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Home News 2011 North Wilkesboro Speedway News
2011 North Wilkesboro Speedway News PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Written by Steven B. Wilson   
Monday, 05 December 2011 07:18

Save The Speedway:  Mission Accomplished; Expanding to new projects

Save The Speedway announced today that after six years of working to preserve and/or find a way to reopen North Wilkesboro Speedway, their mission has been accomplished.  "2011 begins the second full season that the speedway will be open, and we feel that our goals have been reached, and we have accomplished what we set out to do in 2005", said Robert Marsden, founder of Save the Speedway.


North Wilkesboro Speedway re-opened last year under a lease agreement between Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Speedway Associates for 3 years, giving the facility a makeover and reopening it for racing. "Save the Speedway agreed to lend support to Speedway Associates for one year ", said Steven Wilson, co-founder with Marsden.


Over the last several months, principals within the Save the Speedway organization have created a mobile concessions business that will serve motorsports events, car shows, fairs, etc.  In addition to the concessions business, Steven Wilson, Co-founder and company Webmaster has launched a NASCAR news and information site that will cover NASCAR top series and local racing called Speedway Digest.


"Savethespeedway.net has become the largest online resource for history regarding North Wilkesboro Speedway, and we intend to keep the site active to document the history of the Speedway.  However we plan to move the North Wilkesboro Speedway information on our site to a new domain, which will allow us to use savethespeedway.net for our next speedway project", said Wilson.


On behalf of Save the Speedway, Rob, George, Mike, Rick, Ann Marie, and Steven would like to thank everyone for your continued support and dedication to Save The Speedway over the years. It has been our pleasure and honor to keep the history of North Wilkesboro Speedway alive for future generations.

As a result of post race inspections, second place finisher Bubba Pollard has been DQ'd. He will now be listed as the 44th finisher and #129 of Jeff Choquette will now be listed as the second place finisher. Full finishing order HERE.
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC -

With 77 drivers making their way to North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC) April 7th – 10th to try and win the “THE RACE” Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Parts, only one driver could go home with the $75,000.00 winner’s purse. At the end of 300 laps of competition, Colorado’s Chris Eggleston crossed under the checkered flag first to win the historic event.

“Holy cow! That is my initial thought,” said a happy Eggleston in victory lane. “This deal didn’t come together until two weeks ago. Crew chief Butch Miller gave me a call, said he got a sponsor, and decided to let me come on out and drive. He has never steered me wrong. I am so happy!”

Johnny Clark and Jay Fogleman led the 44-car field down to take the green flag in the historic 300-lap event. Clark was able to clear Fogleman, leading the monumental first lap of the race. Meanwhile, positions shuffled all through the field as drivers worked their way around the track.

At lap four, Andy Loden decided it was time to lead as he drove on the outside of Clark, taking the top spot. Augie Grill followed him to the front, working his way to the second position, putting Clark back to third. Pat Kelly rode fourth with Ryan Moore fifth. Just before lap 15, Grill decided it was his turn to lead as he drove around Loden for the first position.

At lap 24, the first car off the pace was the #40 of Sterling Marlin, who ducked onto pit road for service. A couple laps later, the #112 of Grill caught the back of the pack to start lapping cars. Through the lapping of traffic, Loden went back to the lead around Grill with Kelly, Bubba Pollard and Patrick Laperle running in the top-five positions just before lap 40. At lap 48, through heavy lapped traffic, Grill went back to the front, putting Loden back to second.

The first yellow of the afternoon flew at lap 52 as Joey Doiron had trouble in turns three and four, receiving damage to his right front. The top five at the yellow were Grill, Loden, Pollard, Eggleston and Kelly.

All restarts in the PASS Series are double file, putting Grill and Loden side by side as the field headed back to turn one at speed. Loden came around the lead the next lap with Pollard and Kelly dropping in second and third. At lap 55, Pollard drove his #18 to the front to take the lead while many of the racers back in the pack went side by side for position.

As Brian Ickler ducked onto pit road, the yellow flew for the second time as drivers stacked up in turn four. Mike Rowe received some damage, but was able to continue.

The green flag flew with Pollard and Grill driving down towards turn one, but the field started stacking up behind them. After contact between a couple cars, Rebecca Kasten’s #51 machine hit the turn-one wall. Kenzie Ruston was also collected up in the incident, but was able to drive away while Kasten’s car had to be hauled off on the hook.

The field headed back to turn one under speed with Pollard leading Grill, but Jody Lavender, who started 21st, was on the move, working his way to second.

The caution flew again at lap 68 as Patrick Laperle went around in turn two. The entire field dove left and right, avoiding a major incident as Laperle was able to right his car and tag the end of the field.

Lavender took his turn at the point on the restart, taking the lead from Pollard.

The caution flew at lap 84 as John Batten and Scott Mulkern made contact down the back stretch, sending Batten into the pit entrance water barrels. Despite the heavy damage to his car, Batten was able to exit his car and was OK.

Pollard got the run on the high side to take the lead as the field went back to green. Lavender and Loden fell in behind, second and third. While the field jockeyed for position behind them, the top-three drivers stayed in their positions until the lap 100 mark, ending the first segment of the race. During the eight-minute break, the teams worked on their cars and were allowed to change four tires to prep them for the second segment.

