Misplaced Pages

#512487

93-538: The unofficial start of the series was in 1973 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina . A group of drivers began racing on a road course owned by former NASCAR Cup owner Bill Ellis . Ellis decided not to continue after a few races. The drivers decided to format an association called the Baby Grand National Racing Association, Inc. (BGNRA), and appointed Charlie Triplett as president. Triplett says

186-518: A 7 ⁄ 8 inch (22 mm) plate. This was the most open restrictor plate (in terms of air flow) to race at Talladega since 1988. Criticisms of the CoT began with its first tests, with the magazine Speedway Illustrated noting the car's poor performance in traffic (February 2006 issue). The Winston-Salem Journal also noted extensive criticism of the project during 2006 testing, with drivers becoming more vocal by July 2007 and most fans rejecting

279-471: A female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 3.01. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

372-653: A gift shop. North Wilkesboro recently welcomed the Yadkin River Greenway which was created through the cooperative efforts of citizen volunteers, landowners, and the governments of Wilkes County, North Wilkesboro, Wilkesboro, and the State of North Carolina. The effort began in 1994, and the first phase of the greenway was opened on May 18, 2002. The Yadkin River Greenway Council, a non-profit community organization, provided coordination and leadership. The Greenway

465-435: A less exciting style of racing created by it. Kyle Busch, despite winning at Bristol, commented that "they suck" during his victory lane interview. Retired driver and TV analyst Rusty Wallace stated on ESPN that the car created a boring, single-file racing environment with little of the passing, action, or crashing that has made NASCAR popular, though after NASCAR announced the CoT would run the full schedule, he stated that it

558-594: A major part of the town's economic base. The North Wilkesboro Speedway , located just outside the city limits, predates the founding of NASCAR ; the speedway held its first race on May 18, 1947 and from there it grew in popularity. On October 16, 1949, the Speedway held the 8th and final race of the 1949 NASCAR Strictly Stock Division; when the race was over Robert "Red" Byron had become the first NASCAR-sanctioned champion. The North Wilkesboro Speedway held NASCAR races for 50 years; on September 29, 1996 Jeff Gordon would win

651-523: A major presence in the community. The town is also known as one of the birthplaces of the sport of stock-car racing , and the North Wilkesboro Speedway was the first NASCAR -sanctioned track. Due to the town's proximity to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and its numerous tourist venues, North Wilkesboro has been nicknamed the "Key to the Blue Ridge". North Wilkesboro was founded in 1891 when

744-473: A motor from approximately $ 800 to $ 22,000. Pontiac provided motors to five or six teams. The much greater expense led to only ten to twelve teams competing in events. NASCAR changed from a four-cylinder to a V6 motor in 1998, but still allowed teams to use either four or six cylinder engines from that point on. Most teams elected to use the V6 engines. NASCAR's sanctioning for the series ended in 2003, when they transferred

837-459: A new level of "team" racing reminiscent of the team orders ethos common to Formula One ; drivers would communicate with each other over radio to coordinate "swaps" instead of actually fighting for position. This was present in the 2011 Aaron's 499 at Talladega, leading to a three-wide finish with three drafting teams contending for the win: Clint Bowyer (pushed by Kevin Harvick ), Jeff Gordon (who

930-505: A stop at the exit of Turn 2. McDowell emerged from the Toyota unharmed. The car, along with the SAFER barrier on the track wall, was praised for its safety, as the speed upon impact of the crash was about 30 miles an hour more than Dale Earnhardt's fatal accident . In the 2008 Brickyard 400 , the longest run under green flag conditions was 12 laps due to extreme wear on right-side tires, especially

1023-569: Is a natural area between urban communities where wildlife, vegetation, and streams are preserved and enjoyed. The Greenway contains biking, jogging, and walking trails which follow the Yadkin River and Reddies River for several miles between the towns of North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro . The Yadkin River Greenway offers over 1.7 miles (2.7 km) of paved trails to form over 5.1 miles (8.2 km) of current trails with more extensions to come in

SECTION 10

#1732868993513

1116-563: Is bordered to the south by the Yadkin River and the Town of Wilkesboro. Running through the eastern portion of the town is the Reddies River which flows from North to South and unites with the Yadkin. Hoopers Branch , a tributary to the Reddies River, rises on the north side of North Wilkesboro. The town serves as the junction point for NC State Highways 18 and 268 and is within one mile (1.6 km) to

