Joey Logano captured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season at North Wilkesboro Speedway, ending a winless stretch that began in May 2025 and extending his streak of winning at least one race every year since 2012.
The 40‑year‑old Connecticut native held off veteran Denny Hamlin in a hard‑fought battle, securing his 38th career Cup win and adding another chapter to a career that has been defined by consistency and resilience.
A track reborn after decades of neglect
North Wilkesboro’s 0.625‑mile oval first opened in 1947, but after its final points race in 1996 the venue fell into disuse. Speedway Motorsports undertook a massive cleanup, clearing weeds and trees that had taken root on the banking, and restored the surface in time to host the recent All‑Star event.
Logano seized Stage 2, took the lead and never looked back, leading 323 of the 450 laps while the race unfolded under just five caution periods, a testament to the track’s renewed competitiveness.
Behind him, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs and Shane Van Gisbergen rounded out the top three, while Ryan Blaney, who had started from the rear after a power‑steering failure and a speeding penalty on pit road, fought his way back into the top five before a late‑race incident involving Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman.
Looking ahead to Indianapolis
The NASCAR In‑Season Challenge will crown its champion next Sunday at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, where Blaney will meet Christopher Bell in the semifinals and Todd Gilliland will face Chase Elliott. The event promises another layer of drama after a season that has already delivered surprise twists and a historic return to North Wilkesboro.