Back on Track: 200 brave rain to hear about plans to bring racing back to North Wilkesboro Speedway

NORTH WILKESBORO (By Monte Mitchell, Winston-Salem Journal) - Junior Johnson was there, and Bobby Allison and Ned Jarrett and other former drivers. Race engines were revved up, and firetruck sirens wailed.People leaving the infield garage took up an offer to drive a lap around North Wilkesboro Speedway.

About 200 people turned out in a steady rain yesterday to hear about plans to revive racing at the historic 0.625-mile oval that was closed in 1996. Speedway Associates Inc., the group that has a three-year lease on the track, had already announced that a USA Racing Pro Cup race (the former Hooters Cup series) will be held here Oct. 3, 2010.

Alton McBride Jr., the president of SAI, said yesterday that two more series are coming here. The American Speed Association Late Model Series will bring its 300-lap Kings Ransom televised finale sometime in November 2010. Also coming will be the Pro All Star Series late-model touring series. Dates are still to be confirmed.

McBride also said that the group wants to play host to a fair at the speedway, and has letters of intent from two major festivals that he didn't name.