North Wilkesboro to host NASCAR Cup Series points race for 1st time in 30 years

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — For the first time in 30 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to host its first NASCAR Cup Series points race.

As part of NASCAR’s 2026 national schedule release on Wednesday, the governing body announced that the Window World 400 will take place at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The last time North Wilkesboro hosted a NASCAR Cup Series points race was on Sept. 29, 1996, when Jeff Gordon claimed the checkered flag in a field featuring several NASCAR greats like Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin.

The race around the five-eighths-mile oval will be 400 laps. This all comes after a 250-lap Truck Series race on Saturday, July 18.

North Wilkesboro has hosted the last three NASCAR All-Star Races.

“This year reminded everyone how great the action is at North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “It’s a challenge for the drivers and the teams to master this short track and because of that, you don’t know who’s going to win until the checkered flag flies.

“It’s going to be cool to see 400 laps of wheel-to-wheel racing under the lights at North Wilkesboro and how the strategies in a longer race play out. Whoever wins the Window World 400 will really have to earn it, because now, it’s about more than big money and bragging rights. There’s a playoff berth on the line.”

Rockingham Speedway will also see a few races in 2026. The Truck Series will hold a race there on Friday, April 3. And the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts series will hold a race there the next day on April 4.