10/05/2022
This (HNWS) HISTORIC NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY "Back to Shine Era 2010 / 2011" page is produced and managed by (SAI) Speedway Associates Inc. in an effort to present ALL the facts of history that was made a reality in the "Back to Shine Era". It will ALWAYS be our primary goal to present 100% truthful & factual behind the scenes documented proof of events and stories. (SAI) had one goal, that being 100% integrity within the authenticity and preservation of Grass Roots Racing. Combined with the unmatched short track fan & Competitor experience.
(SAI) President / Director of Operations Alton McBride Jr. signed the Lease / Purchase contract with Mr. Bruton Smith end of summer 2009. Which had taken 3.5 years to successfully negotiate with Mr. Smith and his inhouse SMI legal team. (SAI) had full intent on the purchase of HNWS in the 4rth year after 3 years of lease. Through this page we will allow the race fan and competitors a "back stage pass" to walk through short track racing history at NASCARS FIRST EVER SANCTIONED SPEEDWAY Nationwide that was successfully brought back to life within the "Back to Shine Era of 2010 / 2011" . Together we will relive the behind-the-scenes meetings to include the trackside action that no fan or competitor has ever heard about or seen.
IT ALL STARTED WITH A BATCH OF CAROLINA MOONSHINE !
I was at home (had not even set up my speedway office yet) and I received a phone call like 9:30 in the evening. For days I had been playing phone tag with a guy affiliated with Gary Lewallen? I had researched and come to find out Gary's father Jimmy Lewallen was a great well-known racer from the triad area. So, at 9:30 pm I took the call and ended up talking with Gary's representative for 2 hours. "This is so & so and I represent Mr. Gary Lewallen" I said, ok? so, what do you need from me? (This is the way I was taught by my father and others in the motorsports industry and my childhood / youth learning to work in the seafood industry back home in San Diego etc. Everyone who taught me had NO time to waste. I learned early on in life people want things and need things otherwise they won't fool with you. More about this fact later.
Gary Lewellen's representative says so, we are in the middle of filming a major movie production called "RED DIRT RISING" have you heard of it ? I replied NO sir, but I am interested in hearing all about it. He proceeded to tell me all about it. Gary had read the recent news that (SAI) had announced the re-opening of HNWS. Gary's representative said in the 2-hour conversation straight up " Look we are already way over budget and we would love to use HNWS to film our NEW music video and do our world movie premier" from HNWS. In lieu of payment, we really sincerely feel we can be very beneficial to the re-opening of HNWS. I replied saying give me 48 hours to work on this and I will have an answer for you.
After 24 hours of thought and discussion with the inner pillars of (SAI) I contacted Gary's representative back and gave him a green light based on our list of bartered guidelines. We had structured all the ways we were going to cross market each other to get the biggest bang for the buck on the video, the artist, and the full promotion of the world movie premier to be held at HNWS as the FIRST OFFICIAL event in 2010. The video was completed in 2009 and released boosting Matt Dylan's already well-established music career within the south.
When we made the video, it was early 2009 and we were neck deep in renovations working on water, power, and all the massive factors of this facility sitting dormant for 16 years since the last CUP race. Had it not been for Paul Call (grounds keeper) and the successful revamp of the speedway in 2009 / 2011 there would never have been anything remaining of the relic to hold the CURRENT DAY RACING REVIVAL. Proof of that would be the fact that DUKE power company was within 3 months (in 2009) of removing their transformers that had been sitting on site in turn. Had these transformers been removed that would have been the end as the infrastructure cost to get power back into the facility would have been completely unaffordable and not something that SMI & The Smith Family had any interest in doing.
It is without question for those who witnessed and took part in 2009 / 2011 THE BACK TO SHINE ERA from either side of the fence records were broken, history was made that cannot be erased by anyone or any amount of time. (SAI) Speedway Associates Inc. was very proud to have been awarded "The prestigious RACE TRACK of THE YEAR AWARD 2011"
