Dale Jarrett addresses NASCAR's North Wilkesboro revival

NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett gave his stamp of approval for the revival of North Wilkesboro Speedway. The former Cup Series champion joined NBC Sports to talk about the success NASCAR enjoyed during the All-Star Race in its return to a historic venue.

The last time NASCAR visited North Wilkesboro was in 1996. Nearly three decades later, it decided to host its All-Star Race at the track. According to Jarrett, it turned out to be a huge success.

“Obviously, there was a tremendous amount of hype leading up to it. But, I think it lived up to the hype,” Jarrett said. “It was a huge event. … That’s what you’re looking for — events that make a difference. That’s what people want to be a part of.”

Jarrett admitted that, because of the surface at the track, he had some concerns about the product on the track. But that quickly took a backseat to the bigger picture.

“When it was announced, I thought it was a great idea,” he said. “I did not know what type of racing we may see, that was a concern, but again, it became more about the event.”

Kyle Larson took home the checkered flag in a rather uneventful race. It marked his third All-Star Race victory in NASCAR. Perhaps the most exciting part? When Larson’s wife, Katelyn, chugged a beer to celebrate her husband’s ride to Victory Lane.

Should NASCAR return to North Wilkesboro?

Because of the success NASCAR enjoyed at North Wilkesboro over the weekend, there’s been some questions about whether or not the sport should return to the track.

From a fan perspective, people showed up for the major event. Jarrett said that should give a really big boost to the sport.

“All I know is it was jam packed and you couldn’t have put another person in there,” Jarrett said. “And that’s appealing to the eye. And I know NASCAR had to be thrilled.”

Jarrett was also pleased to see NASCAR embrace its past and honor a track that played such a key role in the growth of the sport. He also weighed in on whether or not NASCAR would return to make North Wilkesboro part of the circuit again.

“North Wilkesboro was a big part of why this sport continued to grow through the 80s and 90s until we quit racing there. It was great to see that,” Jarrett said. “The fan support was just unbelievable … it was a good vibe and a good scene to be part of. … So, I think it was a huge success.

“Will we see a race there, a points race? I don’t see why not. … The surface just needs to be redone and I think we’ll see better racing then.”