1209-498: Is noteworthy that Ray Paprota is a paraplegic and was driving with hand controls. For the rest of Speedweeks , flags at Daytona flew at half-staff in Weaver's memory. In 2005, Weaver's widow and three children competed on The Amazing Race: Family Edition , a reality television competition show on CBS . Two of the challenges were directly related to racing. The family finished in third place, and were largely negatively viewed in

1302-413: The 2007 New England 300 , "I'd like to know who it was who said this car would reduce the aero push because I could have told you from when I first drove this car that it would be worse." Kyle Busch , who won the very first race with the car at Bristol in 2007, proclaimed that the car "sucks" afterward and expanded on this criticism at Dover in 2008 in noting how the CoT was "hitting a wall of air" in

1395-468: The 2013 Daytona 500 and its supporting races. The testing and design of the car began in May 2010 and involved an unusual level of cooperation between the manufacturers ( Chevrolet , Ford , and Toyota ) involved. The 500 and subsequent race at Phoenix Raceway , however, caused controversy, as passing was limited and drivers such as Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin were critical of the car's ability to pass;

1488-635: The National Register of Historic Places . Wilkes Medical Center, founded in 1951 as Wilkes General Hospital, is located in North Wilkesboro. It is the largest hospital in northwestern North Carolina and is currently the town's largest employer. West Park, formerly a large shopping center built in the 1970s, has recently been transformed into a large medical park with numerous offices for physicians, medical specialists, pharmacies, physical therapists, and other medical and health-related fields. In 2017,

1581-572: The death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in a final-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500 . During the prior season, three drivers ( Adam Petty , Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Roper ) had perished in on-track accidents. The then-current cars were based on a design by Holman Moody first used for the 1966 Ford Fairlane . The primary design considerations for the new car were "safety innovations, performance and competition, and cost efficiency for teams." The CoT incorporated several safety improvements in comparison to

1674-624: The fourth-generation car ) and manufacturers were given free rein to construct the lower grille area to reflect that of their NASCAR models' production-car counterparts. In the past, all cars were required to run the same exact grille arrangement, allowing for very little, if any, real differentiation between them. The first racing with the redesigned car was the 2011 Daytona 500 and its supporting races ( Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duels ), all held on brand new pavement for Daytona International Speedway . The Daytona 500 broke long-standing records for leaders and lead changes, as 22 drivers changed

1767-574: The "Key to the Blue Ridge" and is adjacent to the Brushy Mountains , Stone Mountain State Park , and the Blue Ridge Parkway . Located a few miles away, the W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir offers its visitors a pristine wilderness to go mountain biking, boating, swimming, camping, picnicking, hunting, and fishing around its 55-mile (89 km) shoreline. The Town of North Wilkesboro is located in

1860-399: The 5.9 inches of average total snowfall, but the lack of any snow depth. North Wilkesboro has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) and the hardiness zone is 7B. - As of the 2020 United States census , there were 4,131 people, 1,862 households, and 962 families residing in the town. The population density was 622.08 inhabitants per square mile (240.19/km ). The average household size

1953-576: The CoT in July 2010 at Daytona International Speedway , running four races that season before fully implementing the car in 2011. The Xfinity car used the same chassis as the Cup Series, but featured an extended wheelbase of 110 inches (280 cm). The second-tier series also utilizes different body style, primarily marketing American pony cars such as the Ford Mustang . In 2015, NASCAR 's regional series,

SECTION 20

#1732868993513

2046-544: The CoT. Ford continued to use the Fusion model while Toyota continued to use the Camry . This chart lists the CoT's dimensions compared with the dimensions of their production car counterparts. *Weight displays the curb weight of the least expensive trim level available for model year 2008 unless otherwise specified. The Holden Commodore listed is a 2012 VE model with a V8 and manual transmission (which road-cars were imported for

2139-914: The Gen 6 car by NASCAR . During the 2012 season, it was announced that Ford would use the Mk.V Ford Mondeo , known as the Fusion in the Americas, Toyota would continue to use the 2013 Camry , while the Holden VF Commodore , rebadged in North America as the Chevrolet Super Sport (SS), replaced the Chevrolet Impala and Dodge announced they would use the Charger . However, soon after, Dodge announced their withdrawal from

