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NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. -
With faces that made racing famous in the crowd, a group of investors announced Tuesday that racing would return to North Wilkesboro Speedway next fall.
"All of us feel the same way about it," said former driver Bobby Allison. "We really are fond of this kind of a place, especially this kind of track. North Wilkesboro was one of the special ones."
After sitting closed and empty alongside U.S. 421 for 13 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway will host at least three races in fall 2010, Speedway Associates Inc. said Tuesday.
The investment group, which is made up of several racing veterans, has signed a three-year deal to bring races to the historic track, beginning with a USA Racing Pro Cup Series race in October.
"This opportunity today could be the last viable chance to stabilize this track from further deterioration due to the effects of Mother Nature and Father Time," said Mike Inscore, the town's mayor.
In it's heyday, the track was home to Winston Cup racing, NASCAR's top series, for 50 years. The track was an economic boom to Wilkes County, bringing in thousands of dollars in tourism.
But when it closed, many worried the tourism it brought was lost forever.
"In a time when we don't have jobs and the economy is sinking, here we have something so positive, something that will contribute back to the economy of our community," said Linda Cheek, with Wilkes Economic Development.
Over the next three years, the investors plan to make slow improvements to the track and, while they won't say how much they plan to spend, they promise jobs will be created as races, festivals and even a fair return to the speedway.
"You can be assured we have a comprehensive plan in place, and it's already started with what you see here now," said Alton McBride, one of the investors with Speedway Associates.
"All of us feel the same way about it," said former driver Bobby Allison. "We really are fond of this kind of a place, especially this kind of track. North Wilkesboro was one of the special ones."
After sitting closed and empty alongside U.S. 421 for 13 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway will host at least three races in fall 2010, Speedway Associates Inc. said Tuesday.
The investment group, which is made up of several racing veterans, has signed a three-year deal to bring races to the historic track, beginning with a USA Racing Pro Cup Series race in October.
"This opportunity today could be the last viable chance to stabilize this track from further deterioration due to the effects of Mother Nature and Father Time," said Mike Inscore, the town's mayor.
In it's heyday, the track was home to Winston Cup racing, NASCAR's top series, for 50 years. The track was an economic boom to Wilkes County, bringing in thousands of dollars in tourism.
But when it closed, many worried the tourism it brought was lost forever.
"In a time when we don't have jobs and the economy is sinking, here we have something so positive, something that will contribute back to the economy of our community," said Linda Cheek, with Wilkes Economic Development.
Over the next three years, the investors plan to make slow improvements to the track and, while they won't say how much they plan to spend, they promise jobs will be created as races, festivals and even a fair return to the speedway.
"You can be assured we have a comprehensive plan in place, and it's already started with what you see here now," said Alton McBride, one of the investors with Speedway Associates.
