NASCAR All-Star race has $48.9M economic impact in Wilkes

The analysis determined there was $28.9 million spent on food, accommodations, travel and other activities from the nearly 39,000 fans over the three-day weekend in late May last year.

Although 59% of the fans were from North Carolina, there were attendees from 37 other states and from as far as New Zealand.

There was more than $20 million in construction and infrastructure investment in the county related to the speedway as well as 432 jobs directly associated with the revival of a track that had been dormant since 2011.

The 39th annual All-Star Race and weekend events proved so popular that NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports are holding the 2024 version at the track on May 17-19.

The analysis was required as part of the speedway receiving $18 million in federal pandemic money from the state budget toward water, sewer and related infrastructure renovations that also include a new pit road and outside retaining walls.

The 0.625-mile track was to be repaved for the first time since 1981 before the 2024 All-Star Race weekend.

Wilkes County commissioners were required to provide a 25% match — or $4.5 million.

“When we made the bipartisan decision to invest federal relief funds from the Biden administration to renovate speedways, we knew it would put money in the pockets of North Carolina families,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. “The data is in, and we were right that bringing NASCAR racing back to North Wilkesboro not only brings back a great sport, but tens of millions of dollars…