At lap 100 the top-10 drivers were Pollard, Lavender, Loden, Jeff Choquette, Grill, Ross Kenseth, TJ Reaid, Ryan Blaney, Eggleston and Eric Darnell. 28 of the 44 drivers that started the race were still on the lead lap.

Pollard and Lavender brought the field down to the green flag to begin the second segment. Pollard held the top spot, but Lavender dropped back putting Loden in second followed by Choquette, Grill and Reaid.

As the leaders caught lapped traffic around lap 130, Grill, who had worked his way up to second, dropped back to third as Loden moved his way forward, trying to reel in Pollard. At the lap 150 halfway mark, Pollard still led the field with Loden second, Eggleson third, Choquette fourth and Grill fifth. Two laps later, Eggleston worked his way around Loden to take the second position.

The yellow flag flew for the first time in the second segment at lap 164 for a spin on the backstretch by Justin Wakefield, who had been off the pace for several laps.

Pollard and Eggleston ran first and second after the restart with Choquette dropping into the third position.
A lot of contact throughout the field ended up biting a few drivers as contact between a couple cars on the front stretch at lap 180 had cars swerving to try and miss a mess. Sanborn, Garrett Evans and Laperle were just a few cars that received damage from the incident, the eighth caution of the race.

On the restart, Pollard stayed on point, but Choquette worked his way into the second position around Eggleston. That position was short lived though as Eggleston took the runner-up spot back a few laps later.


Just before the lap 200 end-of-segment break, while negotiating lapped traffic, Eggleston was able to work his way to the lead around Pollard. Right at the lap 200 segment break, Alex Fleming looped his car in turn two.

The top 10 drivers at the break, where teams could once again bolt on four brand-new tires and make adjustments, were Eggleston, Pollard, Reaid, Choquette, Loden, Kenseth, Blaney, Ben Rowe, Fogleman and Clark. 19 drivers were on the lead lap at lap 200.

The third and final segment kicked off with Eggleston and Pollard side as the field got up to speed. Pollard didn’t waste any time as he jumped out to the lead. Eggleston settled in second with Choquette, Reaid and Loden rounding out the top five.

With 50 laps remaining in “THE RACE,” Pollard still led Eggleston by a couple car lengths as the two negotiated around lapped traffic. Choquette, Reaid and Loden ran in the third through fifth positions.

For the next 25 laps, Pollard and Eggleston weaved in and out of lapped traffic, nose to tail. As they came up on some hard racing by a few drivers, Pollard appeared to try to turn under Clark off turn four and got sideways, allowing Eggleston to drive to the high side and take the lead at lap 276.

Over the final laps in the caution-free third and final segment, Eggleston was able to pull away from Pollard, taking THE RACE win, earning himself a cool $75,000.00.

“This is just so exciting,” said Eggleston. “The first segment I thought we were really good. We used it to get a feel for the car and see how it was on short runs and long runs. The restarts were killing us with the crate motor. Every time a yellow came out, all I could do is cover my shield and yell “here we go again.” In the middle session we were a tick loose on late exit and a little bit on late entry, so I dialed some front brake to help that.

“I told Butch we needed to close up the stagger a little bit and hopefully nothing would change. It got a little bit tight; too tight. We probably should have left it alone with the sun going down. I felt like the track really tightened up.”

With the bobble in traffic Eggleston was able to take the lead late in the race from Pollard but if the lapped traffic wasn’t a factor, he wasn’t sure he would be standing in victory lane.

“I don’t know if we had enough to get around the #18. We just caught him at the right time in lapped traffic, and that is all it took.”

If the race was 30 laps shorter, Pollard would have been celebrating in victory lane. However, a combination of his car’s handling and the lapped traffic cost him the victory.

“We just got tight in the center of the corner,” said Pollard. “I put too much wheel in it, making me loose off. The #54 (Clark) kind of messed me up right there. He (Eggleston) was able to get by me with lapped cars. We had a pretty good race car and he did too. Congratulations to him.”

Choquette started 19th in the field, and survived to take home a podium finish.

“I didn’t think it would go green that whole way, that was surprising,” said Choquette. “I can’t say enough about my guys. They did an awesome job.”

Reaid and Ben Rowe rounded out the top five.

The PASS South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Products will be back in action at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC) on Saturday, April 23rd, for “The Easter Bunny 150” event, which is also a PASS National Championship race.

For more information on the Pro All Stars Series and “THE RACE” at North Wilkesboro Speedway, go to www.proallstarsseries.com.

We have a winner at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the PASS Super Late Models $75,000 to win race, Chris Eggleston is your winner Bubba Pollard comes home second. Updates, full field rundown, and more coming soon.

Junior Miller Wins THE RACE Mod Feature at North Wilkesboro

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - North Wilkesboro NC (4/10) Modifieds made their return to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC) as part of the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Products “THE RACE” event on Sunday, April 10th. After Jimmy Zacharias dominated the first half of the 100-lap event, veteran Modified driver Junior Miller drove his car to victory lane, taking the win in the prelude race to THE RACE.


Zacharias got the jump on the 11-car field at the drop of the green flag, driving off from the field with Miller working his way to second. A few laps later, John Markovic moved his way to third, then to second with Jason Myers working his way to third.


Zacharias had a half-lap lead over the field when the yellow flag flew at lap 16 for a spin in turn four by Lee Stimpson. When the green flag flew once again, Miller, who worked his way back up to second before the caution, tried to hang with Zacharias, but couldn’t keep up.


