NASCAR considering surprising choice for 2026 All-Star Race venue

North Wilkesboro, N.C., has hosted the All-Star Race since 2023, when the track was revitalized after not hosting NASCAR events for nearly 27 races. 

Dover — a track that, like North Wilkesboro, is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. — getting the All-Star Race would open up the possibility of North Wilkesboro hosting a NASCAR Cup Series points race for the first time in three decades. 

Drivers advocated for North Wilkesboro to host a regular-season race following a thrilling All-Star event on May 18. The track is one of the most historic venues on the calendar and has been upgraded in recent years to reach the quality of other Cup Series venues. 

Dover, Del., has been a staple of the NASCAR schedule since 1969, but the 'Monster Mile' would be a peculiar choice for the All-Star Race. 

For one, Dover Motor Speedway doesn't have lights. The All-Star Race is traditionally held in May, giving NASCAR more daylight with which to run the race, but since Charlotte Motor Speedway first ran the race under the lights in 1992, at least a portion of the race has been run at night, which wouldn't be a possibility at Dover. 

Dover is also down to hosting just one race per season — the one-mile concrete oval hosted two NASCAR weekends until 2021. For the last five years, Dover has only hosted one race weekend, and if the All-Star Race comes to Dover, the area would be devoid of a points-paying Cup Series race. 

That's a big miss for the northeastern market that Dover reaches, which can serve race fans from the major East Coast markets of Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York City, among others. 

Dover has fallen victim to NASCAR's Next-Gen car, making passing at the one-mile track significantly harder due to a narrow groove and aerodynamics. 

North Wilkesboro returning to a traditional, 400-lap, points-paying spot on the schedule would likely be well-received by fans, especially diehards who remember the track's heyday. However, making Dover the new host of the All-Star Race would be a controversial decision that may not be met with positive reviews.