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NC budget to breathe new life into historic North Wilkesboro Speedway

Brad Keselowski takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 auto race in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

A portion of the newly signed North Carolina budget funds one of the state's beloved traditions: NASCAR. More than $40 million is allocated for racetrack renovations, and one big winner is the birthplace of stock car racing: Wilkes County.

Eighteen million dollars in federal money will go toward supporting the North Wilkesboro Speedway which has remained mostly idle since its closure in 1996. Racing generates millions of dollars, and the goal, according to Governor Cooper is to bring it back along with the many jobs the sport generates. Wilkes County Board of Commissioners Chairman Eddie Settle says this has been years in the making, and the funds are already earmarked for much-needed water and sewer infrastructure at the track and surrounding area. But he says this goes far beyond dollars and cents.

"My goodness, the pride factor for our county," says Settle. "NASCAR started in Wilkes County in the Smitty Hotel. Bill France met with Enoch Staley and they drew up the first nine races of NASCAR in 1943, and they raced the first race in Daytona and the ninth race was in Wilkesboro on dirt."

Settle says with the growth of Wilkes Community College, and other local initiatives, the county has turned the corner. He calls the prospect of Wilkesboro Speedway reopening icing on the cake.

 

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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