The Charlotte Roval is not a race track that every driver enjoys. Brad Keselowski, for one, wants it off the Cup Series calendar. The RFK Racing co-owner has opined that he’d rather see the North Wilkesboro Speedway gain a points-paying race in its stead. However, a few drivers in the Hendrick Motorsports garage wouldn’t like this.

The Cup Series has raced at the Roval seven times, and Hendrick Motorsports has won four of them. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott have contributed to this, securing two wins each. These drivers led the line for most laps led on the Roval as well. Larson has led 122 laps and Elliott has led 109 laps. So, why does Keselowski want to pull the rug out from under them?

The veteran spoke to the press at North Wilkesboro after winning pole position for Sunday’s All-Star Race. He noted that he’d like to see the All-Star Race return to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. As things stand, the oval track at Charlotte has only one race a year, and he thinks that the lack of a second date is a big miss for the sport.

When a reporter questioned his words by pointing out how the Roval has created some memorable moments in the past, he responded, “Has it really? I look at the stands and more fans come to the oval race and better ratings too, than come to the Roval races. I thought that’s what we judge the sport by. I’m very strong about the Roval has got to go.”

Keselowski is bound to find some support in this contention. The North Wilkesboro Speedway has found a lot of proponents since entering the fold in 2023. Moreover, the conversation is about a road course versus a short-track. The latter will always have an edge, given the core nature of stock car racing.

For now, Keselowski‘s focus will be on winning the $1 million prize money on Sunday. He secured pole position by winning the time trials on Friday. He went on to solidify his chances by winning the first Heat Race on Saturday and led 74 of the total 75 laps.

Notably, the veteran also laid bare the importance of racing on the superior top lane. It is by racing there that he was able to hold off attacks from the likes of Tyler Reddick, William Byron, and Ross Chastain. He’ll aim to take the lead early in the main event and hold it throughout.

Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has seen a change to his No. 9 team at Hendrick Motorsports ahead of this weekend.

The annual NASCAR All-Star Race is taking place at North Wilkesboro on Sunday, with an action-packed weekend ahead of the 250-lap exhibition, which Elliott is set to compete in.

Elliott and his No. 9 pit crew will have a new right rear tire changer for the event, however, with FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass revealing that Calvin Teague was now a part of Elliott’s crew.

To make way for Teague, Chad Avrit has moved from the No. 9 team to the No. 7 team of Justin Haley at Spire Motorsports.

READ MORE: NASCAR legend Kyle Busch makes family announcement as new deal revealed

Chase Elliott’s 2025 season so far

So far, 2025 has been a mixed season for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Although the 2020 Cup Series champion got his year off to a strong start by winning The Clash exhibition back in February, he is yet to register an official point-scoring victory all season.

Indeed, Elliott’s best finishes have come at COTA and Martinsville, where he finished fourth, whilst the former champ also registered a fifth-place finish at Talladega.

Finishes inside the top 10 have also come at Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Darlington, but in recent weeks, results have been harder to come by.

In three of the last four races, for example, Elliott has finished either 15th or 16th, with his Talladega P5 the only exception.

With the pressure of a point-scoring race off the table this weekend at North Wilkesboro, it will certainly be interesting to see how the 29-year-old gets on.

READ MORE: Hendrick Motorsports announce Kyle Larson absence update ahead of All-Star Race

Related

The final lap of the Saturday, May 17, Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway saw two lead changes, a side-by-side battle among teammates and a winner – Chandler Smith – who took the white flag in third place.

Smith emerged victorious after a breathtaking final-lap battle for victory with Front Row Motorsports teammate Layne Riggs and pole winner Corey Heim, which culminated in Heim spinning out in Turn 2 after contact with Riggs. Smith – who stayed on the bottom lane – drove past the carnage and withstood Riggs’ last-gasp effort entering Turn 3 to register a wholly unexpected victory.

The only lap Smith led on Saturday was the one that counted most.

