Window World 450 Marks NASCAR's Return to North Wilkesboro

NASCAR returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina this week for a weekend centered on the Cup Series Window World 450, the first points race at the 0.625-mile track since 1996. The race is Sunday at 7 p.m. ET as the 21st points-paying event of the 2026 season, with 37 Cup Series drivers entered. With the regular season winding down and the 10-race Chase approaching, the event carries added weight for drivers trying to improve their position.

The Craftsman Truck Series also races at North Wilkesboro on Saturday in the Faith Fest 250, the 15th points race of its season. The 250-lap race is set for 12:30 p.m. ET after Truck Series practice Friday at 2 p.m. ET and qualifying at 3:05 p.m. ET. Chandler Smith is the defending winner, and the entry list includes 39 trucks, including Cup regulars Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Shane van Gisbergen and Carson Hocevar.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625-mile asphalt short track with 14 degrees of banking in the turns. Cup Series practice is scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 6:10 p.m. ET. The Cup race will air on TNT Sports, truTV and HBO Max, with PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio carrying the broadcast. The Truck race will be shown on FS1 and carried on NASCAR Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The ARCA Menards Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series are not racing this weekend.