2232-657: The Grand National division at a road course in Linden, New Jersey in 1954, according to commentator Mike Joy , and the last foreign-made car to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned event was an MG at one Grand National race in 1963 (before Toyota , who had used the Dash Series to prepare their stock car endeavors as demonstrated by Robert Huffman 's championship victory in 2003, entered the Truck Series in 2004 and later Cup Series at

2325-495: The Nationwide Series until 2014, when pushing was prohibited after a massive crash at the end of the 2013 DRIVE4COPD 300 , in which 28 spectators were injured by flying debris off of Kyle Larson's airborne car. In the same year, fuel injection replaced the carburetor as the fuel distribution system. In spite of strong criticisms of the CoT's handling characteristics and the racing styles it created, it also produced one of

2418-630: The Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a railroad line into Wilkes County. The line ended on the northern bank of the Yadkin River opposite Wilkesboro , the county seat. The town of North Wilkesboro quickly developed around the railroad tracks. North Wilkesboro was home of the Carolina Mirror Company, which for many years was the largest mirror factory in the United States. Lowe's Foods , one of

2511-592: The Southeast's largest supermarket chains, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1954. Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse , the nation's second-largest chain of home-improvement stores, was started in North Wilkesboro in 1946. Like many small towns and cities in rural North Carolina, North Wilkesboro has suffered since 2000 from the closing of nearly all of its textile and furniture factories, which have moved to low-wage locations in Latin America and Asia . The factories were

2604-749: The US market). The VF Commodore debuted for the 2014 model year in early 2013 as the Chevrolet SS . The Car of Tomorrow was first tested in December 2005 at Atlanta Motor Speedway . Next it tested at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway , then on NASCAR's two shortest tracks, Bristol (0.533 mi) and Martinsville (0.526 mi.), the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway , the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway , and 2.0-mile Michigan International Speedway . Former NASCAR driver, and former Cup Series pace car driver and Director of Cost Research Brett Bodine also tested

2697-484: The beginning of the 2007 season). During the series' existence, the series became a place for young drivers to gain valuable experience competing against seasoned veterans like Danny Bagwell, Geoff Bodine, Johnny Chapman, Jake, and Justin Hobgood, all of which have experience at the top levels of NASCAR. 1986 Daytona 500 Champion Geoffrey Bodine joined the circuit in 2008 to compete in the final four events; ISCARS later used

2790-580: The bodies, and run them in the Nationwide Series, provided they passed recertification. The car was required for full-time competition in 2011. No deaths have occurred in NASCAR Cup Series competition since the Car of Tomorrow was introduced. On January 11, 2006, NASCAR revealed the Car of Tomorrow, also referred to as the "Car of the Future" during its development, after a five-year design program sparked mainly by

2883-453: The bottom front of the car to produce downforce. The car's exhaust exits on the right (passenger) side, which diverts heat from the driver. The fuel cell was strengthened using thicker material, with a smaller capacity 17.75 US gallons (67.2 L), down from 22 US gallons (83 L), which as of 2007 had become standard in all cars. NASCAR officials initially claimed the car was less dependent on aerodynamics, comparing its performance to

ISCARS Dash Touring Series - Misplaced Pages Continue

2976-514: The bulky rear wing that was affixed to the rear of the car from 2007 to early 2010 increased the severity of many on-track incidents by causing cars to flip over or go airborne at high speeds. These three accidents – as well as the general consensus that the wing made the car look like a sports car rather than a stock car – were factors in NASCAR's eventual decision, in February 2010, to replace

3069-414: The campus of Wilkes Community College. Several private schools also serve the town, most are associated with the larger Protestant churches in the area. Wilkes Community College , located in the neighboring town of Wilkesboro , offers college classes to North Wilkesboro's residents. North Wilkesboro is located along the Yadkin River at the mouth of the Reddies River. North Wilkesboro has long been known as

3162-473: The controversy was exacerbated when NASCAR fined Hamlin $ 25,000 over his comments. The view was also expressed that the car's slow development time and lack of available parts made drivers reluctant to take chances, with improvement expected with more time invested into the car. The Generation 6 car was succeeded by the Next Gen car in 2022. The Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series) debuted its own version of

3255-488: The county with transportation by booking in advance. North Wilkesboro rests in the foothills to the east of the Blue Ridge escarpment; which encompasses the western edge of Wilkes County. The town's position in relation to the abutting mountain system accounts for the mild, yet wet winters and summers. The average annual maximum temperature is 68.7 degrees Fahrenheit with a corresponding minimum annual temperature average of 45.7 degrees. Average annual rainfall (49.6 inches) for

