The NASCAR Cup Series is back at North Wilkesboro for a full, points-paying race 30 years in the making.
The Window World 450 on July 19 is the first points race for the Cup Series since 1996 at the 0.625-mile track tucked in the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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North Wilkesboro had been on the schedule as the site of the All-Star Race since 2023, but shifted into a summer points-race date this year.
The track has served as a symbol for the sport over the last three decades as a venue of yesteryear, aged out as the sport shifted dates westward and northward to spur the growth of the 1990s and 2000s. North Wilkesboro now serves as a cautionary tale as NASCAR attempts to re-grow this plot of its southern roots.
The race to the Chase continues with six events remaining in the regular season. Erik Jones currently sits in 16th, with an eight-point lead ahead of 17th-place Joey Logano coming into the weekend.
This weekend also marks the in-season challenge semifinals, with Chase Elliott vs. Todd Gilliland and Ryan Blaney vs. Christopher Bell as the matchups.
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Follow along with the Tennessean’s NASCAR race updates below:
CUP RACE PICKS: NASCAR North Wilkesboro predictions 2026, expert picks for Cup Series race
NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro live updates, highlights, live leaderboard for the Quaker State 400
LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series Window World 450
NASCAR North Wilkesboro weather forecast
Rain chances have decreased significantly for this evening, with the National Weather Service forecasting a 15% chance of precipitation at 6 p.m. Central.
But a look at the radar shows some scattered showers and storms in Wilkes County, N.C.
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NASCAR in-season tournament semifinal matchups
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4-seed Chase Elliott vs. 25-seed Todd Gilliland
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3-seed Ryan Blaney vs. 10-seed Christopher Bell
Ryan Blaney on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series North Wilkesboro starting lineup
The top 10:
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Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
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Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
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Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
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Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
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Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Find the full starting lineup here.
NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at North Wilkesboro
The Window World 450 will be aired on the radio by the Performance Racing Network. PRN has affiliates all across the country, including 830 AM in Nashville, and their feed can also be streamed on NASCAR.com as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
NASCAR North Wilkesboro TV schedule, start time
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Green Flag Time: Approx. 6:15 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 19
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Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway (1.54-mile oval) in North Wilkesboro, N.C.
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Length: 450 laps, 281.25 miles
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Stages: 80 laps, 185 laps, 185 laps
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Radio: PRN (830 AM in Nashville)
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Streaming: HBO MAX app for full broadcast feed and in-car cameras (subscription required); NASCAR.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 for audio (subscription required)
The Window World 450 will be broadcast nationally on TNT. Other streaming options for the race include HBO MAX for the full broadcast and in-car cameras for each driver.
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Recent NASCAR Cup Series winners at North Wilkesboro
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2025 All-Star Race: Christopher Bell
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2025 All-Star Race: Joey Logano
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2025 All-Star Race: Kyle Larson
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro: Live updates, highlights, leaderboard for Window World 450
