Last Updated on August 12, 2026 9:23 am
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (Aug. 12, 2026) – For a speedway deeply rooted in making NASCAR history, the most historic week in 80 years at North Wilkesboro Speedway will take place in May of 2027. The iconic, five-eighths-mile oval will host its first NASCAR tripleheader race weekend May 21-23.
After a trip to Dover Motor Speedway for an afternoon running of the NASCAR All-Star Race earlier this year, the star-studded spectacle returns to prime time under the lights at NWS to celebrate the 35th anniversary of “One Hot Night,” the first All-Star Race at night in 1992.
“Thanks to Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler, ‘One Hot Night’ at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first superspeedway NASCAR race under the lights, and that’s when I truly became a race fan,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “There was electricity in the air, and an entire generation of race fans was captivated by it. We’ve seen the same excitement amongst fans at North Wilkesboro every day and night we’ve been on track since re-opening. It’s a pilgrimage every NASCAR fan should take, and now we have the biggest race week ever to look forward to for 2027.”
Like “One Hot Night” under the lights, the NASCAR All-Star Race has a history of trying things both for fun and competition. One-off paint schemes, double-file restarts, different rule packages, stage-racing, inversions, promoter cautions, under-car neon lighting and more have been a part of All-Star Race history, and in some cases, are now staples in the sport. 2027 may feature another twist as the industry considers how North Wilkesboro could be the ultimate Cup Series test track for future improvements. NASCAR plans to collaborate with teams, the track and drivers to add a unique element to the event, which could include adjustments to the race format itself or to the technical elements of the race car.
“I’ve always considered All-Star the race of innovation,” added Smith. “It’s such a unique opportunity for the race teams, NASCAR and the speedway to be bold, take some chances, have fun and just see what happens.”
Since NWS reopened to NASCAR in 2023, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series has been part of the schedule and this year will run on Friday, May 21. For the first time since 1985, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competes on Saturday, May 22. Sunday’s grand finale on May 23 will be the NASCAR All-Star Race with a winner’s purse of $1 million dollars, the largest single all-star payout to an individual athlete in professional sports, matched only by the winner of Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby.
“Four years ago, on the steps of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, we announced what many believed was impossible—that NASCAR was returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy. “Today, seeing this iconic venue host a historic NASCAR tripleheader weekend is a testament to just how extraordinary that revival has been. North Wilkesboro has once again become a place where NASCAR's rich history, current momentum and exciting future come together. We're incredibly proud of what this weekend represents—not only for this legendary track, but also for the community that helped bring it back and for the continued growth of our sport.”
Fans who visit North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2027 will also celebrate a milestone 80th birthday for NASCAR’s oldest track, which hosted its first race on May 18, 1947. Contested on a dirt oval, the race was won by Fonty Flock. Two years later, North Wilkesboro hosted the finale of NASCAR’s inaugural strictly stock season on Oct. 16, 1949. That race, the Wilkes 200, was won by Bob Flock in the series now known as the NASCAR Cup Series. After closing in 1996, the speedway underwent a miraculous restoration between 2022 and 2023, reopening with the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend in 2023. The historic 0.625-mile short track has hosted sellout Cup Series events including three All-Star races for the past four years.
Affordable weekend ticket packages and half-price NASCAR kids’ tickets in select sections are available now at www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com or by calling 336-844-4735. Race week on-track and fan event schedules, broadcast networks, green flag start times and NASCAR All-Star Race eligibility and format details will be announced at a later date.
