Wright Brand 250

Wright Brand 250
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
VenueNorth Wilkesboro Speedway
LocationNorth Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Corporate sponsorWright Brand Foods (owned by Tyson Foods)
First race1995
Distance156.25 miles (251.46 kilometers)
Laps250
Stages 1 & 2: 70 laps
Stage 3: 110 laps
Previous namesLowe's 150 (1995)
Lowe's 250 (1996)
Tyson 250 (2023)
Most wins (driver)All winning drivers have 1
Most wins (team)All winning drivers have 1
Most wins (manufacturer)Ford (2)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Turns4

The Wright Brand 250 is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race that is held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. The race is held in May on the same weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race which was moved to the track in 2023. The Truck Series previously raced at the track twice before it closed in 1996.[1]

History

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In 1995, the race was the Lowe's 150 and the race in 1996 was the Lowe's 250.

The first Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro in 1995 featured the return of Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan, who was not able to race for over a year after suffering an injury in the 1994 Cup Series race at Michigan in August. He entered the race to get re-acclimated to racing so he would be better prepared for the Cup Series race on the same weekend.[2] Mike Bliss would win that race. It was his first Truck Series win.

The 1996 race was lengthened from 150 laps to 250 laps. Full-time Cup Series driver Mark Martin would win the race. It was his first Truck Series win.[3] After this race, he would not enter another Truck Series race until the 2005 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The 2023 race logo

On February 17, 2023, Tyson Foods was announced as the title sponsor for the 2023 race. The company was previously the title sponsor of the fall Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro from 1990 to 1996. After the track closed and became abandoned, their logo remained on the track's scoring pylon.[4]

On March 1, 2024, it was announced that Wright Brand Foods, which is owned by Tyson Foods, would be the title sponsor of the 2024 race.[5]

Past winners

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Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race distance Race time Average speed
(mph)
Ref
Laps Miles (km)
1995 September 30 2 Mike Bliss Ultra Motorsports Ford 150 93.75 (150.876) 0:58:31 96.126 [6]
1996 September 28 99 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford (2) 250 156.25 (251.46) 1:50:02 85.201 [7]
1997

2022
Not held
2023 May 20 7 Kyle Larson Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 252* 157.5 (253.471) 2:17:25 68.769 [8]
2024 May 18-19 11 Corey Heim Tricon Garage Toyota 250 156.25 (251.46) 1:53:02 82.94 [9]
  • 2023: Race extended due to a green–white–checker finish.
  • 2024: Race was started on 18th but after the first stage it was postponed to the 19th due to the Track flooding.

Manufacturer wins

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# Wins Make Years Won
2 United States Ford 1995, 1996
1 United States Chevrolet 2023
Japan Toyota 2024

References

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  1. ^ "NASCAR unveils 2023 schedule for its national series". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 14, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  2. ^ Glick, Shav (October 1, 1995). "Irvan's Comeback Starts Well, but His Truck Can't Finish Job". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Martin beats Truck regulars". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. September 29, 1996. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  4. ^ "Tyson named sponsor for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  5. ^ "Wright Brand named entitlement sponsor of CRAFTSMAN Truck Series' Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "1995 Lowe's 150". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "1996 Lowe's 250". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "2023 Tyson 250". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "2024 Wright Brand 250". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
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Buckle Up South Carolina 200
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