The 2025 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway was a 250-lap masterpiece that showcased just how good short track racing is. Christopher Bell, piloting the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, crossed the finish line first, beating Joey Logano by 0.829 seconds. It was a thriller of an event, with 18 lead changes, the most in All-Star race history, involving eight drivers and five cautions for 32 laps.

The racing was intense, with pivotal moments like the promoter’s caution adding to the drama. Battles like Bell and Logano fighting for the lead on the final restart, and Kyle Larson climbing from 19th to third by lap 186 after a two-tire stop on lap 178, defined the electricity of the race. At the center of it all stood Dale Earnhardt Jr., the individual who gave everything to bring new life to this legendary track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. sees the fruits of his efforts

Dale Earnhardt Sr. had embraced Wilkesboro’s old-school vibe, winning there in 1986 at the peak of his powers, and went on to win four more times. In 2019, Earnhardt Jr. ignited with hope, driven by memories of his father’s triumphs and his own love for short tracks, he partnered with Wilkes County and Speedway Motorsports to bring it back.

They began with an iRacing scan to preserve its layout digitally, but Dale Jr. dreamed bigger—real cars, real fans, real racing. Securing $18 million in state funding and rallying community support, they rebuilt the facility. Grassroots events like the CARS Tour returned by 2021, and in 2023, NASCAR raced there for the first time in 27 years.

So, when North Wilkesboro produced the racing spectacle we all saw last night, Junior’s emotions poured out on X: “I love this racetrack. Really glad we got it back. @NWBSpeedway” The town of North Wilkesboro, battered by the track’s closure, came alive, with restaurants and hotels overflowing. Record crowds, with Dale Jr.’s inclusion as a broadcaster for the CARS Tour event, making the experience even larger. Earnhardt Jr.’s efforts with the CARS Tour, combined with Jeff Burton, Justin Marks, and Kevin Harvick as partners, secured the future of grassroots racing. Their joint efforts ensured grassroots racing thrived, preserving tracks like Wilkesboro for future generations.

The 0.625-mile oval, situated between the rolling North Carolina hills, pulsed with life once more, its grandstands filled with fans. This was not just the NASCAR All-Star Race—this was a resurrection, a rebellious insistence on the sport’s past. Pride shone from his eyes as he watched the racing, a dream come true through countless hours of unrelenting labor. The NASCAR community, from the drivers to the fans, rallied behind him, their voices echoing with gratitude for an evening that felt like homecoming.

The story of North Wilkesboro is one of tragedy and redemption. Since 1947, it was a stalwart of NASCAR’s early days, hosting legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Its short, narrow design produced hard-hitting, wheel-to-wheel racing that defined the sport. But in 1996, NASCAR’s expansion into larger markets left it in the dust, a casualty of evolution. Its loss devastated the town, as businesses shuttered and the town lost its heartbeat. The track fell apart, weeds choking the asphalt, grandstands rusting under the weight of neglect. NASCAR fans mourned it as evidence of NASCAR’s lost spirit.

Now, fans and drivers alike are calling for it to be a points-paying race! The $1 million richer All-Star champ Christopher Bell was ecstatic after his triumph, yelling at the crowd, “North Wilkesboro, how bout that one! That right there is absolutely incredible. North Wilkesboro, best short track on the schedule.” When asked if he feels it should be a points-paying race, a resounding, “Let’s go,” said everything that was needed. Even fifth-place finisher Chase Elliott was on board with its addition, saying, “I don’t see why not. I think it’s plenty capable of hosting, and obviously the crowd seems extremely receptive to the idea too.”

Adding to the drivers’ elation, the response from fans for the 2025 All-Star Race was a wave of appreciation, each remark a testament to Dale Jr.’s effort to create an unforgettable evening.

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Fans give due credit to Junior’s role in North Wilkesboro’s revival

“Best racing of the year! THANK YOU 🙏!!!!” one fan posted, their excitement fueled by the race’s 18 lead changes and defining moments like Bell’s lap 241 contact with Logano, which handed him the lead. The track’s surface, which Dale Jr. celebrated in his tweet, delivered relentless action, with fans roaring for every pass, like Ross Chastain’s charge for third on lap 239. Fans had pinned their hopes on Dale Jr., and this race showed why. “Great racing!” another fan exclaimed, summing up the night’s magic. The action never stopped.

“Like a mini Richmond,” another fan wrote, capturing the track’s tight, aggressive racing that mirrored Richmond Raceway’s short-track chaos. Fans saw Earnhardt Jr.’s vision in every lap, a return to the gritty, door-to-door racing he fought to preserve. “Much better race than Kansas,” another fan declared, contrasting Wilkesboro’s constant battles with Kansas Speedway’s more spread-out racing. Kansas last week was a good race, but North Wilkesboro felt like real NASCAR again. The track’s design, paired with Dale Jr.’s restoration, made it a clear fan favorite.

“Surface is aging in good … great racing tonight.” His words captured his pride in the track’s grippy, aging asphalt, which he’d meticulously helped restore to produce such fierce racing. Even Kevin Harvick in the FOX broadcast booth noted this, saying, “Unbelievable to think how this racetrack has progressed into a multi-groove racetrack in just two years.”

“Thank you @DaleJr you and your crew get all the credit,” a fan wrote, their gratitude echoing across the NASCAR community. Every detail reflected the track’s triumphant return. Dale Jr.’s challenge to make Wilkesboro a showdown, and fans’ reactions, rooted in the race’s heart-pounding moments, showed he succeeded. The wave of support, with fans pledging to continue rallying around Dale Jr., as he rallied around their sport.

What did you think of the All-Star race? Let us know in the comments!