Tyson 250
The Tyson 250 is a future NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race that will be held at the reopened North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina starting in 2023. The race will be held in May on the same weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race which was moved to the track in 2023. The Truck Series previously raced at the track twice before it closed in 1996.[1]
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | North Wilkesboro Speedway |
| Location | North Wilkesboro, North Carolina |
| Corporate sponsor | Tyson Foods |
| First race | 1995 |
| Distance | 156.25 miles (251.46 kilometers) |
| Laps | 250 |
| Previous names | Lowe's 150 (1995) Lowe's 250 (1996) |
| Most wins (driver) | All winning drivers have 1 |
| Most wins (team) | All winning drivers have 1 |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Ford (2) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Turns | 4 |
History
In 1995, the race was the Lowe's 150 and the race in 1996 was the Lowe's 250.
The first Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro in 1995 featured the return of Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan, who was not able to race for over a year after suffering an injury in the 1994 Cup Series race at Michigan in August. He entered the race to get re-acclimated to racing so he would be better prepared for the Cup Series race on the same weekend.[2] Mike Bliss would win that race. It was his first Truck Series win.
The 1996 race was lengthened from 150 laps to 250 laps. Full-time Cup Series driver Mark Martin would win the race. It was his first Truck Series win.[3] After this race, he would not enter another Truck Series race until the 2005 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
On February 17, 2023, Tyson Foods was announced as the title sponsor for the 2023 race. The company was previously the title sponsor of the fall Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro from 1990 to 1996. After the track closed and became abandoned, their logo remained on the track's scoring pylon.[4]
Past winners
| Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race distance | Race time | Average speed (mph) | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||
| 1995 | September 30 | 2 | Mike Bliss | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 150 | 93.75 (150.876) | 0:58:31 | 96.126 | [5] |
| 1996 | September 28 | 99 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford (2) | 250 | 156.25 (251.46) | 1:50:02 | 85.201 | [6] |
| 1997 – 2022 | Not held | |||||||||
| 2023 | May 20 | |||||||||
Manufacturer wins
| # Wins | Make | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ford | 1995, 1996 |
References
- ^ "NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 14, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Glick, Shav (October 1, 1995). "Irvan's Comeback Starts Well, but His Truck Can't Finish Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Martin beats Truck regulars". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. September 29, 1996. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Tyson named sponsor for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "1995 Lowe's 150". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ "1996 Lowe's 250". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
External links
- North Wilkesboro Speedway race results at Racing-Reference