NASCAR’s move to shift the All-Star Race to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023 was a resounding hit with both fans and drivers. It was so well-received that stakeholders even floated the idea of hosting a points race there. However, as NASCAR works to finalize the next Cup schedule, sources suggest that the 2026 All-Star event could shift to Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware.
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A points race would be staged at NWS instead. The news has caught Dale Earnhardt Jr. completely off guard.
On his podcast, Dale Jr., who was instrumental in the All-Star race’s return to Wilkesboro, admitted, “Everybody’s like, ‘Man, why in the freak are we going to Dover for the All-Star Race?’ I also had that same reaction.”
Junior, however, is excited that the North Wilkesboro track will get a points race in the summer, believing the heat and toughness will add to the challenge of a 400-mile battle. He, however, hopes NASCAR will bring a softer tire to enhance the racing.
Junior explained that such changes are implemented after weighing the collective opinions within NASCAR, and even the networks also hold significant sway in the decision-making. Still, he was astonished at how Marcus Smith managed to secure agreement from NASCAR and its broadcast partners to swap Wilkesboro and Dover.
Dale Jr. also agreed with Denny Hamlin’s point that Dover suits longer races, while All-Star events are designed to be shorter. That logic, he said, is why he’s taking time to come to terms with the idea.
Besides, Dover has no permanent lighting. So to stage a night All-Star Race, temporary installations would be required. That’s another potential mulling point for Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, according to Hamlin, who hopes the move doesn’t happen. Dover simply isn’t an “All-Star type of racetrack,” he argued.
Hamlin explained that the track needs rubber laid down before it widens out enough for passing, which typically takes 30 to 40 laps. The All-Star Race’s short sprints wouldn’t allow that to happen.
The 2026 schedule is expected to be announced this week, and while the Wilkesboro-Dover swap is a major talking point, the real intrigue lies in which venues ultimately make the 36-race Cup Series slate.
