The 2023 Cup Series has been a box full of surprises. While the ongoing year schedule witnessed the rise in road course races, its short track packages suffered a big jolt with the Next-Gen cars failing to provide the much-needed theatrics. However, amidst all the furor, it also witnessed the return of one of the iconic tracks of NASCAR, North Wilkesboro Raceway, which held the All-Stars Race.

The track, which had seen better days in the yesteryears, was gradually marked with decadence as undergrowth made its headway from the faults on the track. However, the timely intervention by Dale Earnhardt Jr. provided a facelift and made it conducive to racing. Nevertheless, after an unprecedented success in the 2023 season, it seems that the track is set to be repaved in order to play host once again for the 2024 All-Stars Race. It seems that North Wilkesboro is not the only track that would undergo a series of dissections as SMI tries its hand with another track, sending NASCAR enthusiasts into a frenzy.

Speedway Motorsports dissects another iconic track

The term’repave’ has been a necessary evil in the world of NASCAR. It not only requires a lump sum to undergo the process but also derails the racing package on the track. A similar chatter was palpable when Atlanta Motor Speedway underwent repaving in 2021. Increasing its banking degrees and decreasing its width, making the track more attuned to tracks like Talladega and Daytona, had made the drivers visibly displeased.

Nonetheless, it is apparent that a similar fate awaits many iconic tracks along North Wilkesboro ahead of the commencement of the 2024 Cup Series season. One such track is Sonoma Raceway. The track, which is currently owned by Speedway Motorsports, would be the only points race that would be held in California and is set to receive a facelift ahead of the next season.

The track underwent a partial repaving in 2003, was completely repaved in 1985, and is surely due for a repave. Moreover, racing on this track has been a complete game of probability, as drivers failed to gain traction on the track. Nevertheless, the news of the track being repaved broke out to the NASCAR fandom by journalist Bob Pockrass on his Twitter profile. He stated, “Speedway Motorsports confirms Sonoma Raceway repave prior to the Cup race in 2024. The scope and timing of the project TBA.”

The news was initially delivered by NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie on his latest podcast episode of Stacking Pennies, in his conversation with Senior Vice-President of NASCAR, Ben Kennedy. LaJoie expressed, “Sonoma is laying down some asphalt down on that. They told us all the drivers in our competition meeting.”

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Fans express their displeasure over the new directive

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There is no denying the fact that the repaving of the tracks alters the configuration of racing. The tire wear-offs on the newly built track are minimal, which may hinder the racing package. As a result of this, the NASCAR community seemed to have gone berserk after the announcement of the news.

Fans took to Twitter and complained.

“Give the hairpin 30-degree banking or we riot.”

“Ahh… Another crappier road course in California. Nice.”

“Another single file road course incoming.”

While others wrote, “Ruining another great track.”

“Hopefully they put real curbs in at T11 and 4, people were just making up their own layout this year.”

“Promise you they’re doing the same thing that Watkins Glen and Laguna Seca have done. They are trying to appeal to the FIA and are destroying their tracks to add runoff and extend curbs and other bs. These tracks are ruined now and this is seeing the motorsports industry.”

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Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how the racing package undergoes a huge transformation. Will the racing on this track be more competitive or will passing be a hard process even more? It would surely be a test of time.