The NASCAR Cup Series is roaring back to North Wilkesboro Speedway this Sunday for the 2025 All-Star Race. One of the most anticipated nights on the NASCAR calendar, this event gathers some of the sport’s biggest names for a no-holds-barred showdown under the lights. Twenty-three drivers will take on the historic 0.625-mile short track, with one goal in mind: a $1 million prize. It’s a night where experience, grit, and short-track mastery collide.
Before the main event begins at 8 p.m. ET, fans will be treated to a full day of racing and music. The All-Star Open at 5 p.m. will decide the final three drivers added to the main field. But racing isn’t the only draw. A lineup of country music stars and NASCAR legends is joining the festivities throughout the weekend. From acoustic sets to grand marshal appearances, All-Star weekend has become as much a celebration of culture as it is competition.
However, one of the most treasured pre-race traditions remains untouched: the singing of the national anthem. Before engines fire, the Star-Spangled Banner brings fans and drivers to their feet. This year, the honor belongs to rising country star and former The Voice contestant Presley Barker. But who is this young talent from North Carolina? Let’s get to know the artist who’s proudly singing for his home crowd on Sunday night.
Meet Presley Barker: A country prodigy who hits the big stage!
Five days ahead of the NASCAR All-Star Race event at North Wilkesboro, Presley Barker made the announcement of his honors. In a heartfelt social media post, he wrote, “Honored to be performing our National Anthem this weekend at the North Wilkesboro Speedway NASCAR ALL-STAR Race on Sunday, 5/18! See y’all there!” That simple statement carried a deep sense of pride. Barker is no stranger to the national stage, and his return to North Wilkesboro marks a full-circle moment for the 20-year-old bluegrass prodigy.
Born and raised in Traphill, North Carolina, Barker grew up surrounded by the Appalachian sound. At just 10 years old, he stunned seasoned musicians when he won the adult guitar competition at the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia. By 13, he had already collected top prizes in some of the most respected acoustic guitar contests in the region. His mentor, master luthier Wayne C. Henderson, gifted him a hand-built dreadnought, a guitar valued in the tens of thousands, for winning one of these events. That instrument remains Barker’s primary guitar today.
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