NORTH WILKESBORO, NC (WGHP) – It’s almost time for NASCAR to make its long-awaited return to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Here’s a full roundup of the festivities coming to North Wilkesboro as All-Star Week approaches.
May’s first major track event will be a Free Open House available to all fans free of charge.
The open house will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10.
Fans will have the opportunity to be among the first to see the revitalized racetrack and even walk the track. Tickets for All-Star Week will also be available for purchase.
The event will include driver appearances, special venue signings, a new LED light show, official event memorabilia and food trucks.
North Wilkesboro Speedway parking instructions for Open House are shown below:
May’s second major event at the track will feature late-model racing in the ECMD 150.
As part of the ASA STARS National Series, Tuesday, May 16 will feature a full day of festivities.
The ticket office and grandstands will open to the public at 1:00 p.m. during the first ASA Stars practice sessions.
The ASA Stars will have a second practice at 2 p.m.
The CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour will also host a rotational workout at 3 p.m.
The ASA Stars will then hold a qualifying race at 4:45 p.m. and hold a last chance race if needed at 5:30 p.m.
An autograph session with ASA Stars will take place at 6:15 p.m. before the start of the pre-race ceremonies at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, the actual race will start at 8 p.m.
General admission tickets for the ECMD 500 can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Children 6 and under can participate for free.
- 1 p.m. — Opening of the ticket office and the stands, start of the first training sessions
- 2 p.m. — Beginning of the second practice
- 3:00 PM – CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour Rotating Workout Begins
- 4:45 p.m. – ASA Stars qualifying race
- 5:30 p.m. — Last chance race (if needed)
- 6:15 p.m. — Autograph session with ASA Stars
- 7:30 p.m. — Pre-race ceremonies
- 8 p.m. — The race begins!
The race continues the following day, Wednesday May 17, with the Crossroads Harley-Davidson 75 and the Window World 125.
As part of the CARS Pro Late Model Stock Tour, May 17 will deliver another full slate of late model racing action, including practice, qualifying and the two star races.
NASCAR stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick will both be among the competitors.
Doors will open at 2 p.m.
General admission tickets for the Crossroads Harley-Davidson 75 and Window World 125 are available for purchase through Ticketmaster. Children 6 and under can again participate for free.
Two-day tickets for all of the ECMD 150 and CARS Pro Late Model Stock Tour on May 16 and 17 can also be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Star Friday will feature a variety of events.
Stars from the NASCAR Cup Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will hit the track for the first time in 27 years.
Doors will open at 12 p.m.
The events will include practice sessions for the Cup and Truck series as well as a Pit Crew Challenge with all the cup teams setting the stage for the heat races on May 20. Each car’s qualifying time will be based solely on its pit stop time. Teams must make a four-tire stop; the timing lines will be established one box behind and one box in front of the designated stand.
There will also be concerts featuring country music group Midland and multi-platinum county music star Chase Rice.
Individual tickets with assigned seating can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
Saturday, May 20 will see the official return of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN trucks to North Wilkesboro for the first time since 1996.
The festivities will include qualifying for the Truck Series as well as elimination races for the Cup Series.
The 22 drivers already locked in the field will be split into two 60-lap races on Saturday night that will determine the starting lineup for the All-Star Race. The results from round 1 will establish the inside line and the results from round 2 will establish the outside line.
Individual tickets with assigned seating are available for purchase on Ticketmaster.
The main event takes place on Sunday, May 21, with NASCAR’s best on the track in the All-Star Race.
There will be two playoff races to set the starting lineup, a 100-lap All-Star Open and a 200-lap main event. The All-Star Open, with drivers who were not previously eligible for the All-Star Race, will consist of 100 laps with a competition break at or around lap 40. Three Open drivers will qualify for the All-Star Race – the top two in the race and the winner of the fan vote.
The NASCAR All-Star Race will consist of 200 laps with a competitive break at or around lap 100. All laps (caution and green flag) will count and NASCAR overtime rules are in effect. Each team will start on sticker tires for the All-Star race and will have three additional sets to use. After the competition break, only one additional set of stickers may be used.