3348-510: The creation of the splitter and the wing, thus delaying implementation until 2007. On March 25, 2007, the CoT debuted in its first NASCAR-sanctioned race. Kyle Busch won the race, the first win for the Chevrolet Impala since Wendell Scott 's historic race in 1963. Reactions to the CoT's performance were mixed. Dale Earnhardt Jr. , after finishing 7th, said, "It wasn't a disaster like everybody anticipated. It worked out, I reckon. Racing

3441-563: The downtown and enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations. In addition, many food, craft, and merchandise vendors are lined down Main Street. Downtown Retailers are always open late to kick off the Christmas shopping. The Wilkes Playmakers, an active local theater group, are based in North Wilkesboro; Each year they do 4-5 shows, most shows attracting people from county wide to come see their plays. They also do events year wide. The Wilkes Art Gallery

3534-554: The east coast. I-77 serves as the nearest major interstate to the county in addition to the town itself. North Wilkesboro is also in close proximity to NC Highway 16 which runs through Wilkesboro. North Wilkesboro and Wilkes County are served by the Wilkes Transportation Authority , known commonly as the WTA. The WTA provides Wilkes with its only scheduled public transportation service as well providing rural communities within

3627-511: The effort to have the town recognized as a Main Street Town; the group also sponsors other events to attract people to the downtown area. The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership is also the founder of the annual 'Shine to Wine Festival. Over the past 20 years, numerous local farmers have moved into the winemaking industry and the wine festival gives local wineries and vineyards a chance to display and publicize their wines. The festival also traces

3720-593: The event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Based on the success of the February 28 test at Bristol, NASCAR considered requiring the CoT for the full schedule in 2008 in order to avoid applying two sets of rules (as supported by a survey of NASCAR owners, with 80% favoring the switch), adding all three events (including the all-star event ) at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as both races at Atlanta and Texas Motor Speedway , and single races at Chicagoland Speedway , Kansas Speedway , Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway one year earlier than scheduled. This

3813-484: The fall event), Darlington Raceway and the road course races at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International ran the CoT once each in 2007. Original implementation plans called for the CoT to be used at 26 events in 2008, starting with both races at Daytona, including the season-opening Daytona 500 and related events ( Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duels ), the spring race at Talladega and Michigan, both races at Auto Club Speedway , Pocono Raceway and

ISCARS Dash Touring Series - Misplaced Pages Continue

3906-422: The festival selling their apples, apple cider, and dried apples. Light Up Downtown is an annual downtown event focused on the beginning of the Christmas season and the inaugural first day of decorative lights in downtown North Wilkesboro. Santa always makes an appearance to listen to all the children's Christmas wishes. Free pictures are always available to take with Santa. Hayrides are also available to ride around

3999-852: The festival, and it is one of the largest single-day arts and crafts fairs in the Southern United States. The festival features music, dancing, artwork, crafts, and food traditional to the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The streets of downtown North Wilkesboro, NC are filled with over 425 arts and crafts, 100 food concessions, and 4 different music stages consisting of Blue Grass, Country, Folk, Gospel, and Appalachian Heritage. Cloggers, folk dancers, rope skippers, and square dancers provide additional entertainment venues for festival goers. Appalachian Heritage crafts such as woodcarving, chair making, soap making, pottery throwing, and quilting are highlighted. Local apple growers set up throughout

4092-477: The final race to be held at the speedway. In 1995, following the death of the long-time owner and track founder Enoch Staley, the speedway was purchased by two new owners, Bob Bahre and Bruton Smith . Soon after their purchase, both men announced that they were closing the speedway and moving its two NASCAR race dates to their new tracks in Texas and New Hampshire. The decision met with strong criticism from race fans. From

4185-412: The foam would be sheared out of the car leaving debris on the racetrack. During the 2007 UAW-Ford 500 , the CoT's debut on a superspeedway track at Talladega , NASCAR assigned a 31 ⁄ 32 inch (25 mm) restrictor plate to allow the engines to run at around 8,800 RPM due to the less aerodynamic design of the CoT. The previous generation car's engine would normally run around 7,000 RPM with

