In mid-August, North Wilkesboro announced its upgrade. The 0.625-mile short track experienced a revival in 2023, when Dale Jr. and co brought it back to NASCAR’s racing schedule. But it entered the Cup Series as the venue for the All-Star Race, an exhibition race. In 2026, however, the track will host a points-paying race for the first time since 1996.

Presently, other racetracks are also hoping to follow in North Wilkesboro’s footsteps. One of them is a 25-year-old track in Sparta, Kentucky, which last hosted a NASCAR race in July 2020. In fact, its elected officials are stepping up the development game to woo a possibly bright future.

Small steps lead the way

Kentucky Speedway was a popular NASCAR destination in its heyday. From its opening in 2000 to the early 2010s, the intermediate

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