The countdown is on for one of the most anticipated race weekends of the NASCAR Cup Series season. For the first time since 1996, championship points will be on the line at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway as the inaugural Window World 450 marks the return of points-paying Cup Series competition to one of NASCAR's most iconic short tracks.
While the annual NASCAR All-Star Race has reintroduced fans and drivers to North Wilkesboro over the past three seasons, next Saturday's 450-lap battle presents an entirely new challenge. With a full field, nearly twice the race distance and field size and valuable championship points at stake as drivers continue their push toward The Chase.
From championship contenders to drivers battling for playoff positions, here's what NASCAR Cup Series competitors had to say about returning to North Wilkesboro for its first points-paying Cup Series race in nearly three decades and the strategy behind it:
Denny Hamlin, No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing – Points Leader
“I don't know that you really change your approach, but you will change your strategy, as a driver. You're going to be a little bit more patient in a points race, especially this year, where points are going to mean a little bit more as you stack them up throughout the year. But as a driver, I think I prepare the same for, a short All-Star race as I do for a point race. So it won't change a lot from that scenario, but it does change how the team will prepare and how they strategize for that weekend.”
Ryan Blaney, No. 12, Team Penske – Third in points
“I was really excited when North Wilkesboro came back for the All-Star race a few years ago. I raced there in like 2010 for a late model race, and it was like the first race they had there since the 90s, and then it shut back down again for a long time, and now the Cup cars are going there. So, it's just an important piece of NASCAR history for us. The track is just taking steps to become bigger and bigger and back to what it should be, and the people in that area, they are huge motorsports fans. I can tell you firsthand experience, they were incredibly excited when we came back for the All-Star race, and that track deserves a points race. So, if you love racing and maybe your family was a huge fan of Wilkesboro from the 80s and 90s, now it's back and with the first points race in three decades, right? So it's a can't-miss it.”
Chris Buescher, No. 17, RFK Racing – Seventh in points
“The strategy will change in kind of a simple sense of it's a much longer race. You're going to be thinking about how far you can go or how hard to push at certain moments. The groove has moved up in Turns 1 and 2 really quickly, which is a lot of fun, but it's a very narrow groove to hit correctly and can certainly catch you off guard quick. It's going to be a lot of fun going that far, seeing the tire fall off and how that's going to change throughout the race with a little extra horsepower as well. It's going to be a wild one. Pit road's tight, that's going to be a tricky part of it. But it's such a cool racetrack with so much character, so much history to it. I don't know how many times we've driven by it on the way to Bristol and seen it at its worst, and to go up there now and see it at, I would assume it's best. I'm sure it was really nice and when everything was brand new as well. But they've done a fantastic job keeping the old and bringing the new with it.”
Christopher Bell, No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing – 10th in points
“Nobody knows what to expect going into North Wilkesboro with a full field and twice as long of a race. The track's going to take a ton of rubber, and it's going to change tremendously from the start of the race to the end of the race. The racing on track is going to be wild. I can’t imagine having a full field at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time in 30 years; it’s going to be something you don’t want to miss.”
Zane Smith, No. 38, Front Row Motorsports
“North Wilkesboro’s first points race is going to be electric; it’s going to be cool. We’ve seen that place the past couple of years since it’s been revived, and the fans seem to love it. I had a test there earlier this year, and the fans are already filling up the grandstands. SO you want to be a part of history and see the first points race there in I don’t know how long. It’s a beautiful facility, so I’m excited for that one.”
Cole Custer, No. 41, Haas Factory Team
North Wilkesboro is going to be very interesting this year. Being the first points race we've ever had there in a long time, it's going to be interesting how the races, the longer runs, how that's going to affect things. So, you're going to see a lot more comers and goers maybe than what you saw at the All-Star race.”
Josh Berry, No. 21, Wood Brothers Racing
“I think for one, it's going to be the first points race in over 30 years, so I think the intensity is going to be higher just because everybody's going to want to win that one and be a part of that return to points racing there. It's going to be interesting to see how different it races over the course of a long night, but it should be a lot of fun. There are great fans up there, and obviously we all want to ride the elevator to Victory Lane.”
TICKETS:
Window World 450 tickets, camping and race-day upgrades – including Pre-Race Track Passes – can be purchased online at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com. Fans can also purchase tickets directly at Wilkes County IGA Fairvalue Marketplace or Raymer Oil locations with no online taxes or fees.
MORE INFO:
Race fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding the July 17-19 race weekend by following on X and Instagram or by becoming a Facebook fan.