4278-409: The garages were opened one day early and the inspections took up to 10 hours so that everyone (teams, officials, etc.) could get a better grip on the new unified template. NASCAR's old rules had a different set of templates for each manufacturer (Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, and Toyota). During the CoT era, NASCAR attempted to eliminate "gray area" and ambiguity within the rule book, and frequently adjusted

4371-637: The heart of Wilkes County, North Carolina in the northwestern corner of the state. Wilkes County is bordered by eight (8) counties. These include the counties of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Iredell, Surry, Watauga, and Yadkin; thus making the town conveniently juxtaposed to eight county seats and economic hubs; all within a 45-minute drive from town. The town corporate limits cover approximately 7.5 square miles (~ 4,800 acres) of contiguous property with approximately 300 acres in satellite territories. The Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) encompasses roughly 16 square miles (41 km ) or 10,240 acres. The town

4464-571: The historical development of Wilkes County liquor from moonshine to wine. The 'Shine to Wine festival is held on the first Saturday in May. Other downtown North Wilkesboro festivals include the Downtown Concert Series and Light Up Downtown. North Wilkesboro is the home of the annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival , which is held to celebrate the apple harvest from the nearby Brushy Mountains . Crowds of over 160,000 people usually attend

4557-563: The hospital joined the Wake Forest Baptist Health system. In 2020, Wake Forest Baptist Health was acquired by the Charlotte-based Atrium Health network to form Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. The downtown business district of North Wilkesboro became a recognized Main Street Town in 2000. The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, a non-profit group that has worked to revitalize the downtown business district, led

4650-424: The lead 74 times. It also saw a first time winner, rookie Trevor Bayne , go to victory lane. But the story of the new car was a phenomenon of lock-bumper superdrafts – two cars would literally lock together and push into a clear lead, with speeds up to 10 MPH faster than with a conventional draft (on numerous occasions 2-car superdrafts topped 206 MPH); this phenomenon had debuted at Talladega Superspeedway in

4743-446: The model as his biggest failure as the head of the sport due to the lack of manufacturer identity. For 2013, NASCAR allowed manufacturers to design a brand-new body style for the COT chassis that resembled a given production car even more. The changes were largely cosmetic, with hopes of returning mechanical grip to drivers. At the 2012 Ford Championship Weekend the body of the car made it

SECTION 50

#1732868993513

4836-404: The model, citing the falsity of many of its technical claims; one angle of criticism was the differing philosophies of NASCAR officials Gary Nelson and John Darby, with Darby a particularly ardent supporter of the CoT based on a misreading of the sport's competition packages. Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth were pointedly critical of the car's poor performance in traffic, with Gordon stating after

4929-413: The most competitive periods of time in NASCAR history. the first four CoT races in 2007 produced more "quality passes" (a pass of a top-15 car under green-flag conditions) than their 2006 counterparts. From 2007 to 2012, 28 different drivers scored a victory (in 196 races), including several first-time winners. Following the elimination of the CoT in 2013, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France identified

5022-442: The name stemmed from the cars' resemblance to the Grand National (predecessor to the modern NASCAR Cup Series ) cars of the era, as paint schemes and numbers often matched those from Grand National cars. The series was originally a touring series of four-cylinder compact sedan cars. The slogan for the series was "The Poor Man's Way to Race." The founder turned to NASCAR to begin sanctioning the series in 1975. The series flourished with

5115-723: The near future. North Wilkesboro is served by the Wilkes County Schools system. The elementary schools which serve the town are Mulberry Elementary, North Wilkesboro Elementary, and CC Wright Elementary. Middle school students in North Wilkesboro attend Central Wilkes Middle School in the community of Moravian Falls , located south of the town. The town's high school students attend Wilkes Central High School , based in Moravian Falls, West Wilkes High School , based in Millers Creek , or Wilkes Early College High School, located on

5208-548: The new chassis safety improvements, and installed a sixth-generation car body. The chassis was used until the end of the 2021 season before eventually replaced with the Next Gen car in 2022 . In 2010, the Xfinity Series (then the Nationwide Series) debuted its own version of the CoT in a partial schedule, using the same chassis but different bodies and a shorter wheelbase; teams could take old Sprint Cup cars, change

5301-455: The north of US Highway 421. US 421 Business , however, passes through the town and allows transportation to the nearby cities of Winston-Salem and Boone , home of Appalachian State University . The town also serves as the northern end of NC Highway 115, which runs south to Charlotte. North Wilkesboro is approximately 20 minutes west of Interstate 77. Interstate 77 runs North to South, allowing shipping and transportation to travel up and down

