The idea for the North Wilkesboro Speedway was born in the late 1940s when a group of local businessmen, led by Enoch Staley, decided to build a racetrack in the area. The group purchased land and began construction on the facility, which was completed in time for the first race on May 18, 1947.

The first race at North Wilkesboro Speedway was won by NASCAR legend, Fonty Flock. Over the next several decades, the track would host numerous NASCAR Cup Series races, with drivers like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jeff Gordon all recording victories at the track.

In 1996, the track was removed from the NASCAR Cup Series schedule due to its outdated facilities and limited seating capacity. The last Cup Series race at the track was won by Jeff Gordon.

Following its removal from the Cup Series schedule, the track continued to host lower-level racing events for several years. However, it eventually fell into disrepair and was forced to close in 2011.

In recent years, there have been efforts to revive the North Wilkesboro Speedway. In 2020, NASCAR announced that it would hold an exhibition race at the track, which was won by Chase Elliott. The event generated significant interest and has led to discussions about potentially restoring the track to its former glory.

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