A second caution came out at lap 40 with another issue in turn four from Stimpson. When the field went back green, it was once again Zacharias leaving the field, but Jason Myers moved his way to second around Miller.


Just before halfway, Jason Myers decided it was “go time” as he drove his way up to the back bumper of Zacharias for the lead. With only a few feet separating the top-two drivers, the competition caution flew at lap 50 (halfway) with Zacharias, Jason Myers, Miller, Burt Myers and Rick Kluth in the top-five positions.
After the teams made adjustments during the break, Zacharias and Jason Myers led the field down to take the green flag for the final 50 laps of the event. Just like the first half, Zacharias took off with the lead with Miller going to second, but a few laps after the restart, Kluth drove his way to the second position around Miller.


With 40 laps to go, the Myers brothers decided to make their moves as Jason and Burt Myers moved to second and third.


At lap 75, the yellow flag flew as Kluth and Stimpson both went around in turn two. All the leaders headed to the pits to make adjustments, setting up a 25-lap dash to the finish.


Randy Butner and Gary Putnam led the field to the green flag with Zacharias restarting in the back after his pit stop. Miller worked his way to the lead as cars scrambled for positions. Zacharias worked his way to fourth with the yellow flew for another spin in turn four by Stimpson.


On the restart with Miller and Butner side by side, Miller held the lead, but Markovic worked his way to second with Zacharias in third. With just 20 laps to go, Zacharias’ car appeared to be losing grip as he lost third place to Kluth.


At lap 90, the yellow flew for a single-car spin on the front stretch by Ricky Knapp Jr. During the caution, both Jason Myers and Zacharias pitted for more adjustments with Zacharias just coming off pit road as the field came around turn four for the restart.

Miller took the green flag with 10 laps to go and never looked back, taking the 100-lap Modified victory.
“I have the best crew,” said Miller. “This is the crew I had 30 years ago. I won more races than anyone ever had. They said the old man was washed up, but this old-man crew came in there.


“We were just riding around there. You can burn the tires up on these cars. They have 650 horsepower; if you stand on them right off you are going to burn them up. We just tried to make a good race, and we saved everything we had for the last 25 laps.”


Markovic, Jason Myers, Burt Myers and Rick Kluth rounded out the top-five finishers.
For more information on the Pro All Stars Series and “THE RACE” at North Wilkesboro Speedway, go to www.proallstarsseries.com.


Results: 100-Lap Modified Feature

  1. #36 Junior Millerv
  2. #95 John Markovic
  3. #4 Jason Myers
  4. #1 Burt Myers
  5. #11 Rick Kluth
  6. #07 Jimmy Zacharias
  7. #77 Gary Putnam
  8. #5 Randy Butner
  9. #45 Lee Stimpson
  10. #1x Ricky Knapp Jr
  11. #9x Matt Clemons

 

Rain postpones PASS Series $75,000 to win race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Pit gates will open tomorrow at 10am, grandstands will open at 11am, cars will run a brief practice session at 12. Racing will begin with 100 laps modifieds followed by the 300 Lap $75,000 to win PASS Super Late Models. Several modifeds have called and entering tomorrow. Ganassi will be bringing one as well as several others that have called and will be entered tomorrow.

Storms Force Postponement Of North Wilkesboro Races To Sunday

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - A National Weather Service prediction of severe thunderstorms with hail and a possible tornado forced postponement of Saturday's races at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway to Sunday.

Rain began falling at the 0.625-mile track shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, but it was the severe storms that were expected to hit the area about 6 p.m. that caused track and PASS officials to decide to postpone the event. The teams were told to secure all of their pit equipment and take down their pop-up tents in preparation for the high winds that were expected.

Pit gates open at 10 a.m. Sunday and the grandstands at 11 a.m. The 100-lap Modified race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with the richest-ever PASS Super Late Model event to follow.

Stephen Nasse, from Pinellas Park, Fla., earned the pole for “The Race” with a track record qualifying lap of 18.700 seconds, 120.321 mph. However, when PASS held its redraw Saturday morning for the top 10 starting positions, Nasse drew the 10th starting spot. Johnny Clark, who qualified ninth, picked the pole. Joining him on the front row is Jay Fogleman, of Durham, N.C., one of five drivers eligible for a $25,000 bonus. The winner of “The Race” is guaranteed $75,000. There is a $25,000 bonus for the winner if he competed in either the PASS Southern or Northern division full time and in four national races last year. That means a victory by Fogleman; Preston Peltier, from Harrisburg, N.C.; Clark, of Hallowell, Maine; Ben Rowe, from Turner, Maine; or Steven Legendre, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., would mean a $100,000 winner's purse.

Jimmy Zacharias, of Candor, N.Y., earned the pole for the Modified race with an 18.694-second lap. Joining him on the front row is Jason Myers, who won last fall's Modified race at the historic short track. His brother, NASCAR Southern Modified Tour champion Burt Myers, will start third, while rival Junior Miller goes off fourth. Rounding out the top five is Rick Kluth, from Brockport, N.Y.

 

LIVE UPDATES FOR TODAYS EVENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER PAGES.

