The NASCAR Cup Series is set to stage its first short‑track event since April this weekend, bringing the series back to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. The race, part of the series’ In‑Season Challenge, will be shown live on TNT beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, July 19.
A Historic Return to a Classic Venue
Qualifying for the Window World 450 was washed out by storms, forcing NASCAR to abandon the traditional two‑round format. Instead, the starting lineup was determined by a new metric that measured each car’s top lap speed during a single two‑lap attempt around the 0.625‑mile oval.
The metric, a streamlined version of the four‑variable formula used in recent years, blends each team’s position in the owner standings with its most recent result at EchoPark Speedway. Because the system relies on a single lap, drivers are not required to run a second qualifying run, simplifying the process while still rewarding the fastest effort.
With the lineup now set, the focus shifts to the semifinal round of the In‑Season Challenge, where the 37 drivers will battle for valuable playoff points. The race promises a tight contest on a historic venue that last hosted a points‑paying event in 1996, reviving memories of the track’s storied past.
Fans can expect a dramatic finish as the metric‑determined order places some of the series’ top contenders, including Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson, at the front of the grid. The outcome will also impact the playoff picture, making every lap count in the final stretch of the regular season.