5394-448: The older car. The driver's seat was moved four inches toward the center, and the roll cage shifted three inches to the rear, while the car was designed two inches taller and four inches wider. Larger crumple zones , designed to absorb impact energy, and impact absorbing foam were built into the car on both sides. Replacing the front valance was an adjustable splitter , a piece of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP, "fiberglass") used on

5487-518: The only car ever to careen into Lake Lloyd, Dave Stacey in 1994. The series was not free from fatal accidents during NASCAR's sanctioning: Joe Young and Joe Booher died in Daytona Dash Series races in 1987 and 1993, respectively. NASCAR significantly changed the dynamics of the series in the early 1980s. NASCAR mandated using the Iron Duke motor (manufactured by Pontiac ), changing the cost for

5580-460: The prototype car against cars prepared by current NASCAR teams. Drivers tested the CoT concurrently with the old car at some NASCAR tests and at special NASCAR-authorized sessions. Other testing sessions occurred at the half-mile Greenville-Pickens Speedway , Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC , and the one-mile North Carolina Speedway (now Rockingham Speedway), none of which were Cup Series tracks at

5673-742: The rear wing was believed to cause. Although initially branded as the Monte Carlo SS (the same as the Generation 4 model), Chevrolet's Car of Tomorrow debuted as the Impala SS (later the Impala). After using the Charger name on the old car since 2005, Dodge utilized the Avenger name on the CoT, coinciding with the model's reintroduction into the production market. However, for 2008 the Charger name returned for use on

SECTION 60

#1732868993513

5766-426: The relatively inexpensive cars and motors. It was not uncommon for forty drivers to enter an event. Five-time champion Dean Combs used a Datsun 200SX in the 1980 season and became the first NASCAR driver to 'regularly' compete in a foreign-made car. Contrary to popular belief, foreign cars had competed in NASCAR competition in the early days of the sanctioning body; indeed, a Jaguar won a NASCAR-sanctioned race in

5859-429: The right rear. The CoT, in its first use at Indianapolis Motor Speedway , created no improvement of the conditions on the track, which is well known for its rough surface. The lack of downforce on the car and its higher center of gravity created conditions that made it very hard on the right side tires. During the race, the tires used on the cars generally lasted no more than 10 laps at a time. It has been claimed that

5952-526: The rules to ensure that different car manufacturers have relatively equal cars; one such instance of rule book changes against gray areas occurred after the 2008 Sprint All-Star Challenge , in which Sam Hornish, Jr. ran a car with skewed setup to finish second in the Showdown and advance to the All-Star Race, as well in 2012 after Hendrick Motorsports ' teams ran with skewed sway bars to win five races during

6045-402: The run to highlight Bodine's involvement as part of an extensive driver development program. Bagwell is well known for a destructive accident in 1999 at Daytona when the vehicle hit the wall and tumbled repeatedly. It ended up upside down, the engine was gone, all the wheels were out, the windshield, and the sheet metal disintegrated, leaving only a pile of bent safety bars. Also in this series was

6138-400: The sanctioning to IPOWER (International Participants Of Winning Edge Racing). On February 8, 2004, the first IPOWER Dash race ended in tragedy when Roy Weaver, a safety worker at Daytona International Speedway , was killed when he was struck by a car driven by Ray Paprota. Weaver was attempting to pick up debris from a racing accident at the time. Although inconsequential to the incident, it

6231-489: The season. After Weaver's fatal accident, the Dash Series would not appear on TV and failed to find sponsorship. After the 2005 season was initially canceled, former Dash Series Chaplain and NASCAR Media Coordinator, Randy Claypoole, revived the series under the name International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series (ISCARS). The series held over 100 events, from 2005, until its final race at Hickory Motor Speedway in October 2011. In

6324-520: The series' final years, the cars featured a rear wing, but different from those used on the fifth-generation Car of Tomorrow used in the Cup Series between 2007 and mid-2010. North Wilkesboro, North Carolina North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County , North Carolina , United States. The population was 4,131 at the 2020 US Census . North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement , which continues to have