Stephen Nasse Sets New Track Record to Earn the McGunegill Engine Performance Fast Time Award for PASS South “THE RACE”

The historic North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC) was alive on Friday, April 8th, with qualifying for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Parts “THE RACE” event.  With a time of 18.700 seconds, Stephen Nasse earned the McGunegill Engine Performance Fast Time Award, a new track record.

75 cars took to the track during qualifying.  With drivers from at least 21 states and five Canadian providences on hand, Nasse, who hails from Pinellas Park, Florida, was the quickest driver during the two-lap qualifying session.

“We have been struggling a little bit with freeness all weekend,” said Nasse.  “This is a very old track.  I am proud to be on the pole for this race.  Our team really needed a pick-up for this season; we haven’t been doing too great, but this is definitely what we needed.”

Justin Wakefield held the pole for a bit during the session with an 18.897-second lap, but Nasse was able to rip off a lap almost two-tenths faster.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be that fast,” explained Nasse.  “I just wanted to get locked in to the top 15.  It is good how it happened.  It is amazing.”

The top-15 drivers that locked themselves into the race were Nasse, Wakefield, Ryan Moore, Brian Ickler, Bubba Pollard, Augie Grill, Pat Kelly, Andy Loden, Johnny Clark, Jay Fogleman, Cale Gale, Kenzie Ruston, Trevor Sanborn, TJ Reaid and Chris Eggleston.  The top-10 drivers will redraw for their starting positions tomorrow.

Later in the evening on Friday, five 25-lap heat races will take place with the top-three drivers from each heat locking them into the 300-lap event.  Two 40-lap last chance races will take place on Saturday with the winner from each race transferring into “THE RACE” held later that day, where the winner after 300 laps will earn at least $75,000.00. The balance of the field will be determined by provisionals.

1 51N Stephen Nasse 18.700 (New SLM Track Record) 2 98 Justin Wakefield 18.897 3 74 Ryan Moore 18.908 4 154 Brian Ickler 18.920 5 18 Bubba Pollard 18.933 6 112 Augie Grill 18.933 7 53 Pat Kelly 18.943 8 29 Andy Loden 18.952 9 54 Johnny Clark 18.963 10 4 Jay Fogleman 18.964 11 83 Cale Gale 18.969 12 39 Kenzie Ruston 18.977 13 29 Trevor Sanborn 18.983 14 51 TJ Reaid 19.006 15 O8 Chris Eggleston 19.012 16 91 Patrick Laperle 19.016 17 25 Ross Kenseth 19.044 18 129 Jeff Choquette 19.066 19 10 Ryan Blaney 19.066 20 26 Preston Peltier 19.096 21 16 Joey Coulter 19.113 22 51 Becca Kasten 19.115 23 61 Mario Gosslin 19.117 24 62 Brandon Ward 19.123 25 84 Scott Mulkern 19.129 26 91 Heath Hindman 19.130 27 23 Jimmy Weller 19.134 28 2 Gray Gaulding 19.148 29 40 Michael Pilla 19.150 30 8 Cassius Clark 19.160 31 40 Sterling Marlin 19.161 32 47S Corey Williams 19.175 33 O9 Randy Gentry 19.187 34 110 Ryan Crane 19.191 35 35 Devin Jones 19.221 36 115 Jody Lavender 19.224 37 2 Michael Bilderback 19.226 38 47 Trey Mitchell 19.236 39 82 Donnie Wilson 19.240 40 7 Erik Darnell 19.259 41 86 Mike Fritts 19.272 42 80 Dean Clattenburg 19.274 43 18K Keith Oliver 19.274 44 1 Randy Turner 19.276 45 29P Grant Proude 19.283 46 5 Spencer Wauters 19.316 47 91Q David Quackenbush 19.323 48 24N Mike Rowe 19.331 49 O4 Ryan Reed 19.332 50 42H Ronnie Hults 19.338 51 97 John Flemming 19.339 52 60N DJ Shaw 19.345 53 O5 Alex Fleming 19.347 54 64 Garrett Evans 19.371 55 48N Lonnie Sommerville 19.374 56 22 Aaron Ricker 19.375 57 197 Joey Pole 19.390 58 1A Justin Allison 19.396 59 49 Brian Leavitt 19.401 60 180 Blake Jones 19.403 61 4N Ben Rowe 19.443 62 20 Steve Legendre 19.462 63 17A Scott Alexander 19.472 64 10B Geoff Bodine 19.519 65 73 Joey Doiron 19.539 66 21 Dustin Hubbard 19.557 67 9P Tommy Pecaro 19.616 68 84 Martin Latulippe 19.635 69 80 Mark Shaffer 19.677 70 48 John Batten 19.699 71 O Bill Penfold 19.703 72 29K Allen Karnes 19.716 73 16R Kevin Roberge 19.785 74 75 Gary Smith 19.795 75 2M Matt Matheson 19.943 Casey Roderick did not take time.

Massive Race Team Transporter Parade Ushers PASS Into Wilkes County

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - About 80 race team transporters stretching across 1 ¼ miles wound around through North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro Thursday, ushering the PASS series into Wilkes County for “The Race”, the nation's richest Super Late Model event.

The 300-green-flag-lap race set for Saturday at 6 p.m. not only guarantees the winner $75,000, it also will make history as the first night race held at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway since it opened in 1947.

