North Carolina

All-Time Favorite North Carolina Track:

North Wilkesboro Speedway

Current lifetime trackchasing state rank:  3

Best Memories:

Back in the day, I had nine season tickets to the fall Cup race at North Wilkesboro. The ticket lady couldn’t believe a “guy from California” would do such a thing. I normally scalped most of the tickets and used the profit to completely pay for the tickets I would use. That worked great until North Wilkesboro rained out one fall Sunday and there was nobody to sell the tickets too on Monday. Nevertheless, I came out way ahead on that deal.

At the 211 Speedway in Red Springs, the promoter knocked ten dollars off my ticket price when he saw I had a laptop in my car! The Ace Speedway was a first-class facility. At the Albemarle Speedway, I met the group’s president nice guy Doug Johnson.

I went to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium back in 2003. They had a huge crowd and one groove racing. I gotta get back there. I had a great day with Allan Todd track announcer at the Caraway Speedway. We paid $59 per seat in the fourth turn at the Charlotte Motor Speedway during NASCAR’s heyday. I haven’t paid that much for a Cup ticket in years. I simply use my “need one” sign. My sign got me a free ticket for the “roval” race at Charlotte.

Saw nearly 200 karts race at the Coleridge Speedway (above). I got a free Fox “Speed” shirt at the Cricket Arena with TV buddy Steve Shaw. I watched the DIRT modifieds race at the Dirt Track @ Lowes Motor Speedway with my California friend but North Carolina bred George Robertson. The East Carolina Motor Speedway has been racing since ’88 and was nicer than I expected.

I filmed the TV pilot for “Trackchasers” at the East Lincoln Speedway in Stanley. Saw Steve Wallace (Rusty’s son) win at the Friendship Speedway. Outstanding winter indoor go-kart racing at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Hickory Motor Speedway is a historic track but poorly run the night I was there.

Saw the outlaw karts race for the first time ever at the Iredell County Fairgrounds in Troutman. Just two F8 cars showed up at the Lenoir County Fairgrounds (above). They could barely finish their one race. Saw my buddy Steve Shaw race a legend at the Lowes Motor Speedway quarter-mile track. My camera broke on a picture-perfect day at the Margarettsville Speedway.

Only 15 World of Outlaws sprint cars showed up at the Metrolina Speedway in ’87. Talked with Steve Letarte (above) and Kyle Larson raced a winged outlaw kart at the Mountain Creek Speedway. Met track owner Mike Butka Jr. at the Mountain View Speedway. Only six F8 cars showed for the JM Productions event at the Newport Flea Mall. Was at North Wilkesboro for seven race dates from 1985-92. It was 33 degrees for the kart racing at Riverside Raceway Park.

Very nice people at the Rockfish Motorsports Speedway on a night the lights went out. Entertaining TORC stadium off-road racing at the Dirt Track at Charlotte. At the Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, the announcer threw out the line, “As full of shit as a Christmas Turkey”! The Tri-County Race Track in Brasstown gave a free sandwich and drink to veterans. I saw a North Carolina AT&T football game on the way to the Triple T Raceway. Saw a big fight at the Uwharrie Figure 8 track in Troy. The Wake County Speedway in Raleigh was a fast bullring with low car counts.

If you see a track link in the above list simply click on it to be transferred to my Trackchaser Report. Here you will be able to read about my adventure at this particular track. Not only will you learn about my time at the track but you’ll hear about all of the interesting people, places and things I encountered during the entire trip, coming and going, to that speedway. Most of my Trackchaser Reports will also include a photo album and YouTube video. Check it all out. Don’t be afraid to use the “search” box in the upper right corner of my website’s home page. Just type in the track name or whatever and you’ll be directed to the place you want to be.

Below is a key to surface types and track configurations so you can understand the above list just a little bit easier.

Surface types:  D-dirt; P-paved; M-mixed

Configuration types:  O-oval; RC-road course; F8-figure 8 track