EVENT HUB - NORTH WILKESBORO (2026 PLAYOFF RACE 3 of 3)

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a historic, 0.625-mile paved oval short track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The track was a big part of the early years and growth of  NASCAR.  It was also one of the south's original Modified mainstays.  Sadly, the track closed in 1996. After years of sitting dormant, Speedway Motorsports resurrected the legendary oval and it now stands strong as a testament to the passion of auto racing's faithful and is a beacon to the history of the sport.  NASCAR has returned, with the Cup Series, but the first race out of the gates was ... you guessed it, a Modified race.

The Modifieds will continue to play a strong role in the fabric of the speedway. From Red Byron to Ryan Newman, the Mod Squad's involvement at North WIlkesboro has been a constant and one of the great connections between the past and present.

The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic has competed 15-times at North Wilkesboro. 

NORTH WILKESBORO SMART Winners

April 1989 - Jimmy Spencer

Sept 1989 - Phillip Smith

April 1990 - Robert Jeffreys

Sept 1990 - Jay Hedgecock

1991 - Phillip Smith

April 1992 - Paul Spencer

Sept 1992 - Frank Fleming

1994 - Gary Myers

1995 - Junior Miller

1996 - Frank Fleming

(track closed)

**2022 Ryan Newman

**2022 Matt Hirschman

2024 Justin Bonsignore

2025 Luke Baldwin

**non-SMART points paying Racetrack Revival races

CLICK HERE TO VISIT TRACK SITE

The SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic and will decided its 2026 Championship with the running of the Friendly Tire 99.  It's a Saturday race day in North Carolina that is built for pure race fans!  In the morning, go see historic racecars and meet legends of racing's past with the Moonshine and Racers Reunion.  Bill Blair Jr has organized an impressive list of drivers and cars for this FREE event. Then, go get a ticket and put down your seat at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for three big races under a Carolina blue sky day!  Gates open at 10am and fans can watch practices, qualifying and then three feature events. The Mini Stocks and Carolina Crate Modified Series are the opening acts for the big Friendly Tire 99. 

The expected field of Modified racers will be an all star cast!  

Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman looks to get his first ever Modified title. Danny Bohn has been red hot in 2026. Everyone's favorite villain Jake Crum is racing for a Championship along with two-time Bowman Gray Champion Brandon Ward.  The Dirty South is represented with 12-time Bowman Gray and 3-time SMART Modified Champ Burt Myers in the Championship chase. 

It will all come down to this 99-lapper, the culmination of a 13-race and three-race-playoff to determine the Championship for the south's premier Modified Tour.

Come see the 600-horsepower groundpounders rip around North Wilkesboro Speedway in a blur of color and speed.

FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS FOR 2026

#25 Danny Bohn

#2 Ryan Newman

#1jc Jake Crum

#04 Brandon Ward

#1 Burt Myers