 

 

 

North Wilkesboro Speedway Goes Night Racing

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC. - When PASS officials announced the richest-ever Super Late Model race in the United States would be a night event at North Wilkesboro Speedway there were naysayers who said it couldn't be done. They were wrong.

On Saturday, the 300-lap green flag event known simply as “The Race” will crown its winner under the lights for the first time since the track opened in 1947. Thirty-five generator set light towers, similar to those that provide light for road crews working at night, will allow fans to enjoy the fifth-eighths mile speedway's intense action in true Saturday night short-track fashion as 45 drivers battle for the $75,000 first place prize.

Daytona 500 winners Geoff Bodine and Sterling Marlin are among the nearly 100 drivers who have entered the event, which will receive the green flag at 6 p.m. Saturday. Practice for the PASS Super Late Models and tour-type Modifieds will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m.. On Friday, practice begins at noon with PASS qualifying for the top-15 positions starting at 5 p.m. Modified time trials are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Twenty-lap PASS Super Late Model qualifying heats are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, practice starts at noon with the two 40-lap Last Chance races set for 2 p.m. The 100-lap Modified race begins at 3:30 p.m.

 

THE RACE” at North Wilkesboro Available by Pay-Per-View

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC. - After months of anticipation, the Pro All Stars Series’ marquee event for the 2011 season, known simply as “THE RACE” (April 7-9) at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, is now upon us. It will also be the first event “Under the Lights” at the historic racetrack. To top that off, in a major announcement today, officials from PASS have announced a partnership with Speed51.com for the event, to make “THE RACE” available, with live video and audio, in a Pay-Per-View fashion on your computer.

With an entry list of more than 90 Super Late Models to date and at least $75,000 up for grabs for the winning driver at the legendary North Wilkesboro facility, plus a strong field of the East Coast’s top Tour-Type Modifieds, “THE RACE” has become an event of epic proportions.

Fans have been swiping up advance tickets for “THE RACE” in recent weeks and a record crowd is expected at North Wilkesboro for “THE RACE.” But, for the fans that cannot make it to the track for the 300-lap Super Late Model spectacular and the 100-lap Modified feature, the Pay-Per-View ticket will be the next best thing to be part of this event.

Speed51.com will provide live flag-to-flag video coverage of “THE RACE” with a live audio feed, as well. For just $19.99, fans across the globe will be able to tune in to the live coverage of both the Modified and Super Late Model features exclusively on Speed51.com.

“We are pleased with the amount of advance tickets sales for ‘THE RACE’ so far and we wants fans to know there still plenty of tickets available, but we know that some of the teams’ family members, fans and sponsors may not be able to make it to the track this weekend,” said Tom Mayberry, President of the Pro All Stars Series and promoter of “THE RACE.” “That is why we have partnered up with the guys at Speed51.com to have this exclusive video of what we think will be the biggest short track racing event in the country this year.”

Fans can sign up for the video broadcast, available only through Speed51.com, through a link on the site starting on Wednesday, April 6th. Payment can be made with a major credit card or PayPal via a secure payment authorization. Then, on Saturday, registered viewers (through an exclusive individual log on and password per purchaser) will be able to catch all the action of the 300-lap, $75,000-plus-to-win Super Late Model event and the Modified feature live on their computer.

“We at Speed51.com have always enjoyed a solid relationship with Tom and the entire PASS organization and that’s why we’re proud to work with them on their first-ever live video stream of their biggest event of the year,” said Bob Dillner, owner of Speed51.com. “This race’s entry list reads like a who’s-who of short track stock car racing, so it will be awesome to see a packed grandstand enjoy all the racing action while fans at home, who can’t make it to North Wilkesboro, will be able to watch all the action from home, as well.”

The Pay-Per-View broadcast on Saturday, April 9 will kick off with two Last Chance Qualifiers for the Super Late Models at 2:30pm. After that, the Modifieds will hit the track for a 100-lap, $5,000 payday. And finally, the green flag on “THE RACE” will drop at 6:00pm.

The weather in North Carolina is expected to be beautiful so come out and enjoy some great races. If not, the $19.99 Pay-Per-View ticket will still allow you to see one of the biggest races of the season. All details for “THE RACE” are online now at www.proallstarsseries.com

$75,000 To Win PASS Super Late Models Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway Preview

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - It's count down time for THE RACE at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway and from the first green flag to the final checkered there's three days of excitement ahead, guaranteed to fulfill every short track racing fan's need for speed.


PASS South presented by JE Pistons and Roush Yates Performance Parts teams will kick off the three day extravaganza of speed on Thursday April 7 with a hauler parade through the streets of North Wilkesboro at high noon. Both the PASS super late models and the tour-type modifieds have practice scheduled from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM.


The action gets underway in earnest on Friday April 8 when over ninety super late models and a strong field of modifieds take to the track , beginning with practice from noon until 4:00 PM.


At 5:00 PM the pressure to make the big show begins. Only the top fifteen PASS South super late models will qualify from time trials, and its every teams' goal to make the Elite 15 and lock into THE RACE. The ground pounding mod squad sets their feature field at 6:30 PM, and at 7:30 PM its time for what's guaranteed to be some of the wildest action of the weekend: the PASS South heat races. It's a series of twenty lap shoot outs that will set positions 16-30 for THE RACE, and if you can't make the cut on Friday your chance of being in the line up for the richest super late model asphalt short track event of the year are pretty slim.


