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- NASCAR’s All-Star Race week returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway May 15-18, featuring a packed schedule of events.
- The All-Star Race format has been revamped with an additional 50 laps and a Promoter’s Caution.
- Ford has partnered with North Wilkesboro Speedway, with the Mustang Dark Horse serving as the official pace car.
- A new pedestrian bridge over Highway 421 will improve fan access and traffic flow.
With the return of the 2025 NASCAR All-Star race set for the weekend of May 15-18, there’s a lot going on that will surround the prestigious event on the famed .625-mile North Wilkesboro Speedway. A condensed four-day schedule features the zMAX CARS Tour racing, the Window World 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, live concerts, NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge and the fan-favorite NASCAR All-Star Race — the finale that caps off some of the greatest racing on the NASCAR schedule.
On Tuesday, April 29, media members and community guests were invited to the track to preview next month’s NASCAR All-Star Race Week with 2024 All-Star winner, Joey Logano and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Jake Garcia
Highlighting North Wilkesboro’s new partnership with Ford, officials also unveiled the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse pace cars that will be showcased during the mid-May weekend.
Joey Logano, NASCAR’s defending Cup Series champion, was part of a press conference and reflected on his triumphant run last year and shared his excitement for the historic venue’s next chapter while providing track rides to media members.
“To see what you guys have done to tastefully improve the facility for the modern day, while keeping the nostalgia of what North Wilkesboro Speedway is, is really neat. This track has a lot of character, and it’s just been fun, even down to the special trophy,” Logano said in a track issued release. “It was fun to give rides to some of the media members. I thought that the main thing everyone said was that they couldn’t believe how much grip the track has when we’re going through the corners. I mean, you put me in a Mustang, what do you think is going to happen, we’re going to go fast.”
There are several new format changes set for this year’s special non-points event. The race will be extended 50 additional laps and that will feature a Promoter’s Caution. Both changes will be implemented to further build excitement for the anticipated sell-out crowd that will be coming from all around the United States.
As the defending winner, Logano weighed in on the revamped format and how it could shape the battle for the $1 million prize.
“It’s definitely different with some changes there, but that’s the thing about the All-Star Race, everyone is racing for a million bucks, and that’s it, nobody cares about finishing second or third or getting a top-five in the All-Star Race. Nobody cares, it’s about winning the race,” Logano said. “The Pit Crew Challenge makes this one of the most enjoyable and challenging qualifying sessions of the year — probably the most, so you have a lot more crew chiefs and teams saying ‘Let’s go for it.’”
Jake Garcia, a rising star in NASCAR’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, led 40 laps in last year’s event and is set to compete in the Window World 250 on May 17.
“I’m really excited to be back, especially after last year,” Garcia said. “It’s an awesome facility, one I’ve heard about for a long time, so finally getting to see it up here the past couple of years in the (NASCAR CRAFTSMAN) Truck Series has been cool. It’ll be awesome to see this place with a packed crowd on Saturday for our race. This place is super fast for the size of the race track, with the new asphalt, it’s got a lot of grip, so track position is really big here, so we’ll have to go into it with a good strategy and have a truck fast enough to pass people to be able to win.”
As part of the April 29 announcement, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Ford Motor Company announced an official new partnership, naming Ford the Official Car and Truck of North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Ford Mustang Dark Horse will serve as the official pace car during All-Star Week.
In addition, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, which recently added 25 Ford Mustang GTs to its fleet, will have a specially marked patrol Mustang GT on-site throughout race week that will also help pace the field for the All-Star Race. Both vehicles were unveiled Tuesday, taking laps around the famed track and giving fans a first look at what will lead the pack this May.
“We have Mustangs dating back to 1983, and we’re really proud of that partnership and what that means,” said Public Information Officer, Sgt. Chris Knox. “We just want to say thank you to NASCAR, which is a longstanding partner of the Highway Patrol. We’ve worked with NASCAR for years and since the race has returned, that partnership has only gotten stronger, along with our partnership with North Wilkesboro Speedway.”
On behalf of North Wilkesboro Speedway, Speedway Motorsports Inc. continues to prioritize fan accessibility and safety. As part of those efforts, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has played a key role in infrastructure improvements, including a new 200-foot-long, 16-foot-wide pedestrian bridge over Highway 421 connecting speedway property to convenient parking. Set to open ahead of race week, the bridge is designed to enhance traffic flow and streamline fan entry for growing crowds.
