Wilkes County prepares for 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The green flag is dropping for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway soon.
Sunday's race is expected to bring the crowds despite no fan fest or hauler parade this year. This is year three for the All-Star race back at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and it just keeps getting bigger.
The Wilkes County Tourism Development Authority said thousands of fans are expected to come for the race weekend.
A new pedestrian bridge has been put in place to help move crowds safely to the speedway.
'In past races, we've had to close down one lane of Fisher Creek, put stop lights on both sides, install barrier fencing for the pedestrians because the old bridge was not accommodating to pedestrians based on the railing heights,' North Carolina Department of Transportation Resident Engineer for Wilkes County and Ashe County Scott Pipes said.
The WCTDA estimates between 80,000 to 90,0000 people will be coming over four days for the NASCAR All-Star race weekend.
With fans comes foot traffic. That's where this new pedestrian bridge comes in. It was installed in April ahead of the busy race weekend. The NCDOT's new pedestrian bridge crosses U.S. 421, allowing people to safely walk over the busy highway to the North Wilkesboro Speedway.
'The new bridge is designed for pedestrians,' Pipes said.
The bridge is a part of a bigger traffic control plan involving cameras, NCDOT crews and troopers monitoring on U.S. 421 that will be heavily traveled over the race weekend.
'The biggest thing is keeping 421 flowing, but expect delays,' Pipes said.
While the speedway brings the people in, WCTAD Executive Director Thomas Salley said the deep history of racing in the county keeps them exploring.
That history is on display at the Wilkes Heritage Museum.
'NASCAR has its roots right here in Wilkes County with the moonshine … capital of the world … That business beget this idea of stock car racing because the moonshiners were modifying their cars to outrun the police,' Salley said.
In its third year, Salley said the All-Star race is revving up more than just engines. It's driving economic growth.
NASCAR's All-Star race weekend runs from May 16 through May 18, with the big race event on Sunday at 8 p.m.
Fans have already started arriving, and campgrounds are open.
If you're not headed to the speedway for the NASCAR weekend events, NCDOT officials recommend avoiding U.S. 421.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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