As Wood Brothers Racing celebrates its milestone 75th anniversary in 2025, the legendary NASCAR team will be honored in a big way during All-Star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The family-owned operation, founded in 1950 by Glenn and Leonard Wood, remains the oldest active team in the sport — and they’re being recognized where NASCAR history runs deepest.
On Sunday, May 18, several members of the Wood family will take center stage in dignitary roles during the NASCAR All-Star Race, paying tribute to the team’s long legacy at one of NASCAR’s most beloved tracks. With deep roots at North Wilkesboro, which first hosted the Wood Brothers in 1957, the recognition comes as a meaningful nod to the past — and a hopeful glance at the future.
A Family Legacy Still Running Strong
For 75 years, Wood Brothers Racing has remained a true family affair. Now in its third generation of leadership, the team continues to be guided by the same principles and passion that carried it through NASCAR’s golden era.
Len Wood, son of founder Glenn Wood, will serve as the honorary starter for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race. His brother Eddie Wood, the team’s CEO, will drive the honorary pace car — a Ford Mustang Dark Horse — before the green flag drops. Their sister, Kim Wood, remains the organization’s chief financial officer, and the next generation is already firmly in place. Eddie’s children, Jon and Jordan, are team president and chief marketing officer, respectively.
Jon Wood, alongside former Wood Brothers driver and 1996 All-Star Race winner Michael Waltrip, will deliver the iconic “start your engines” command as co-Grand Marshals. For Jon, the location makes this moment even more special.
“North Wilkesboro holds a special place in the history of our team and the sport, and it’s one of those tracks where NASCAR’s roots run deep. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, it means a great deal to be recognized at a place that helped shape the sport and our team into what it is today.” – Jon Wood
Iconic Paint Scheme and Driver Lineup for 2025
The celebration won’t stop with ceremonial roles. The No. 21 Ford Mustang will take the track during the All-Star Race with Josh Berry behind the wheel, carrying a special throwback paint scheme honoring Michael Waltrip’s 1996 All-Star Race victory. That win, which came after Waltrip transferred into the main event from the Open, marked his first-ever Cup Series victory and remains one of the most emotional moments in team history.
Berry, now competing in his first full season with Wood Brothers Racing, will look to make his own mark by adding another chapter to the team’s All-Star legacy.
The Wood Brothers have long been a fixture in the All-Star Race, dating back to their debut with Kyle Petty in 1986. Over the years, some of the biggest names in NASCAR have represented the iconic No. 21 in this event: Neil Bonnett, Morgan Shepherd, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Rudd, Trevor Bayne, Ryan Blaney, and Matt DiBenedetto.
In recent years, Blaney transferred into the All-Star Race in 2017, and DiBenedetto did so in both 2020 and 2021 — the latter thanks to winning the fan vote. Their performances underscore the team’s continued relevance even as the sport evolves.
North Wilkesboro: Where History Lives On
North Wilkesboro Speedway has long been tied to the Wood Brothers’ history. Between 1957 and 1996, the team made 46 starts at the venue, earning two wins, 14 top-five finishes, and 23 top-10s. Glenn Wood, the team’s founder, claimed two poles there in the late 1950s.
Drivers like Marvin Panch (who scored both team wins at the track in 1963 and 1964), Curtis Turner, Tiny Lund, Joe Weatherly, Cale Yarborough, Buddy Baker, Dale Jarrett, and Waltrip all turned laps for the team at North Wilkesboro.
Even in recent years, the connection has remained strong. Harrison Burton ran the All-Star Open for the team in both 2023 and 2024, and now Berry looks to carry the torch forward in 2025.
The return of North Wilkesboro Speedway to the NASCAR schedule has brought a wave of nostalgia and renewed excitement. As the venue regains its footing as a fan-favorite destination, honoring a team like Wood Brothers Racing only enhances the event’s historic significance.
Mike Skinner Returns for Truck Series Spotlight
The All-Star weekend at North Wilkesboro won’t just be about the Cup Series. Former NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Mike Skinner will serve as Grand Marshal for Saturday’s Window World 250, bringing his familiar voice back to the track nearly three decades after he won the inaugural Truck Series title.
Skinner, a 28-time winner in the Truck Series, was instrumental in helping shape the division’s early years. His participation adds yet another layer of tradition to a weekend already packed with nostalgia and celebration.
“It’s an honor to be remembered and recognized for a series that I love so dearly. And it’s even more special to do it at a track as iconic as North Wilkesboro.” – Mike Skinner
Saturday’s action will also include the zMAX CARS Tour, headlined by The Reverend Whiskey 75 (Pro Late Models) on Thursday and the Window World 100 (Late Model Stock Cars) on Friday night.
News in Brief: Wood Brothers Racing 75th Anniversary
Wood Brothers Racing has stood the test of time, and their 75th anniversary is a reminder of what makes NASCAR’s legacy so rich. Honoring the team at North Wilkesboro — a place filled with their past triumphs and memories — is the perfect tribute.
With throwback paint schemes, legendary dignitaries, and a packed race weekend ahead, the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race won’t just be about the current stars — it’ll be a celebration of those who helped build the sport into what it is today.
From Glenn Wood’s first start in 1950 to Josh Berry’s upcoming run in the No. 21, the Wood Brothers’ story is still being written. And at North Wilkesboro Speedway, that legacy is getting the spotlight it rightfully deserves.
