Bruton later stated plans that hinted at

7128-557: The remaining race weekend to a Wednesday primetime slot. On June 20, The Charlotte Observer reported that they accepted the offer at an undisclosed price; it was later revealed to be sold for $ 6.05 million according to the News & Record . Mike stated in interviews at the time that while he was surprised at the news, he was "fine" at the purchase. He later admitted, however, that "I couldn’t be partners with Bruton". Mary Staley, widow of Enoch, also refused to sell their family's interest of

7227-580: The schedule in 1996, with their races being moved to the Texas Motor Speedway and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway . As of May 2024, the fastest official race lap records at North Wilkesboro Speedway are listed as: Winston (cigarette) Winston is an American brand of cigarettes , currently owned and manufactured by ITG Brands , subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco in the United States and by Japan Tobacco outside

7326-448: The search of newer, broader markets. By the start of the 1990s, NWS was known as a vintage, dilapidated facility that lacked both basic amenities and capacity given by more modern tracks. Monte Dutton, writer for The Gaston Gazette , wrote about the lack of modern telephones for members of the press in the 1990s, stating that only four phones were available; three being rotary dials . Although eventual buyer Bob Bahre later conceded that

7425-416: The spring NWS date to Texas. Bahre reported a day later that after negotiations with France Jr. that "things are going to work out". The next day, both Bruton and Bahre, in separate press conferences, confirmed NASCAR's decision to move NWS' Winston Cup Series races to their respective facilities, ending all top-tier series racing at the facility. NASCAR did state plans of running lower-tier races at NWS to keep

7524-448: The tobacco advertisers than the cheap "Negro" daily newspapers of the pre-war era, with glossy pages and a far wider national distribution. The magazines meant for a purely African-American audience also meant that advertisers could produce adverts aimed at and featuring African Americans away from the eyes of white consumers. Between 1982 and 1988, David Goerlitz was the "Winston Man", appearing in 42 billboard advertisements – more than

7623-465: The top 10 cigarette brands by U.S. market share since 2001, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 's National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Winston was introduced in 1954 by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and quickly became one of the top-selling cigarette brands, using the slogan " Winston tastes good like a cigarette should ". It became

7722-441: The track hosted a private test session for NASCAR team Roush Racing ; the first activities for the facility in over eight years. In May 2005, two North Wilkesboro city commissioners proposed a long-shot proposal to place the newly-announced NASCAR Hall of Fame at NWS despite the city of North Wilkesboro not being on the shortlist of finalists for a location. A month later, another petition, this time organized by Robert Marsden under

7821-457: The track if he didn't obtain full control; he later backtracked on his comment, stating that he was willing to "preserve some things at North Wilkesboro". However, by September, NASCAR spokesman Kevin Triplett stated that the organization had no plans to schedule lower-tier NASCAR races at the facility because both owners did not ask for them. A group led by Junior Johnson was formed that month in

7920-405: The track to Bruton. After Bruton's purchase, owner of the New Hampshire International Raceway , Bob Bahre, negotiated with the Staley family to purchase the remaining half-interest. Bahre was only interested in taking its remaining Winston Cup Series weekend, wanting to give the track back to the Staley family to run lower-tier NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races. Although

8019-696: The track was profitable, he maintained that the track could not keep up with the growing minimum purse amounts needed. The track was also lacking in capacity; although peak capacity was reported at 60,000 in 1996, according to Bahre, grandstand seats totaled to a lackluster 34,000, with Bahre stating in The News & Observer , "The Lord fed a whole city with a loaf of bread, but I don't think for one damn minute you can get 60,000 people in 34,000 seats." Despite efforts to modernize NWS, drivers also began making calls for NASCAR to move into modern facilities; longtime driver Rusty Wallace declared in 1996, "we need to be at

8118-690: The track's September date. In February, Bruton reaffirmed his attentions to keep the September date by proposing the idea of a single-day race weekend; however, he still had not met with Bahre. By mid-April, Charlotte Observer writer Tom Higgins reported that the September race was most likely going to be run. "Bruton says he’s made me an offer and the ball’s in my court. Well, the ball’s not in my court because I won’t accept any offer he gives me anyway. He did make an offer, but we told him no, or rather we told his attorney. He’s not going to buy my half because I didn’t buy it to sell. I won’t sell it if he gave me $ 50 million. I didn’t buy it to sell. I bought it to move

8217-446: The track's demolition. Two years after Bruton's purchase, he approved a short-term lease to Georgian racing promoter Charles Collins, who aimed to produce a reality television show and start a women-only racing series at the facility. However, in July 2009, Collins was arrested and jailed by Wilkes County police, with Collins being charged on five felonies. In early November 2009, an ownership group led by Alton McBride Jr. operating under

8316-448: The track, which was viewed as abandoned and desolate, was paid homage to in the movie Cars 3 when NWS served as the inspirational basis for the fictional Thomasville Speedway. The next year, STS spokesman Steven Wilson stated renewed interest at restoring the facility; chances of it ever happening, however, were viewed as non-likely. In September 2019, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. talked to Bruton's successor, Marcus Smith , about

8415-399: The tracks that are best for teams and sponsors... from better pit road facilities to bigger purses". In addition, the track was also near the facilities of Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway , which had expanded in the 1990s. Enoch Staley died on May 20, 1995. In an interview with SB Nation ' s Jeremy Markovich, Enoch's son, Mike, stated that after Enoch's death is when "all

8514-408: The turns and 3 degrees of banking on the track's straightaways. The frontstretch is graded at a downhill slope and the backstretch is graded uphill, which is attributed to founder Enoch Staley running out of funds when constructing the facility. NWS is also asymmetrical . Before 1957, North Wilkesboro Speedway utilized a dirt surface. In late August of that year, developers opted to pave the track; it

