NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Take Home the $1 Million Check from North Wilkesboro Speedway?
The most eagerly awaited NASCAR Cup Series race weekend of 2023 is finally here. Sunday night 24 of the sport’s best will race for $1 million on the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway. The 5/8-mile bullring is hosting its first NASCAR event of any kind since 1996. Every driver wants their name added to the list of legendary Wilkes County winners. Only one will take the anticipated elevator ride to victory lane after 200 laps though. Here are a few ones to watch out for in the rebirth and rechristening of North Wilkesboro.
William Byron
The most recent NASCAR Cup Series winner, a lot is going in William Byron’s favor entering All-Star week. The Hendrick 24 has three wins through 13 races in 2023, including last Sunday’s Goodyear 400 from Darlington. Byron will also enter the All-Star Race having already competed at North Wilkesboro. Byron will gain Wilkesboro experience in both a Super Late Model and a Truck. The winningest driver so far in 2023 expects another prime opportunity ahead for a checkered flag.
“It’s going to be cool for sure,” Byron said. “We’re nervous about the weekend and not knowing what to expect. Luckily, I’m running the late model race this week. I’m excited to run that and get back in a Super Late Model again. It should be a lot of fun as well as give me a good idea of what the track is going to be like, and we can go from there. Right now, I’m just telling my guys to set it up how you think is best. We don’t really have any simulation for the track. It’s going to be pretty fun to see who hits the setup and who needs to make changes after practice.”
There is little doubt that Hendrick Motorsports is the team to beat on a weekly basis this year. Their most consistent driver is now also the sport’s winningest. Throw in the added Wilkesboro track time too, and William Byron should be a favorite for the $1 million check.
Kevin Harvick
While the official throwback weekend happened at Darlington, Kevin Harvick pays homage to his early career on Sunday. For the All-Star Race, Harvick will trade in the No. 4 for the No. 29. The 2014 champion will also run the same paint scheme he took to Cup Series victory number one from Atlanta in 2001. Harvick is also one of a handful of drivers with past track time at Wilkesboro. Back in the RCR 29 days, they tested at the then-closed facility in 2010. Harvick reflected on his days behind the wheel of the No. 29. He is more than excited to honor celebrate those memories this weekend.
“When I sat in the 29 for the first time, it really wasn’t by choice. But I definitely wouldn’t have done it any differently,” Harvick said. “Dale’s passing changed our sport forever, and it changed my life forever and the direction it took. Looking back on it now, I realize the importance of getting in the Cup car. And then I wound up winning my first race at Atlanta in the 29 car after Dale’s death. The significance and the importance of keeping that car on the racetrack and winning that race early at Atlanta – knowing now what it meant to the sport, and just that moment in general of being able to carry on – was so important. I had a great 13 years at RCR and really learned a lot through the process because of being thrown into Dale’s car. Where my first press conference as a Cup Series driver was the biggest press conference I would ever have in my career. Where my first moments were my biggest moments. With this being my last year as a Cup Series driver, we wanted to highlight a lot of these moments. Many were made at RCR in that 29 car. So, with the All-Star Race going to North Wilkesboro – a place with a ton of history – we thought it made sense in a year full of milestones and moments to highlight where it all started.”
“Everything that started in my Cup career started at RCR. It wasn’t supposed to start in the 29. But it wound up being my first in the 29 after Dale’s death. Being able to put that car back out on the racetrack is something that we all thought would not ever happen again. But with Stewart-Haas Racing and Richard Childress Racing working together and making my crazy idea work out, and being able to see the first win paint scheme in the 29 and to have it on the racetrack at North Wilkesboro is something I think we’re all excited about. I know the fans are excited, but for us it’s an honor and a privilege to drive it one last time. It will be a fun night for all of us.”
Wilkesboro should be very similar to Darlington with how gritty it is and how it may reward veterans who know when to force the issue. Aside from mere sentimental reasons with his paint scheme, Harvick’s experience and short track prowess may pay dividends. With all of this in mind, Harvick has some of the shortest odds to wheel the No. 29 to victory one final time.
Denny Hamlin
Always a threat on short tracks, Denny Hamlin could be a quiet sleeper pick for Wilkesboro. Driver 11 does have one past All-Star Race victory from Charlotte in 2015. Hamlin looks to add onto his trophy case this weekend. Wilkesboro’s surface has not been repaved since 1981. With that in mind, massive tire falloff will decide who’s up front and in contention for the big check. Hamlin is one of the best today at tire conservation, and looks forward to the great unknown challenge ahead.
“I’m ultra pumped about going to North Wilkesboro,” Hamlin said. “It’s a short track, I love those. It’s a tire-wear racetrack, I love those. I think we’re going to be looking all over the track to find grip because it has so little grip. But I’m very excited for it. The atmosphere is going to be great. It’s definitely going to have a grassroots feel to it that will make it very special.”
