Page 18 - Wilkes County NCG

REVIVING A RACETRACK

acing legends and NASCAR When the track closed in 1996, locals and Terri Parsons moved to Wilkes County
bluebloods like Dale Earnhardt, Jeff fans hoped it would one day reopen. Nearly shortly after Benny’s death. She quickly
Gordon, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, and 26 years after its final NASCAR race, North entrenched herself in the community
Benny Parsons have more in common than a Wilkesboro Speedway is set for a second life and soon was Wilkes County’s film
shared passion and profession. They, among following an intense outpouring of support in commissioner. Most of the filming requests
many others, claimed championships at 2021. Terri Parsons, the late Benny Parsons’ she handled – and still does – for television
North Wilkesboro Speedway. wife, led the charge with the help of Steven series, commercials and feature films were
Wilson, a man who first contacted Benny for the speedway. That sort of
Johnson and Parsons didn’t have to go far to Parsons almost immediately
bring home the victory because they were

opened the door for a
conversation to take place about the
after the track’s closing. Terri Parsons future of the speedway,” Terri Parsons said.
already home. Both were born in Wilkes
County. Parsons was just six years old in remembers Wilson being around 18 or That conversation sprouted wings when
1947 when the first race was held at North 19 years old at the time. Marcus Smith became president at
Wilkesboro Speedway, which was built by “I remember Benny saying, ‘this kid is eaten Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI), the
Enoch Staley and partners as a dirt track. up with this speedway,’” she said. company that owns the racetrack. Marcus
Less than a year later, Staley and other race Smith took over the company’s operations
promoters and drivers founded NASCAR. Wilson’s passion to save the track never from his father Bruton Smith, who had
The short-track speedway was an original faded, and even after Benny Parsons’ death previously been hesitant to reopen the track.

venue for NASCAR and quickly became an in 2007, he stayed in contact with Terri, In March of 2021, Marcus Smith blew that
important stop on the circuit for nearly five always hoping something could be done door wide open while on Dale Earnhardt
decades, hosting two races each season. to open it again. Jr.’s podcast.

14 Wilkes Chamber of Commerce