A rain‑soaked weekend at North Wilkesboro
Rain hammered the track at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Saturday, forcing NASCAR to cancel the traditional qualifying session for the Window World 450.
With the clock stopped and the asphalt slick, officials turned to their performance‑metric system to determine the starting order for the race.
Ryan Blaney emerged as the pole sitter, taking the top spot ahead of Ty Gibbs, who will share the front row with him.
The top five also includes Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar and Tyler Reddick, setting a competitive opening lineup.
Drivers who missed the cut, such as Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson, will have to start from 26th and 27th respectively, a steep climb that will test their ability to overtake and manage tire wear.
NASCAR has emphasized that the race will be fought for track position and recovery, rather than pure outright speed, as the altered grid reshapes strategy.
The event also serves as the semifinal round of the series’ In‑Season Challenge, adding extra stakes for the contending drivers.