8613-551: The winningest driver never to have a championship. Johnson was a master of dirt track racing . "The two best drivers I've ever competed against on dirt are Junior Johnson and Dick Hutcherson ," said two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett . As a team owner, he worked with many NASCAR drivers, including Darel Dieringer , LeeRoy Yarbrough , Cale Yarborough , Bobby Allison , Darrell Waltrip , Neil Bonnett , Terry Labonte , Geoffrey Bodine , Sterling Marlin , Jimmy Spencer and Bill Elliott . In all, his drivers won 132 races, which

8712-602: Was a "real possibility" of the facility being awarded a third-tier NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race weekend. On April 16, 2022, Smith announced the resumption of racing at the facility, scheduling two multi-class grassroots events throughout the months of August and October of that year, with the latter event being run on dirt. Within the month, developers added electrical and internet systems, along with demolishing old suites and other general repairs. Racing resumed as scheduled, albeit with limited amenities and infrastructure, on August 2, with an estimated 9,000 people attending

8811-407: Was completed by mid-September. North Wilkesboro Speedway is next to U.S. Route 421 . As of 2023, the track has a reported capacity of 25,000 according to The Sporting News . At its peak, NWS had a capacity of 55,000 according to a 1996 report from The Herald-Sun . As of 2024, a currently ongoing effort by track developers to both modernize the facility and retain the vintage aesthetic of NWS

8910-562: Was considering ways to revitalize the facility and that "we haven't given up on it", although "no promises" were made. Two months later, the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce began handing out flyers in support of the track's return to the NASCAR calendar. That same month, businessman Marcus Lemonis also pledged a $ 1 million investment for the track's revival. That same month, Roy Cooper , the Governor of North Carolina , began considering

9009-576: Was eventually reprinted in The Best American Sports Writing of the Century , ed. David Halberstam (1999). The article, originally entitled "Great Balls of Fire", turned Johnson into a national celebrity and led to fame beyond the circle of NASCAR fans. In turn, the article was made into a 1973 movie based on Johnson's career as a driver and moonshiner, The Last American Hero (a.k.a. Hard Driver ). Jeff Bridges starred as

9108-463: Was left desolated by 1997 to extreme local uproar. SMI later bought full control of the track in 2007. After two decades of failed attempts to revive the track by various groups, Bruton's successor, Marcus Smith , led a successful campaign to reinvigorate the track after increasing pressure from drivers and North Wilkesboro locals in the early 2020s. The speedway in its current form is measured at 0.625 miles (1.006 km), with 13 degrees of banking in

9207-701: Was made. Bahre accused Bruton of holding up the agreement because Bruton did not want a balanced deal, instead wanting to own full interest of the track to obtain full control of NWS' two Winston Cup Series dates. However, in late-June, the two finally came to an agreement, with the duo stating hopes to jointly announce their intentions in the coming weeks. Before the official announcement, predictions arose that North Wilkesboro would lose both of its dates, with its spring date moving to Texas and its fall date moving to New Hampshire pending approval from France Jr. On July 9, The Charlotte Observer reported that an unnamed source related to NASCAR confirmed NASCAR's decision to move

9306-431: Was never caught in his many years of transporting bootleg liquor at high speed. In 1955, Johnson began his career as a NASCAR driver. In his first full season, he won five races and finished sixth in the 1955 NASCAR Grand National points standings. In 1958, Johnson won six races. In 1959, Johnson won five more NASCAR Grand National races (including a win from the pole position at the 1959 Hickory 250 ); by this time he

9405-403: Was officially closed with all employees being laid off; the only exception was longtime employee Paul Call, who was designated as a caretaker after he begged Bruton and Bahre for a deal to live on the property. In February, Bahre relaxed his position on selling his interest, stating that he "probably" would if the Staley family gave him approval. The next month, parts of the facility were damaged in

9504-483: Was regarded as one of the best short-track racers in the sport. His first win at a "superspeedway" came at the Daytona 500 in 1960. Johnson and his crew chief , Ray Fox , were practicing for the race, trying to figure out how to increase their speed, which was 22 miles per hour (35 km/h) slower than that of the top cars in the race. During a test run, a faster car passed Johnson. He noticed that, when he moved behind that car, his own car's speed increased because of

9603-515: Was rejected. "There are some tracks that need to be scrapped. And maybe the sport would be better off if those events were held somewhere else. North Wilkesboro Speedway was old, old, old. Decrepit. Had no sewer system. The track was worn out. And NASCAR was very appreciative of closing it. They wanted it closed. Maybe there are another one or two tracks that need to be closed, too." Bruton Smith's comments upon purchasing full interest of North Wilkesboro Speedway, November 3, 2007 In October 2004,

9702-485: Was sold to Imperial Tobacco for $ 7.1 billion. On June 12, 2015, Reynolds American and Lorillard completed their merger and Winston officially fell under ownership of Imperial tobacco spinoff ITG brands. Beginning in 1971, Winston was the sponsor of the highest title of the NASCAR series, known as the Winston Cup Series . R. J. Reynolds ended Winston's association with the series in 2003. The series

9801-417: Was the only guy to have my back when the council started pelting us with their shit. He fought them off just so I could get to work on the track. I can’t say anything bad about the man. It’s just politics. It ruins everything and ruined what we had at North Wilkesboro." NWS fell into continued disrepair for the rest of the 2010s. An aging Paul Call, the only person who worked at the track, was limited to mowing

#928071