In what was another enthralling chapter of Truck Series history at North Wilkesboro, Heim had the machine to beat and proved it for most of the afternoon, leading a race-high 162 of 255 laps. His downfall, however, was not pitting when Smith, Riggs and other leaders stopped during a caution period on Lap 214.

Heim went the final 111 circuits on the same set of tires – and nearly won the race in spite of it. The TRICON Garage driver managed his equipment to near-perfection, but Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford slowly caught up to Heim over the final 20 laps. Smith appeared poised to pass him before a caution for Brent Crews’ spin with four laps remaining bunched the field and left Heim in control of the final restart.

With 70 more laps on his tires than the rest of the lead pack, Heim tried to work the high line and hold off Riggs’ unexpected charge from third. Riggs slid under Heim coming off Turn 4 and as the two entered Turn 1 on the final lap, contact sent Heim spinning. The fracas was a welcome sight for Smith, who dashed under Riggs, held off his teammate’s lunge into the final corner and emerged with his second victory of the season.

Riggs ended up second with Tyler Ankrum third, Daniel Hemric fourth and Grant Enfinger fifth. Ty Majeski, Gio Ruggeiro, Kaden Honeycutt, Kyle Busch and Sammy Smith completed the top 10.

Heim finished 17th after the contact with Riggs sent him spinning toward the inside of the track, while the Front Row duo continued out front.

Heim’s 162 laps led marked a career high – a dominant performance despite not winning the race, nor Stages 1 or 2. Ruggeiro won Stage 1, while Enfinger claimed Stage 2.

CHANDLER SMITH, NO. 38 FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS FORD (Race Winner):
“We fought and clawed today. Just getting toward the front of the pack shows how good this Ford F-150 was today. I wasn’t as good as the 11 (Heim), but we had the tire advantage on him. That last restart, I did everything but the right thing. My teammate, Layne Riggs, executed it perfectly – but I’m happy we could bring one home for Front Row Motorsports.”

LAYNE RIGGS, NO. 34 FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS FORD (Runner-Up):
“I feel like (Heim) got loose into (Turns) 3 and 4 and gave the bottom up. We were side-by-side and I didn’t fence him. I slid up the track, but I gave him a lane. That’s North Wilkesboro for a Truck win. I feel like if the roles were reversed, it’d probably be the same thing.”

NASCAR Truck race results from North Wilkesboro Speedway

NASCAR Truck Series drivers are on the grid in North Carolina. The 0.625-mile of North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to drop the green flag on the Window World 250.

View North Wilkesboro results for the NASCAR Truck Series below.

North Wilkesboro Menu
CARS (PLM): Prac/Qual | Race
CARS (LMSC): Prac/Qual | Race
Trucks: : Prac/Qual | Race
Cup : Prac/Qual | Heats | Lineup | Open | All-Star Race

North Wilkesboro TV Schedule

Corey Heim and Kyle Busch set the front row. 250 laps of short track racing are up next…

North Wilkesboro
Trucks – Stage 1

Laps: 70 (1-70 / 250)

Green flag, Heim gets the jump and he’s clear before turn one.

Busch fades early as Gio Ruggiero takes 2nd away.

Lap 47, Tyler Tomassi stalls on the apron, caution.

Heim leads most of the field to the pit lane. Gio Ruggiero stays out and takes over the front row. Heim restarts 6th with fresh tires.

Green, Friesen drives it deep to the bottom in turn one. He slides into the side of Ruggiero. Ruggiero leads off turn two.

Gio Ruggiero wins stage one at North Wilkesboro Speedway!

North Wilkesboro Results (Stage 1) : 1. Gio Ruggiero; 2. Corey Heim; 3. Stewart Friesen; 4. Jake Garcia; 5. Chandler Smith; 6. Layne Riggs; 7. Tyler Ankrum; 8. Daniel Hemric; 9. Grant Enfinger; 10. Kyle Busch

North Wilkesboro
Trucks – Stage 2

Laps: 70 (71-140 / 250)

Ruggiero heads for the pit lane. Heim stays out and cycles back to the race lead.