Drivers will have one last ditch opportunity to make THE RACE when Saturday April 9 kicks off with two Last Chance Qualifiers, and there's one spot available for THE RACE to the winner in each of those events. The Last Chance races are slated to go green at 2:30 PM. When the smoke clears the stars of southern style modified racing will be in the spotlight for 100 laps and a $5,000.00 payday.
Then its time for THE RACE, 300 green flag laps for the finest field of super late model racers ever assembled for an inaugural event. The green flag drops at 6:00 PM and and when the final checkered flag flies under the lights, one driver will leave the speedway $75,000.0 (and possibly $100,000.00!) richer, knowing he or she has defeated one of the toughest short track fields ever assembled.

Weekend Schedule

‘THE RACE’ - PASS Super Late Model 300 Lap Event North Wilkesboro
April 2011 Event Schedule

Thursday April 7th
12:00pm Transporter Parade through North Wilkesboro.
1:00pm – 3:00pm Transporter parking for parade participating teams.
3:00pm – 4:00pm Transporter parking for remaining teams.
4:00pm – 8:00pm Practice
4:00 – 5:00 PASS Super Late Models
5:00 – 5:30 Modifieds
5:30 – 6:15 PASS Super Late Models
6:15 – 6:45 Modifieds
6:45 – 7:15 PASS Super Late Models
7:15 – 7:45 Modifieds
7:45 – 8:00 PASS Super Late Models
9:00pm Gates Closed

Friday April 8th
9:00am – 11:00am Transporter parking.
12:00pm – 4:00pm Practice
12:00 – 1:00 PASS Super Late Models
1:00 – 1:30 Modifieds
1:30 – 2:30 PASS Super Late Models
2:30 – 3:00 Modifieds
3:00 – 3:30 PASS Super Late Models
3:30 – 4:00 Modifieds
5:00pm PASS Super Late Model Time Trials 2 laps (Top 15 Qualify)
6:30pm Modified Time Trials 2 laps
7:30pm PASS Super Late Model Qualifying Heats 20 laps

(The Number of heats as well as qualified cars per each heat TBD by competition entries for event.)
North Wilkesboro
April 2011 Event Schedule

Saturday April 9th
10:00am Pit Gates Open
12:00pm – 12:30pm PASS SLM Last Chance Event Competitor Practice.
12:30pm – 1:00pm PASS SLM Qualified Competitor Practice - Scuff.
1:00pm – 1:15pm Modified Practice-Scuff
2:00pm PASS Super Late Model Last Chance Event #1 40 Laps
(Winner Transfers to PASS 300 Main event)
PASS Super Late Model Last Chance Event #2 40 Laps
(Winner Transfers to PASS 300 Main event)
3:30pm Modified Feature Event 100 Laps
5:00pm PASS Super Late Models Stage on Front Stretch
5:30pm Pre-Race Ceremonies
6:00pm ‘THE RACE’ PASS Super Late Model 300 Lap Feature Event

First Ever
Under the Lights
Night Race
Event held @ North Wilkesboro Speedway

 

 

Save The Speedway Suite Tickets on Sale for PASS Race April 7 - 9

Save The Speedway and Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway announced today that we ill be selling private suite tickets to the PASS Super Late Models April 7 - 9 weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

We will be offering tickets in our private suite throughout the season on a very limited number of suite tickets race by race in the 2011 season. First up on the schedule for 2011 is the $75,000 to win PASS Super Late Models $75,000 to win race dubbed the "Richest Super Late Model Race in the South".

For $75 you will sit in the private suite with Save The Speedway at the Start/Finish line giving you the best seat in the house, you have a reserved seat in your name, and will also receive a PASS Super Late Models Program from the race weekend.

This is a special offering through Save The Speedway that you must have the link and password in order to purchase tickets in the suite. These WILL NOT BE SOLD RACE WEEKEND.

Any questions reguarding this special offer please contact Steven Wilson at 336-818-9505 or through email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text54026 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PASSWORD: wesupportsts

 

 

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - (March 11, 2011) - Since Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway
opened in the late 1940s it has always catered to four-wheel horsepower, but this summer the
track will host two-wheel machines when the Bootleg Shine Rally invades the short track on
July 30.

The event begins Friday, July 29, with a party in the early evening. Campers may check in
from noon until 7 p.m. that day. The Bootleg Shine Rally will open at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday
with traffic entering off Speedway Road at the track's main entrance. Advance tickets for the
event may be purchased at the Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway office Monday-Friday
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning March 7.

“A class rally at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway is a smart move by Bootleg Shine
Rally organizers,” said –Judy and Eddie of Easy Eddie's, one of several motorcycle industry
vendors that will attend the rally. “Let's face it. What biker or enthusiast would not love to
spend a day in the beautiful countryside of Junior Johnson's stomping grounds where he
made his name. This will be just one more reason to visit the already prospering, reopened
this historic track. Vendors, bikers and enthusiasts have the opportunity to hang out in the
former NASCAR Winston Cup garage where all of the greats lived on race weeks; this on its
own is huge.”

In the planning stages for a few years, Bootleg Shine Rally organizers were looking for the
perfect venue in which to conduct this new event. That venue materialized when Historic
North Wilkesboro Speedway reopened in 2010.