6417-523: The splitter causing tire failure at the car's second race. Another major problem was that the safety foam used in the side of the car would catch fire, engulfing the driver's cockpit with smoke. NASCAR decided to make modifications before the April 21 Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Avondale, Arizona . An additional side effect of the foam occurred during side-impacts, as Brian Vickers experienced at Watkins Glen , when

6510-443: The sport, after being unable to convince other teams to switch to Dodge to replace Penske Racing (which returned to Ford). Key among the changes for the car included a carbon fibre hood and decklid, shaving 160 pounds from Cup cars, and new improved safety bars added to the roll cage. The roof flaps were increased in size to prevent the airborne accidents that marked the CoT's early life. This new "Generation 6" racecar debuted at

6603-402: The spring of 2008 when Denny Hamlin discovered he could push Kevin Harvick all the way around the track during practice, resulting in a lap time about a half a second faster than the rest of the field. Hamlin used the move multiple times in that race to get the lead, and by the next spring the technique was used by the majority of the field throughout the entire race. The phenomenon also led to

6696-410: The spring portion of the season. With the transition to the Generation 6 car, the claw continues to be used along with manufacturer-specific templates until 2018, when both was replaced by the laser-based Optical Scanning System (OSS). On January 15, 2010, Cup Series director John Darby informed teams that NASCAR would transition back to the spoiler, to increase downforce and prevent airborne accidents

6789-610: The then- K&N Pro Series East and West along with the ARCA Racing Series (which NASCAR purchased in 2018, followed with rebranding of the East and West Series under the ARCA banner in 2020), the final series to still use the Generation 4 style body, introduced a new body style based on the Generation 6 Cup Series cars. Unlike the Generation 6 cars, the K&;N Pro Series/ARCA car continues to use

6882-477: The time (North Carolina Speedway was a regular venue until 2005), and therefore did not fall under NASCAR's restrictions. The Car of Tomorrow was first raced at the 2007 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the season's fifth race. The tracks that saw the CoT twice in 2007 besides Bristol and Martinsville International Speedway were Phoenix Raceway , Richmond Raceway , Dover International Speedway , and New Hampshire Motor Speedway . Other than Talladega (for

6975-523: The town falls just short of the typical average of the Southern Appalachian region (60.0+ inches). As winter clouds approach from the west and migrate across the Blue Ridge, an orographic effect ensues which releases an amount of snow in the Western high country, leaving little for central and eastern Wilkes County as the systems pass over. The result is more of a wintry mix of sleet and frozen rain, hence

7068-403: The town was 74.47% White , 17.90% African American , 0.36% Native American , 0.73% Asian , 0.49% Pacific Islander , 4.25% from other races , and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 11.27% of the population. There were 1,639 households, out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 15.1% had

7161-773: The track for racing. Following the renovations, in August 2022 the speedway held its first races in a decade, drawing a sellout crowd to the CARS Tours Window's World 125. In September 2022 it was announced that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race would be held in May 2023 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, marking the first NASCAR race to be held at the track since its closure in 1996. The Downtown Main Street Historic District , Thomas B. Finley House , Southern Railway Depot , and Wilkes Hosiery Mills are listed on

7254-470: The track's closure in 1996 through 2021 numerous national and regional news media stories discussed the physical decay of the track and grandstands, the rich history of the track, and efforts to renovate and reopen the speedway. In November 2021, the North Carolina state legislature and NC Governor Roy Cooper gave $ 18 million to the speedway for extensive repairs and renovations in a major effort to reopen

7347-606: The trucks of the Craftsman Truck Series . It initially featured a detached wing, which had not been used since the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird in 1970, in place of a rear spoiler. The windshield was more upright to prevent collapse in the event of a rollover, with the added effect of increased drag. The radiator air intake was placed below the front bumper of the car, to reduce overheating caused by debris-clogged grilles. The front bumper itself

7440-431: The wake of a leading car, thus neutralizing ability to close up on leaders. On April 4, 2008, while in a qualifying run for the 2008 Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway , Michael McDowell 's right-front sway bar broke, causing him to lose control of his car and strike the wall outside of Turn 1 head-on at 185 MPH. McDowell's car subsequently barrel-rolled eight times as fire came from the engine compartment and came to

7533-430: The wake of a race-record sixteen caution flags, most of them for crashes caused when pushing cars spun out leaders; Earnhardt Jr. himself crashed during an attempt at a green-white-checker finish in the 500. To dissuade the two-car tandem and return to pack racing, a new superspeedway package was introduced for the 2012 season, including a curved spoiler and a lower and longer rear bumper. The tandem remained prevalent in