Green flag on stage two, Layne Riggs runs deep into turn one. He slides up into the left rear of Heim! They both run wide, Grant Enfinger drives under both of them and leads off turn two.

Lap 103, Heim works under Brent Crews in the battle for 2nd. After several laps, he finally completes the pass. Enfinger leads Heim by nearly 2 seconds.

5 to go in stage two, Enfinger works heavy lap traffic. Heim closes right to his bumper.

3 to go, Conner Jones is in the outside wall, caution.

Grant Enfinger wins stage two at North Wilkesboro Speedway!

North Wilkesboro Results (Stage 2) : 1. Grant Enfinger; 2. Corey Heim; 3. Chandler Smith; 4. Tyler Ankrum; 5. Layne Riggs; 6. Kyle Busch; 7. Rajah Caruth; 8. Ben Rhodes; 9. Brent Crews; 10. Sammy Smith;

North Wilkesboro
Trucks – Stage 3

Laps: 110 (141-250 / 250)

Penalty: Kyle Busch will drop the rear after a pit road penalty.

Green flag on stage three, Enfinger is clear into turn one. Chandler Smith tags the bumper of Enfinger into turn three! Heim drives under both of them to take the lead away!

39 to go, Tyler Tomassi slows with a flat tire, caution.

Green, Heim clears Layne Riggs into turn one. Chandler Smith to 2nd.

20 to go, Heim leads Smith by a truck length.

Chandler Smith puts the bumper to Heim. But, the caution is out as Brent Crews spins, caution. Heim returns to the lead.

Green with 2 to go, Heim leads off turn two, Riggs drives it deep on the outside and takes 2nd.

1 to go, Riggs drives it deep into turn one on the bottom. He runs Heim wide, Heim spins!

Smith puts the bumper to Riggs! Riggs has lost momentum off turn two. Chandler Smith to the lead down the back!

The caution is out and Chandler Smith wins at North Wilkesboro Speedway!

Corey Heim confronts Layne Riggs at North Wilkesboro (Video)

North Wilkesboro Speedway
Race Results
May 17, 2025
NASCAR Truck Series

Pos | Driver

1. Chandler Smith

2. Layne Riggs

3. Grant Enfinger

4. Tyler Ankrum

5. Ty Majeski

6. Daniel Hemric

7. Gio Ruggiero

8. Kaden Honeycutt

9. Kyle Busch

10. Sammy Smith

11. Jake Garcia

12. Tanner Gray

13. Luke Baldwin

14. Stewart Friesen

15. Rajah Caruth

16. Connor Mosack

17. Corey Heim

18. Matt Crafton

19. Patrick Emerling

20. Jack Wood

21. Toni Breidinger

22. Brent Crews

23. Ben Rhodes

24. Andres Perez

25. Matt Mills

26. Dawson Sutton

27. Conner Jones

28. Spencer Boyd

29. Frankie Muniz

30. Jayson Alexander

31. Tyler Tomassi

32. Ryan Roulette

33. Derek White

34. Norm Benning

NASCAR Truck Series
Point Standings

Pos | Driver | Wins | Points

1. Corey Heim
3 Wins

2. Chandler Smith
2 Wins

3. Daniel Hemric
1 Win

4. Tyler Ankrum
1 Win

5. Grant Enfinger
+78

6. Ty Majeski
+55

7. Jake Garcia
+45

8. Layne Riggs
+33

9. Kaden Honeycutt
+24

10. Stewart Friesen
+6

— Playoff Cutline —

11. Ben Rhodes
-6

12. Gio Ruggiero
-7

13. Rajah Caruth
-21

14. Tanner Gray
-25

North Wilkesboro Speedway
Video Highlights

Links

North Wilkesboro Speedway | NASCAR

For most of the NASCAR Truck race at North Wilkesboro, Corey Heim was firmly in control. It was a dominant performance that didn’t end with a victory celebration, but bitterness and anger for the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Toyota.