“We are focused on providing the best possible experience for everyone,” said Robin Bartos,
of Lake Norman, N.C., who is head of those, organizing the event. “At BSR we want every
biker who has a garage full of parts or just a few extra parts for sale to come out and enjoy
it old school style. Anyone who wants to purchase vendor space may do so. All spaces are
20’ deep and first 10’ front is $100 and each additional 10’ front is an additional $50. Electric
hook up will be $35 and we have limited covered spaces available so plan to sign up early
This is our 'old school special.' It is our focus to always remember each and every biker who
maybe can't make it to other events to sell, trade and buy the best quality and affordable parts
on hand. Our plan is to always keep our large vendors, but we also want to give the proper

focus to the individual bikers who need to buy, sell and trade. Let's face it. In this economy,
it's all about getting back to financial reality and we have a long range plan to make each
Bootleg Shine Rally the event that must be included on one's calendar.”
In addition to the vendors, there will be a bike show with a trophy given to each class
winner. The top three from each judged class also will receive a photo opportunity with the
speedway's track photographer in the historic facility's unique winner's circle. Each class
winner will ride his/her bike onto the lift that will carry them up to the winner's circle atop the
building.

Other rally events include old school street drags, a trip through the track's Back Roads to
HNWS Museum, a performance by Fair Warning Band, ride-and-drive race car opportunities,
and the opportunity for each biker to ride a lap around the historic short track at highway
speed. Concessions will be available.

For updated information on the Bootleg Shine Rally, go to www.bootlegshinerally.com and
www.historicnws.com.

Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway's 2011 season opens April 7-9 with the PASS North
Wilkesboro 300, the richest ever Super Late Model race. Tickets are now on sale for the
historical event that already has 90 entries.



North Wilkesboro Speedway 2011 Schedule

April 7-9 PASS North Wilkesboro 300; Tour-type Stadium Modifieds

May 13-14 Southern Truck & Tractor Pullers Association

June 18 UARA STARS; Crash and Bash Weekend (Demolition Derby, Chain Race).

July 23 USAC Silver Crown, MOPAR National Midget series

Sept. 2-3 2nd annual Labor Day Classic PASS 200

Sept. 23-24 Back to Basics Historic Race Weekend

Sept. 24 Wilkes County Cruisers Car Show and Swap Meet

Oct. 2 2nd annual Triple Header Weekend (UARA STARS, Tour-type Stadium Modifieds and Limited Late Model.)

Oct. 28-29 2nd annual Short Track Shootout

Nov. 12 Chump Car 8-Hour Enduro

 

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - (February 12, 2011) - In eight short weeks the gates to to North Wilkesboro Speedway will swing open for THE RACE at Historic North Wilkesboro, asphalt super late model racing's richest event of 2011. The 300 lap Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South race is shaping up to be a short track race fan's dream and the latest entry tally reveals that race teams from nineteen states and four Canadian provinces have filed pre entries for the historic short track race that will be the first ever under the lights at the famed 5/8 mile.

It probably comes as no surprise that North Carolina has the most early entries filed with seventeen The epicenter of southeastern motorsports, familiar names like 2010 PASS South and National champ Preston Peltier, Ryan Blaney, Andy Loden, Jay Fogleman are all signed up and ready to try and claim the $75,000.00 payday. Car builder Robert Hamke has filed an entry with a driver to be determined, and you can bet that the 2007 PASS South Championship car owner wants to add THE RACE to his long list of achievements. Zach Germain is the latest North Carolinian to add his name to the field.

Its hard to believe that a state fourteen hours away would have fifteen pre entries but there's a talented group of Maine super late model racers making the long haul. Led by 2010 PASS North Champion Johnny Clark and two PASS South titleholders in the form of Mike and Ben Rowe, the Maine contingent is a strong one. The list is chock full of super late model winners like Trevor Sanborn, Travis Benjamin,Cassius Clark, Randy Turner and Scott Mulkern. Gary Smith, Scott Alexander, 2010 PASS North Rookie of the Year Joey Doiron , they'll all attempt to make a little short track history on Saturday April 9 when PASS lights up the night at North Wilkesboro for the first time.

The balance of the the 67 early entries are spread across seventeen states and four eastern Canada provinces. Ross Kenseth represents Wisconsin, Augie Grill's the man from Alabama, and Jeff Choquette and Stephen Nasse are representing the Sunshine State. Garrett Evans (Washington) and Ryan Reed (California) will haul from the left coast . Patrick LaPerle (Quebec) John Fleming (Nova Scotia) Lonnie Sommerville (New Brunswick) and Greg Proude (Prince Edward Island) will all try to take the loot back to their native Canada.

D.J. Shaw, Aaron Ricker and Adam Bates will travel from New Hampshire, while Kenzie Ruston and Donnie Wilson call Oklahoma home. Scott Hantz and Michael Bilderback are the first two of several expected entries from Indiana. PASS South winner Justin Wakefield will represent Georgia, Sterling Marlin and Heath Hindman will make the trip from Tennessee and Texas Trey Mitchell is on the list, as are Virginians Brandon Ward and Tim Pinion.

Add them all up and you've already got the makings of a superstar field that will keep fans on their feet from qualifying day on Friday April 8 to the final checker on Saturday April 9. Click on www.proallstarsseries.com to view the complete pre entry list and weekend schedule for THE RACE.