If anyone can be labeled a big money driver, it’s Denny Hamlin. A three-time Daytona 500 champion, two-time Southern 500 winner and the defending Coca-Cola 600 winner, the 11 shows up to fight more often than not in major races. The 11 will certainly be a contender late at Wilkesboro if he can remain in the ballpark until the closing laps.
Kyle Busch
Many eyes should be on Kyle Busch to take home All-Star Race win number two in Wilkesboro. Busch was raised racing on worn out bullrings not unlike North Wilkesboro Speedway. Busch has an unparalleled wealth of racing knowledge and experience in different vehicles. With this in mind, driver 8 should adapt quickly to the ancient track surface. Much like Hamlin, Busch knows that Sunday will be a race of saving tires and deciding when to charge.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be interesting, for sure,” Busch said. The tire falloff at that race track is by far the worst I think we’ll ever see. So 50 or 60 lap runs on tires that you have to go – I mean that’s a long time anyways, but it’s not quite 100 laps like late model races or modified races that are going to run there. Still, I think you’re going to have to figure out how hard to push. If you’re a guy upfront, do you push for a little while? If you’re a guy in the back, how much do you ride? Is the field going to catchup and are you going to go a lap down? Things of that nature.”
Richard Childress Racing is far from a stranger to North Wilkesboro victory lane. Rowdy will be racing for Childress’ sixth Wilkes County victory. The 8 was fast in Darlington, only for a slow pit stop to set them back. Busch should leave it all on the track in his quest for a second All-Star triumph.
Joey Logano
What do Bristol Dirt, the L.A. Coliseum Clash, and Gateway all have in common? They’ve all been added to the Cup Series calendar in the past three years, and all had the same inaugural winner–Joey Logano. The 22 Penske team is no stranger to adapting to a new track and finding immediate success. Logano has attributed this versatility to the high quality of his Paul Wolfe-led team. The 22 is another car up front more often than not at short tracks. Logano is well aware of the impact this weekend’s race can have. Driver 22 is ready to be part of the celebration.
“I think the atmosphere is gonna be amazing,” Logano said. “That’s the race everyone has been talking about, kind of like the Clash before there was the Clash. What’s it gonna be like right before we went there the first time? Now it’s North Wilkesboro and what’s it gonna be like?”
“Everyone has talked about it. I’m pretty excited to get up there and see what the racing is like. You’ve got a million bucks on the line. It doesn’t matter where you race, it’s gonna be intense and exciting. But I think the nostalgia of going back there and that excitement that a lot of fans and competitors have as well has added a piece, for sure.”
Logano may put on a show worth $1 million for this historic victory. The 22 is no stranger to dramatic finishes on short tracks. The chance could be there for another highlight reel win.
Martin Truex Jr
Another grizzled veteran with plenty of short track acumen, Martin Truex Jr. is surprisingly 0-12 in the NASCAR All-Star Race. Truex also won the other exhibition race of 2023, the Clash at the L.A. Coliseum. Bullrings like Wilkesboro are MTJ’s bread and butter tracks. Expect the 19 to be sniffing the lead at some point Sunday.
“I think it’s going to be awesome,” Truex said. “I’ve never been there before. I remember watching races there when I was growing up. For me, it’s going to be neat to be racing on that track that so many legends of the sport did. I remember back in races of the past and what it was like to watch and thinking about the asphalt that it’s still that old. It’s going to be pretty crazy. I’ve been trying to keep up with the late models races and the things that have been going on there in the past year. Just trying to understand it a little bit and think about what we are going to need to do or what it’s going to be like for us. But I expect it to be fun. All-Star Race is something that’s supposed to be fun. It’s something unique and different and I think it will be. I’m looking forward to checking it out and hope we can have a strong run there with our Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry TRD.”
“It’s going to be really interesting. Really old asphalt and really wore out and that’s the kind of tracks I really love racing on. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for us. Probably similar to Richmond, really hard on tires and you kind of have to take care of the tires a lot. I think it’s going to put on a great show. I’m really looking forward to going there. When I watched races there growing up, it was really fun to watch and happy I get the chance to race there finally. Hopefully this will be the perfect track for us to get our first All-Star win.”
Short tracks have been very kind to Truex so far in 2023. Aside from the Clash win, Truex was up front at both Richmond and Martinsville. Searching for grip and trying to maximize tire life should fall right into the 19’s wheelhouse.
Sunday has the chance to be the banner moment of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season. North Wilkesboro Speedway has been brought back from the brink. The 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race will go green Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The 200-lap main event will follow the Open race at 5:30 p.m. A $1 million party will cap off the week-long celebration of speed and racing roots in Wilkes County.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to NWS Photos