In an overtime finish, Heim had to deal with two Front Row Motorsports drivers harassing him for the race win. Layne Riggs got a big run from the outside and pulled underneath Heim at the white flag. He slid up and contact was made as they fought over the lead. Heim got up into the dirtier lanes and spun out, collecting some other trucks mid-pack.

Riggs successfully took the lead, but only for a moment as fellow FRM driver Chandler Smith came out of nowhere, touching doors as he muscled by his teammate. Smith captured the victory while Riggs finished second.

“We fought and clawed today,” said Smith, who led just one lap after coming from the rear of the field. “Had to start in the back and I feel like at this place, tires kind of matter but they also kind of don’t. For us to come from the back says a lot about how good this Ford F-150 was. I didn’t think we were as good as the No. 11 [Heim], obviously. We had a tire advantage on him there and he was still able to start checking back out … Props to those guys. They had a really fast truck today.

“But that last restart, I did everything but the right thing. My teammate Layne Riggs executed perfectly and we came out on the right end of the stick. Happy we could bring one home for Front Row Motorsports.”

Heim and Riggs react to controversial finish

Heim marched down pit road to exchange words with Riggs, but it never escalated beyond that. Heim finished 17th.

“Just why?” Heim told NASCAR on FOX. “More than anything, he tried to do it to the #7 [Carson Hocevar] last week for the win and mission accomplished for him this week, I guess. And it cost him one too, so I don’t know. We’ve given up so many of them this year after pretty much dominating most of this race. The #38 [Smith] was the only other guy (who) was rightfully good. Felt like he probably deserved to win, not the #34 [Riggs]. I got really loose into (Turn) 3. Just struggled being loose on the short runs, and he had an opportunity, and he wrecked me. Just disappointed.”

Watch: Corey Heim ‘disappointed’ with Layne Riggs after finish

Riggs, who completed a 1-2 finish for FRM, offered no apologies after a brief discussion with both Heim and Heim’s crew chief, Scott Zipadelli. 

“They’re displeased,” said Riggs. “But I feel like he got really loose in (Turns) 3 and 4, and kind of gave the bottom up. We were side-by-side on the frontstretch and I had a huge run. I went bottom and I didn’t fence him. I slid him up the track and gave him one lane there. We’re at North Wilkesboro on the last lap for a Truck win, so I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong there. It was hard racing all day. I feel like everybody came out of there alive and we had a good finish, and I only really care about me and my team.”

Watch: Layne Riggs shares his side of finish: ‘I really only care about me and my team’

The final stage

With 100 laps to go, it was actually Grant Enfinger leading the way, but a bump from Smith allowed Heim to take control. From that point onward, it seemed like no one could touch him. 

However, with 40 laps to go, an issue for Tyler Tomassi triggered a caution flag. Heim decided against giving up track position, staying out while second-place runner Smith dove to pit road. Most of the lead lap trucks followed him in for fresh rubber.

Restarting fifth, Smith quickly charged forward, but still found it difficult to mount a real challenge against a dominant Heim. But after the race leader caught lapped traffic at a bad spot, Smith was able to get to his rear bumper. He did not hesitate to give him a shot, moving him up the track and pulling alongside. We didn’t get to see the outcome of this thrilling battle as Ben Rhodes spun Brent Crews around, causing a caution with just four laps to go.

This set up the dramatic overtime finish where Smith prevailed against Riggs and Heim. This is Smith’s second win of the year, becoming just the second Truck Series driver after Heim to earn multiple wins in 2025.

Behind Smith and Riggs, Tyler Ankrum finished third, Daniel Hemric fourth, and Grant Enfinger fifth. Ty Majeski, Gio Ruggiero, Kaden Honeycutt, Kyle Busch, and Sammy Smith filled out the remainder of the top ten.

Photos from North Wilkesboro – Race