NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C.-- North Wilkesboro Speedway is closer than ever to holding another NASCAR race.

With the huge restoration task underway and ahead of schedule, FOX8 took a look at what it is requiring to make the Speedway prepared to host the All-Star race in May.

NASCAR fans are eagerly expecting the return of racing to North Wilkesboro Speedway, which hasn't held a NASCAR race considering that 1996.

The historical speedway, which initially opened in 1947, has actually been going through renovations for the past few months because it was revealed in September that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race would be held at the track.

Renovations are continuous at the track and authorities with Speedway Motorsports state they are a little ahead of schedule to this point. Most of the renovations are concentrated on preserving and keeping the old-school look while adding all the contemporary features.

" There's the proper way, the wrong method, and after that there's the speedway; So we're always because Speedway equipment", said Steve Swift, the SVP of Operations for Speedway Motorsports, "So I think when the fans get here, they're gon na get a throwback. True to what NASCAR utilized to be and what the facility used to be."

Everywhere you look around this historic track there is some kind of activity.

The updates to make this track race ready consist of a long list of products from security to comfort to looks.

A brand-new keeping wall had to be built all the method around the track. The SAFER barrier is being set up on that.

Fence posts are set up along the front stretch and are all set to be set up all the way around to support the new maintaining fence.

A new cutting edge lighting system by MUSCO is being installed today.

The initial suites along the front stretch are being fixed and brought back with contemporary features but entrusted a classic look.

A fresh coat of red paint is starting to cover most of the old steel framework along the front stretch.

An all-new structure is being constructed to change the old Lowe's suites in turn four. The old building had a fire years back and none of it might be conserved.

In the infield, the old-school media center with its rooftop victory lane looks mainly untouched up until now however will be reconditioned with the exact same idea of keeping its traditional look however permitting modern-day work.

Triumph celebrations will all be on the rooftop victory lane with the winning cars and trucks being lifted to the roofing system on the traditional car lift used for many years at North Wilkesboro.

A few other small buildings in the infield are being reconditioned while the rest of the infield was giving brand-new drain, and is being leveled and paved to maximize the quantity of area in the infield for all of the trucks, trailers and equipment that feature a NASCAR occasion.

Under the track, before all of the pavement decreased is a maze of fiber optic and communications cabling to assist in the kind of work that is done throughout the internet in the modern world.

What will stay old is the racing surface area. The existing pavement was carried out in 1981 and when the track held the customized and late-model racing occasions last fall, the strategy was to wreck and repave the track after a brief stint of dirt racing. However the track surface offered such excellent racing action that motorists like Dale Earnhardt Jr and others asked NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports to forgo any strategies to repave the track and to host the All-Star race on the old pavement.

There is still a lot of work to get done between now and may, however Speedway Motorsports authorities truly like where they are and are confident the all-star weekend will be ideal.

A really limited number of tickets stay offered, but sales remain on speed for a total sellout which will suggest 30,000 fans going to the All-Star Race.

Baseball has Wrigley Field in Fenway Park, basketball has Madison Square Garden Football has Soldier Field, and NASCAR will now have North Wilkesboro as a historical location.

Having the All-Star race back here at North Wilkesboro has the full assistance of NASCAR chauffeurs and the Wilkes County neighborhood, which is a big reason why this weekend is happening in North Wilkesboro.

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