7626-458: The wing with a more traditional rear spoiler starting at Martinsville in late March. Denny Hamlin won the first race with the new/old spoiler, beating out Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth. For the 2011 season, the car's splitter and nose configuration were redesigned: the splitter's braces were removed, and the splitter was made nonadjustable. The nose as a whole was given a cleaner, rounder look that resembled that of NASCAR's previous model (now dubbed

7719-426: Was "one of the best decisions NASCAR had ever made." Drivers who placed well at Bristol, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton , claimed that the car allowed the use of a second passing lane not usually present at Bristol. A major problem with the car's initial race was its front splitter. One car's splitter running into the tire of another car beside it sometimes punctured the second car's tire. There were no problems with

7812-471: Was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.93. The average median household income for the town was $ 30,114. About 29.3% of residents were at or below the poverty line . As of the census of 2000, there were 4,116 people, 1,639 households, and 942 families residing in the town. The population density was 803.9 inhabitants per square mile (310.4/km ). There were 1,837 housing units at an average density of 358.8 per square mile (138.5/km ). The racial makeup of

7905-400: Was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males. The per capita income for the town was $ 14,594. About 21.8% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over. Car of Tomorrow The Car of Tomorrow (abbreviated as CoT )

7998-420: Was about the same." Drivers were also impressed with the car's ability to bump other competitors without causing a spin (bumper heights were equalized due to street car development, and nose-to-rear bumper contact caused spins that pre-1988 cars would not cause), and NASCAR officials were pleased with the improvements in safety. Several drivers and pundits expressed distaste for the car and what they perceived as

8091-619: Was being pushed by Mark Martin , but separated before the finish line), and winner Jimmie Johnson (pushed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. ), who won by two-thousandths of a second over Bowyer. A fourth drafting team, consisting of Roush-Fenway teammates Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle (Biffle was pushing), squeezed in between the Bowyer/Harvick tandem and the wall, but only finishing 6th (Edwards) and 7th (Biffle). Dale Earnhardt Jr. and veteran drivers such as Richard Petty and David Pearson were sharply critical of this new style of racing, especially in

8184-417: Was confirmed on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, by NASCAR. Had NASCAR continued with the original schedule of implication, the other tracks would have been added in 2009. Apparently 2008 was not going to be when the CoT would make its debut. It was initially going to debut in mid to late 2005, and possibly 2004 according to NASCAR's R&D at the time. But the tests with this version plus negative driver comments led to

8277-425: Was founded in 1962 in the parlor of art patron Annie Winkler's home and in 2004 moved into the renovated North Wilkesboro Post Office building located in the heart of downtown North Wilkesboro. The Gallery's 10,000-square-foot (930 m ) facility includes over 3,500 square feet (330 m ) of exhibition space, an education center with a ceramics studio, painting and drawing studios, two multi-purpose classrooms, and

8370-454: Was larger and boxier than the design it replaced, and criticized for its generic appearance and poor handling characteristics. The CoT, however, implemented dramatic safety improvements, cost less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition. The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup Series season at the Food City 500 on March 25 and ran a partial schedule of 16 races. The plan

8463-433: Was more box-like and the front airdam was gapped, as opposed to being a flush piece on the older cars, to reduce aerodynamics and slow down the cars. All cars were required to fit the same set of templates (with minor differences between the makes), using a laser inspection system (LIS) device nicknamed "the claw" that was designed to fit over the new cars. In the first two races at Bristol and Martinsville Speedway ,

8556-428: Was the common name used for the chassis of the NASCAR Cup Series (2007 – 2012) and Xfinity Series (since 2011 full-time) race cars. The car was part of a five-year project to create a safer vehicle following several deaths in competition, particularly the crash at the 2001 Daytona 500 that killed Dale Earnhardt . Used as the fifth generation car style for the Cup Series, the original Car of Tomorrow body design

8649-419: Was to require all teams to use the new car in 2009, but NASCAR officials moved the date up to the 2008 season as a cost-saving measure. The Car of Tomorrow body style was retired by NASCAR after the 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400 . The sixth-generation car , which featured the additional chassis safety improvements as well as improved body designs, debuted in 2013; many teams simply removed the CoT car bodies, added

#512487