NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt still climbs behind the wheel occassionally with his most recent appearance coming in his annual Xfinity Series one-off, Back in April, he recorded an 11th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in April.
On Wednesday night, Earnhardt was at the North Wilkesboro Speedway where he finished third in a Late Model Series event.
But his appearance was more than about simply competing. The track has been around since 1996 but hasn't been a part of the NASCAR schedule since 1996. However, the sellout crowd for Wednesday's race is proof there is still a market for racing at the .625-mile track and Earnhardt hopes his appearance can help spark a revival of activity at the track.
That activity is not limited to racing as festivals and concerts could play a role in the track's return to relevance.