The winner of the All-Star Race will receive $1 million.
Individual tickets with assigned seating for the 5 p.m. All-Star race can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
A weekend ticket package that will allow you to attend All-Star Friday, the Tyson 250 and the All-Star Race can also be purchased.
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The track has four on-site parking lots and two off-site parking lots available.
On-site parking at North Wilkesboro Speedway is limited and should sell out quickly.
Advance parking purchases for off-site lots are mandatory and will only be available to ticket holders. Free trams or shuttles to and from the highway will be provided for offsite lots. Parking passes will be mailed to those who purchase them, and there is a limit of two parking passes per account.
ADA parking for fans with ADA signs or state-issued license plates will be available at all offsite parking lots. On-site Lot 1A parking is for ADA parking only.
Parking rates will be determined per vehicle, so carpooling is recommended. There will be no free parking and all parking will be general admission.
Tailgating will be permitted in all parking lots, except for the blue lot. Tailgating space is limited to the space directly behind your vehicle and may not block traffic.
Significant traffic jams are also expected, so it is recommended to follow the road signs to your car park.
Motorcyclists must use the Blue Lot.
Off-site parking
The following off-site parking passes are currently available for purchase.
Green bundle
The green lot is a grass surface parking lot located on Fishing Creek Road. It is about 10 minutes from the North Wilkesboro Speedway and open-air streetcars will provide transportation to the speedway.
Tailgating will be permitted in this parking lot.
Day passes can be purchased for each day of All-Star week: May 19, 20 and 21 for $50.
A 3-day parking pass can also be purchased for $120.
Blue bundle
A more affordable option than the Green Lot, the Blue Lot offers paved parking in the area of Lowe’s former headquarters.
The course is 8.5 miles from the North Wilkesboro Speedway on US 421 and transportation to the track will be provided by shuttle buses.
Motorcyclists are asked to use this parking lot and the shuttle service is wheelchair accessible.
Tailgating, grilling, baking, and open glass or alcohol containers are all prohibited in this lot.
Day passes can be purchased for each day of All-Star week: May 19, 20 and 21 for $30.
A 3-day parking pass can also be purchased for $60.
On-site parking
The following on-site parking options are currently available.
Lot 1
Lot 1 is a grass parking lot to the west and adjacent to the North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Located next to Speedway Road and Dan Call Road, it is near Gate 1 and the fan zone.
Day passes are sold out and only the 3-day pass from May 19-21 remains to be purchased for $250.
Batch 5
Lot 5 is a grass parking lot to the south and adjacent to the North Wilkesboro Speedway located on US 421.
It is a short walk from the race track on US 421 via Fishing Creek Road.
Day passes can be purchased for $80.
The 3-day pass can be purchased for $200.
Batch 4 (ADA)
Lot 4 is located on the back leg at Turn 3 and is adjacent to the North Wilkesboro Speedway near Gate 2 and the back leg grandstand.
This parking lot is exclusively for those with state-issued ADA signs and fans who require wheelchair accessible parking.
Wheelchair accessible seats will need to be checked prior to purchase.
Day passes are available at $100 per vehicle.
The 3-day package can be purchased for $250 per vehicle.
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Green bundle
The Green Lot will be used as an offsite parking option for the May 16 and 17 events.
A day pass for May 16 or 17 can be purchased for $30.
A 2-day pass can be purchased for May 16-17 for $40.
Lot 1
Bundle 1 only has the 2-day discount pass for May 16-17 available for $50.
Batch 1A
Lot 1A is exclusively for those with state-issued ADA signs who may have limited mobility and cannot accommodate wheelchair accessible spaces.
The discounted 2-day pass for May 16-17 is available for $50.
Batch 2
Lot 2 is a grass parking lot to the northwest and adjacent to the North Wilkesboro Speedway just off Speedway Road and near Gate 1 and the fan zone.
The discounted 2-day pass for May 16-17 is available for $50.
Batch 5
Bundle 5 has 1-day passes for $30 and the 2-day pass for May 16 and 17 is available for $50
