Carteret County Speedway, the 0.4-mile oval located just a few miles from Emerald Isle, will be NASCAR sanctioned in 2017. The venue will host NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) racing throughout the season.

The opening race on April 16 will be the first NWAAS race at the track.

“We’re very excited to be NASCAR sanctioned this season,” Carteret County Speedway owner Bobby Watson said. “This is going to be great for our fans, our racers and our sponsors. NASCAR brings a lot more than just the name to the table for our drivers and fans. They’ve been an institution in stock car racing for many decades and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”

With the NASCAR sanctioning, drivers competing at Carteret County Speedway will now be able to race for points in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track, North Carolina and national championships.  

Carteret County Speedway competitors will not just be able to race for points at Carteret, but will also be able to race at East Carolina Motor Speedway and Southern National Motorsports Park, which are both NASCAR sanctioned, for points as well.

The NASCAR title extends beyond the Late Models and to the other divisions that will compete as well at Carteret County Speedway. Racers competing in support divisions, such as Street Stocks and Mini Stocks, will also be racing for points in their respective divisions, too.

NASCAR, which was formed in 1948 by Bill France, Sr., has six other NASCAR sanctioned home tracks tracks in North Carolina—including the nearby tracks at East Carolina Motor Speedway in Robersonville and Southern National Motorsports Park in Lucama.

Carteret County Speedway started out as a kart track in 1982 and ran until 2000 before owner Bobby Watson rebuilt the facility into an asphalt oval. Carteret County Speedway opened as an asphalt track on September 6, 2015.

For more information about Carteret County Speedway, visit www.carteretspeedway.com.