Top 5 NASCAR drivers with most wins at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway

NASCAR brought back the iconic North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023 for the Cup Series All-Star Race after 30 years of the 0.625-mile track was missing on the schedule. The North Carolina short track is set to host the All-Star Race for the third straight year in 2025.

The track has a rich history in NASCAR dating back to the early days of the sport. Some drivers have found more success at North Wilkesboro than others. Here, we'll take a look at five of the all-time leading winners at one of NASCAR's most historic tracks.

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Richard Petty - 15 wins

Of Richard Petty's 200 career Cup Series wins, 15 of them came at North Wilkesboro. The seven-time champion picked up his first victory at the short track in April of 1962. He then grabbed another win at the track that year in September. Petty proceeded to win at North Wilkesboro 13 more times, including once in 1963, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, twice in 1972, 1973, 1974, twice in 1975, 1980, and 1981.

Petty also tallied eight runner-up finishes and seven third-place efforts at North Wilkesboro. The 2010 NASCAR Hall of Famer dominated the sport during his time, and North Wilkesboro Speedway was no exception.

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Darrell Waltrip - 10 wins

Darrell Waltrip knew his way around the short tracks throughout his racing career, including North Wilkesboro. Of his 84 career NASCAR Cup Series triumphs, 10 of them were at North Wilkesboro. The three-time Cup Series champion picked up his first win at the track in 1977. Waltrip went on to win at North Wilkesboro nine more times from 1978-1991, nabbing one in 1978, 1981, two in 1982, and in 1983, 1984, 1986, and 1991.

Waltrip tallied 19 top fives at North Wilkesboro which included four runner-up finishes. The Tennessee native was one of NASCAR's greatest drivers of all time and undoubtedly one of the best at North Wilkesboro.

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Dale Earnhardt - 5 wins

Look no further than the late Dale Earnhardt as someone who found a ton of success at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. The seven-time Cup Series champion registered five wins at North Wilkesboro of his 76 career victories. Earnhardt's first triumph at the short track was in April 1986. He then won at the track four more times with one coming in 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1995.

As one of only three seven-time champions in NASCAR, Earnhardt is regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time. The former driver of the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet won at a number of different tracks, with North Wilkesboro being one of the tracks he won at the most.

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Cale Yarborough - 5 wins

The late Cale Yarborough is another former NASCAR champion that found a plethora of success at North Wilkesboro. The three-time champion claimed five victories at the North Carolina short track, including a win in 1974, two in 1976, one in 1977, and in 1978.

Yarborough racked up 14 top fives at North Wilkesboro, including six runner-up finishes. The South Carolina native was one of NASCAR's most decorated drivers and was one of the most winningest drivers at North Wilkesboro.

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Terry Labonte - 4 wins

Terry Labonte was one of the more dominant drivers at North Wilkesboro Speedway throughout the 1990s. The two-time Cup Series champion claimed four victories at the track, with his first coming in 1987. Labonte also picked up wins at the North Carolina track in 1988, 1994, and 1996.

Labonte posted 27 top 10s in 36 starts at North Wilkesboro. There are many drivers who found success at North Wilkesboro, and Labonte's name is certainly among them.

In addition, Bobby Allison and Junior Johnson also won at the track on four occasions.