Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2023 NSJ Comeback of the Year: North Wilkesboro’s return helped revive North Carolina’s long, rich NASCAR past

December 29, 2023 Cory Lavalette

In the last three years, North State Journal’s Comeback of the Year has come from a college game. In 2020, it was Duke basketball hitting two buzzer-beaters against rival UNC to rally from 13 down […]

Kyle Larson dominates as racing returns to North Wilkesboro

May 22, 2023 Shawn Krest

NORTH WILKESBORO — The historic track may have shown its age, with a patched-up racing surface, but NASCAR returned to its roots on Saturday night. For the first time since 1996, the Cup Series held […]

NASCAR reveals format for All-Star Race

April 12, 2023 Cory Lavalette

The three-day NASCAR All-Star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway will offer a bit of everything for stock car racing fans, but the spotlight of the Cup Series’ return to the 0.625-mile oval for the […]

Cannon Ballers leading way in Kannapolis’ revitalization

June 15, 2022 Brett Friedlander

KANNAPOLIS — The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have a slogan painted in large letters for all to see as they enter Gate 1 at Atrium Health Ballpark. “Have a blast!” it says. It’s a play on […]

Column: Earnhardt blossoms into multimedia personality

June 29, 2021 Jenna Fryer, Associated Press

CONCORD — There’s a pointed episode in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s television show that encapsulates his remarkable transformation from a bashful, third-generation racer into a multimedia personality. Earnhardt and his crew of storytellers-slash-ghost chasers-slash-racing enthusiasts are […]

Reviving its roots? NASCAR weighs return to bygone North Wilkesboro Speedway

May 26, 2021 Brett Friedlander

No one involved with NASCAR really wanted to leave North Wilkesboro Speedway when the racing series said goodbye to the historic track in 1996. But the sport was growing and becoming more popular nationwide, so […]

Bowman leads Hendrick sweep at Dover

May 16, 2021 The Associated Press

DOVER, Del. — Alex Bowman parked the No. 48 Chevrolet in its familiar spot in Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway, leading a dominant outing for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday. Bowman led Hendrick to a […]

Keselowski uses overtime pass to win for 6th time at Talladega

April 25, 2021 The Associated Press

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Brad Keselowski made exactly the right final move this time, winning again at Talladega Superspeedway and demonstrating a painful lesson well learned. Keselowski’s overtime victory made him the ninth driver to win […]

20 years later: How Earnhardt’s death saved lives, forced change

February 17, 2021 The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ryan Newman was lying in bed one morning, his two daughters still tucked in down the hall, when a YouTube video of his death-defying crash popped up as a recommended watch. […]

Looking back: 20th anniversary of Earnhardt’s death a reminder of his impact

February 12, 2021 The Associated Press

The death of Dale Earnhardt from a crash during the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 is considered the darkest day in the history of NASCAR. The 20th anniversary of his death is Feb. […]