Posted on 05/17/2023 4:34:11 PM PDT by mabarker1
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Among the list of things former NASCAR driver and television broadcaster Benny Parsons asked his wife to do prior to his death in January 2007 was to try to get North Wilkesboro Speedway to reopen for NASCAR racing.
It took more than 16 years to get it done, but Terri Parsons — along with many others — can celebrate that achievement this week.
The NASCAR All-Star Race this weekend will be the first NASCAR race at the historic 0.625-mile oval since 1996.
The track was the place that nurtured the love of racing for the Parsons family, just like hundreds of families in the area.
Speedway Motorsports, sparked by interest from its CEO Marcus Smith and famed NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and with the help of an American Rescue Plan grant that contributed $14 million of the $18 million renovation project, decided last year to bring the all-star race to the track as part of NASCAR's 75th anniversary celebration.
Terri Parsons, following the dedication of a grandstand that honors Benny Parsons, said she never lost faith.
"There was never a day I didn't think this would happen," Parsons said. "I didn't think it would happen this soon. But I've got 17 years into this — do you think I would have waited that long to decide nothing was going to happen?"
(Excerpt) Read more at foxsports.com ...
I didn’t know that.
Per Wikipedia:
Following high school, he moved to Detroit, Michigan where his father operated a taxicab company. Parsons worked at a gas station and drove cabs in Detroit before beginning his racing career. While working at the gas station one day, a couple of customers towing a race car invited him to a local race track. The driver of the car never showed up for that evening’s race, and Parsons drove the car in a race for the first time later that night. Benny later moved to Ellerbe, North Carolina and always called it home.
Nice video! Thanks for posting.
It was a quest for BP and Dale Jr got hooked on helping out with it.
IIRC Jr has the Union 76 Ball from NWb at his “Town” Gas Station/Store on the Compound here in Moorseville.
Yeah, I saw that. At least the money stayed in America and not into fjb’s pocket or to Ukrainian pockets.
The roads only get repaved in election years and then they repave the streets that don’t need it !!!
🤪
LOL !!! I like Chastain too. I loved it last week when hamlin was introduced and got Hisses and Boo’s 👍👍👍
The Wall-termelon®️™️©️ move.
Welcome !!!
I stopped watching F1 years ago because it’s a Billionaires country club racing. Stopped watching the Indy 500 when most of the drivers names were foreign. NASCAR has it’s problems but it’s more like Saturday night racing than any other type.
They’ve f’ed up all forms of Racing including NHRA.
However any of them beats the }{€££ out of the kneelers league, thugball, tennis, flog, etc...
I’ll still watch the World Series if the Astros are in it.
It was a lot of fun back then...Most everyone got along good together...Factory drivers and Independents...When there was a problem, it was settled in the garage area, not in the public...
Were You around when they were still running hubcaps and putting gravel in side to mess with each other ?
Not talking about. It's a done deal. They have sold the excess land. The track was owned by NASCAR, and I guess they wanted the capital. Putting in a half-mile track probably ready in 2025.
Nope...We had no hubcaps...There were several things done to mess with drivers....
Raymond Williams bought Bill Seifort’s second car and we started pitting him also...We were at Atlanta getting ready on Friday when Williams drove up and came over all excited and said he had finally got a sponsor...We went over to his rig and he pulled the car cover off and there on the rear fender was a Bali Hai Wine logo...
We asked if he got a lot of money?? he grinned and said “Not a lot, but look here..” He opened the back door of his tow truck there were cases of Bali Hai wine....
Can you imagine what the garage area was like late Friday afternoon????ROFL....
PARTY ON THE PATIO !!!
Ross "Wall-termelonman Chastain the #1 also drives for Trackhouse Racing.
Don't forget about the Truck Race on Saturday.
Well they look to be off to a pretty good start with the resurrection of NWb Track. Truck Race has the fullest Grandstands I’ve seen in years at any track.
We’ll see how long it lasts.
Too bad they are on Fox (FS!) which I no longer watch.
The problem with the latter is that if everyone started driving like Chastain does, somebody will get killed.
They might as well remove the yellow stripes from the rear bumper because the rookies will be the safest drivers on the track -- not confident enough to become reckless.
-PJ
I’m watching the Indy 500 Qualifying trials, on NBC Sports. TRASHCAR — wokesters — Truck racing isn’t of any interest when IndyCars are running, or anytime.
I’m seeing where My portion of the $13,000,000.00 funding went. I DVR all Racing and I prefer Indycar and have for decades over NUTSCAR.
I’m waiting to see if Helio Castroneves can pull a 5th Indy 500 win.
I’ve got My nap in and am headed to the DVR for the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo at Laguna Seca rodeo.
Hell if they would broadcast Lawnmower Racing again I’d watch that too.
(It would be more entertaining if they would leave the mower deck and blades on them running.)
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