North Wilkesboro Speedway Set for First Cup Race Since 1996

After three silent decades, engines will roar again at North Wilkesboro Speedway. NASCAR officials picked July 19, 2026, for the track's first points race since 1996. The Window World 400 marks a return to the short track's storied past.

Drivers who win the 400-lap night battle will lock in a spot for the playoffs. The contest fills the slot left by the All-Star Race, now moving to Dover Motor Speedway.

"This year reminded everyone how great the action is at North Wilkesboro Speedway," said Speedway Motorsports President Marcus Smith in a statement. "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."

The last points race in '96 saw Jeff Gordon take the win. He outran stars Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bobby Labonte, and Mark Martin that day. The track sat quiet until recent work brought it back to life.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who chairs the speedway's board, shared his thoughts. "You know I'm a big believer in the value of short track racing and its history in our sport, so to me this is the biggest news on the 2026 schedule," Earnhardt Jr. said, according to QC News.

Fans pushed hard for this comeback. Seven out of ten viewers, with young fans leading the charge, wanted points racing at the track.

Money talks: The All-Star Race pumped $29 million into Wilkes County last year. The wider area saw benefits near $50 million.

Trucks will thunder around the track on July 18, running 250 laps before the main event. The series first raced here in '96, then came back in 2023.

Big shifts are coming to NASCAR's 2026 lineup. Chicagoland wakes up after six years off the map. San Diego joins in with racing at Naval Base Coronado. The season wraps up at Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8, bringing back its role as the final showdown.