There's still time for race teams to save $50.00 on their entry fee by visiting the PASS web site for your entry blank. Fans can save $10.00 per adult ticket by using the on line ticket order form and purchasing race day tickets in advance.

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - (February 2, 2011) - In Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway's second year of operation, the five-eighths-mile track will host the United Auto Racing Association-Stars for the first-time ever when the Late Model circuit invades the facility in 2011.

The Hendersonville, N.C.-based circuit which has Coleman Pressley, son of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley, as its defending champion, and Robert Johnson, son of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, as its 2010 top rookie, will race in Wilkes County on June 18. The UARA's inaugural appearance at North Wilkesboro will be during Crash and Bash weekend. UARA replaces the USAR Pro Cup event that was tentatively planned for that date.

“While it still has to be determined how many laps we will race due to tire testing that must be completed, we know the priority is putting on the absolute best event we can for the fans,UARA President Kerry Bodenhamer said. have worked very hard with Bosco (Lowe), Alton (McBride Jr.) and the Speedway Associates Inc. team to get this date on the calendar. I am very excited to bring UARA to the famous speedway in North Wilkesboro, N.C.”

SAI President McBride said that in addition to the UARA race on June 18 the Crash and Bash weekend would include a demolition derby for full-size and compact cars, a chain race, and a camper-trailer race. Event details, including rules and prize money, will be available on the track's Web site beginning Feb. 7.

“We have been very fortunate over the last year to be recognized for our commitment to putting on history-making and fun events for the fans,McBride said. The wonderful events at HNWS are a reality due to all the great fans, competitors, sponsors and the SAI/HNWS team in every department and on every level. The June 18 event will prove to be another first-class, affordable weekend to make the 2011 HNWS history books.”

Campers may arrive on Friday of race weekend after noon. Tickets for the event will go on sale Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. at the speedway's ticket office and online.

NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - (January 8, 2011) The richest-ever Super Late Model race in the United States and the first USAC Silver Crown Championship Series event in North Carolina's foothills highlight the 2011 Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway schedule announced Friday.


After returning to the motorsports community in September 2010 with three racing weekends over a two-month period, the historic short track will more than double the number of weekends in which the roar of racing engines will reside at the popular five-eighths-mile facility.


“We look forward to the fans of HNWS coming back in just a matter of weeks to experience all of the great events that will be sure to provide the biggest bang for the buck,” Speedway Associates Inc. President Alton McBride Jr. said. “We want everyone to be a part of making history again in 2011.


Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway's season kicks off April 7-9 with the richest-ever Super Late Model Race race, the North Wilkesboro 300. Nicknamed “The Big Race” by the competitors, the winner is guaranteed $75,000 with a $25,000 bonus up for grabs for PASS competitors who ran all of the 2010 point races in either the North or South series, plus four PASS national events. PASS is sanctioning the North Wilkesboro 300.


Fifty-nine drivers have already filed an entry for the unprecedented showdown for asphalt short-track racers. Entries include two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin, Ryan Blaney, and Jay Fogleman. John Flemming, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Patrick Laperle, of St. Denis Sur Roch, Quebec, also have entered the event. Joining PASS on the historical weekend will be the ground-pounding, fist-pumping, tour-type Stadium Modifieds with $5,000 going to the winner.


On July 23, USAC's  Silver Crown Championship Series visits North Wilkesboro for the first time in the circuit's history. The 100-lap event is the fifth on the series 10-race schedule. Also on tap for the Saturday afternoon event is a MOPAR National Midget Championship race. It is the 16th event on the series 26-race schedule.


USARacing Pro Cup Series cars return to North Wilkesboro June 18 with a 200-lap event. Also scheduled for the “Crash and Bash” weekend are a demolition derby and a car  train race. The latter consists of one car towing another, with the front car handling the steering duties and the rear the braking requirements.


Labor Day weekend will again be devoted to the PASS circuit, which kicked off the track's 2010 schedule with the Labor Day Classic. In addition to PASS, the Sept. 2-3   weekend will host other racing series to be announced at a later date.


Wilkes County's Apple Festival will once again have the Triple Header weekend at the speedway. There will be the Brushy Mountain 250 for the USAR Pro Cup cars, the tour-type Stadium Modifieds will return and a Limited Late Model race will round out the weekend.


North Wilkesboro Speedway will celebrate Halloween with its second annual Short Track Shootout. This year, however, the event that raised 400 pounds of food for the county's food bank last October will be an action-packed two-day event, Oct. 28-29.


The speedway ends its season Nov. 12 with a Chump Car 8-hour Enduro event.
In addition to the race weekends, HNWS will host the Southern Truck and Tractor Pullers Association May 13-14 and a first-ever historic racers festival weekend Sept. 23-24. The Back Roads to North Wilkesboro Museum will be open for the historical event, which will be a time for owners of historic race cars to show them off, enjoy some time on the speedway and bench race. On Sept. 24, the Wilkes County Cruisers also will conduct a car show and swap meet.


“It will be nice to have the Cruisers invade Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway just as they did up through 1992,” McBride said. “The Cruisers are known for holding the biggest event of this type in the race track's long history. Car clubs throughout the region are already making plans for this to be the new bench mark; the largest event of show cars, hot rods and garage-and-shop swap meet warriors to ever set foot at Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.”


Tickets for the April 7-9 weekend are now on sale and may be purchased at the speedway office or at PASS Super Late Models Website.

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