Roy A. Cooper
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaks during a press conference announcing that the NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May 2023, on the steps of the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP)
NASCAR returning to North Wilkesboro with '23 All-Star Race

By Gary D. Robertson Sep. 08, 2022 01:52 PM EDT

North Carolina sports betting legislation falters in House

By Gary D. Robertson Jun. 22, 2022 09:09 PM EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation that would have authorized sports betting across all of North Carolina fell apart late Wednesday as the House narrowly rejected a...

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, congratulates Cheri Beasley after naming her as the next Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court during a news conference at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 12, 2019. Gov. Cooper gave Beasley his full-throated endorsement for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 attempting to secure a smoother path for her to become the Democrats' nominee to wrest a seat held by a Republican since 2005. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, file)
Beasley leads NC Senate fundraising; GOP side stays close

By Gary D. Robertson Jan. 31, 2022 06:15 PM EST

Workers of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) are setting up a vaccination centre in the sports hall of a school in Eschwege, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. The German government is preparing to roll out a nationwide coronavirus vaccination program. (Sven Pfoertner/dpa via AP)
The Latest: North Carolina to get vaccine from US government

By The Associated Press Dec. 01, 2020 10:31 AM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, March 19, 2020 file photo, a mask lies on a lawn in Willowbrook, Ill. On Friday, June 26, 2020, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting that wearing face masks can cause fungal and bacterial pneumonia. There’s no evidence that normal use of face masks can cause fungal or bacterial infections. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

By Ali Swenson, Beatrice Dupuy, Arijeta Lajka And Amanda Seitz Jun. 26, 2020 05:46 PM EDT

A woman wears a face mask as a precaution against the new coronavirus outbreak as she receives free staple food packages provided by the government for low-income residents in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, June 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
The Latest: NC judge orders race track to halt for pandemic

By The Associated Press Jun. 11, 2020 07:33 PM EDT

In this Saturday, May 23, 2020 photo, race fans pray at the Ace Speedway on in the rural Alamance County community of Altamahaw near Elon, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track that’s allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. Cooper’s health secretary says Ace Speedway in Alamance County is an “imminent hazard” for the virus' spread and can't reopen unless it creates a safety plan to keep fans away. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Judge orders N.C. track with large crowds to stop races

Jun. 11, 2020 05:17 PM EDT

In this Saturday, May 23, 2020 photo, race fans pray at the Ace Speedway on in the rural Alamance County community of Altamahaw near Elon, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track that’s allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. Cooper’s health secretary says Ace Speedway in Alamance County is an “imminent hazard” for the virus' spread and can't reopen unless it creates a safety plan to keep fans away. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
North Carolina speedway ordered shut because of large crowds

By Gary D. Robertson Jun. 09, 2020 02:23 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick celebra tras ganar la carrera de la Copa NASCAR en Darlington, Carolina del Sur, el domingo 17 de mayo de 2020. (AP Foto/Brynn Anderson)
NASCAR grabs much-needed momentum in return to live racing

By Jenna Fryer May. 22, 2020 05:50 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 27, 2018, file photo, the field takes the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The governor of North Carolina says NASCAR can go forward with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of May so long as health conditions do not deteriorate in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday he and state public health officials have had discussions with NASCAR and the speedway regarding its safety protocols for staging a race without spectators. Cooper said the state offered input on NASCAR’s plan, but he believes the race can go forward on Memorial Day weekend for the 60th consecutive year. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, file)
NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte

Apr. 28, 2020 02:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 29, 2016, file photo, Martin Truex Jr (78) and Joey Logano (22) lead the field out of Turn 4 for the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The governor of North Carolina says NASCAR can go forward with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of May so long as health conditions do not deteriorate in the state. Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday, April 28, 2020, he and state public health officials have had discussions with NASCAR and the speedway regarding its safety protocols for staging a race without spectators. Cooper said the state offered input on NASCAR’s plan, but he believes the race can go forward on Memorial Day weekend for the 60th consecutive year. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
North Carolina governor OKs NASCAR race at Charlotte

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 28, 2020 02:43 PM EDT

Doug Yorke, director of marketing at Dover International Speedway, speaks during a news conference outside the track, Monday, April 27, 2020, in Dover, Del. Sports will eventually start again and all signs indicate NASCAR is racing full speed ahead of the other major leagues in resuming competition. The sanctioning body is currently working on a revised schedule that could have NASCAR back on track in roughly three weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
In The Pits: All eyes on NASCAR as it races toward restart

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 27, 2020 04:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 5, 2018, file photo, Mike Smith rides Justify to victory during the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The move of the Triple Crown’s first leg to Labor Day weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic will mark the first time the Derby won’t run on the first Saturday in May since 1945. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
The Latest: North Carolina considering allowing NASCAR race

By The Associated Press Apr. 23, 2020 04:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 28, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson (42) flips as he makes contact with Jeffrey Earnhardt (81) on the back stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. The Associated Press looks at some of the events that would have been live the week of April 20-26: A big one at Talladega Superspeedway. Chase Elliott won last April ahead of a race-ending crash that flipped Kyle Larson a half-dozen times. Larson was fired last week by Chip Ganassi after using a racial slur during a live-streamed virtual race. (AP Photo/Greg McWilliams, File)
NASCAR teams OK to work in N.C. shops, a key step in return

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 23, 2020 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 10, 2019, file photo, drivers race at the NASCAR cup series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. IndyCar will race Saturday, April 11, 2020, at Michigan International Speedway, one of the most beloved tracks that long ago fell off the open-wheel racing schedule. The race will be aired on NBC Sports with Dale Earnhardt Jr., just announced as a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and a driving force in the success of the iRacing phenomenon, making his IndyCar virtual debut. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Texas, Florida eager for NASCAR to rev engines again

By Stephen Hawkins Apr. 20, 2020 06:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 10, 2016, file photo, drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, and Jimmie Johnson talk before qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The mind-boggling success of virtual racing has put motorsports out front in the race to create competition during the sports shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “All of the race teams are trying everything they can to keep their sponsors and keep their employees," said longtime virtual racing fanatic Dale Earnhardt Jr. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
In The Pits: NASCAR facing big decision on when to race

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 20, 2020 05:41 PM EDT

GOP senators ask NC governor to allow racing at Charlotte

Apr. 19, 2020 01:06 PM EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Five Republican state senators are asking North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to allow NASCAR races — without fans — next month at Charlotte...