All articles tagged with #north wilkesboro
Joey Logano won at North Wilkesboro, praising his team and the car while thanking his crew and family, and stressing the importance of collecting points. Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs and other Cup Series drivers offered praise for Logano’s performance, reflected on strategy and tire/track conditions, and looked ahead to the next races as they battle for the championship and momentum.
NASCAR's North Wilkesboro throwback weekend blended nostalgia with faith-themed events as Joey Logano snapped a year-long winless streak to win the Cup race and Brexton Busch won Friday's race, highlighted by an invocation and retro signage that revived the historic track while sparking debate over the pace of modern Cup cars.
Joey Logano dominated the Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro, leading 323 of 450 laps to win and move up to 15th in the Cup Series standings, with only six cars finishing on the lead lap as Denny Hamlin pressed but could not overtake in the final stretch.
TNT Sports will televise the NASCAR In-Season Challenge final four showdown from North Wilkesboro on Sunday, July 19 at 7 p.m. ET (practice and qualifying July 18 at 5 p.m.) with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte and Adam Alexander calling the action. The four contenders are Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Todd Gilliland, competing for a $1 million prize as North Wilkesboro returns to Cup points racing ahead of the July 26 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis; on-site coverage includes NASCAR Nation Pre-Race at 6 p.m., with broadcasts on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
North Wilkesboro hosts the Cup Series' first points race since 1996, with eight NASCAR legends—Richard Childress, Ray Evernham, Chad Knaus, Jeff Hammond, Larry McReynolds, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace and Eddie Wood—joining pre-race introductions for the Window World 450 while Rusty Wallace serves as grand marshal; tickets and a Sawyer Brown concert are available for the weekend.
NASCAR's return to North Wilkesboro Speedway did not increase TV audience ratings, with the Cup Series All-Star Race averaging a 1.28 Nielsen rating and 2.203 million household viewers on FS1. However, the Craftsman Truck Series race from North Wilkesboro on Saturday afternoon saw a healthy boost in audience from the broadcast network, averaging 0.58/944,000 viewers. Indy 500 qualifying for the NTT IndyCar Series peaked with a 0.56 rating and 842,000 household viewers on NBC's telecast. Delayed coverage of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series finals from Chicago followed NASCAR Sunday night on FS1 and averaged 0.21/327,000 viewers.
Kyle Larson leads Cup practice at North Wilkesboro ahead of the All-Star Race, which marks the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to the historic track for the first time since 1996. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 16th in Wednesday night’s Cars Tour Late Model Stock Car race at North Wilkesboro and was instrumental in the track’s revival. Bubba Pollard, one of the nation’s top super late model drivers, won Wednesday’s ASA Stars event at North Wilkesboro, beating a field that included Cup drivers William Byron, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, and Noah Gragson.
Ross Chastain's aggressive driving style has earned him enemies on the track, but his speed and pit crew have kept him in the lead for the Cup Series points halfway through the regular season. William Byron won his third race of the season and is on track for a breakout year. The upcoming All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro has raised logistical concerns, but the worn-out asphalt promises great racing. NASCAR's decision to allow cars involved in a wreck to keep their spots while penalizing those who avoided it makes little sense. John Hunter Nemechek showed composure after a hard-fought battle with Kyle Larson. Suggestions for throwback concepts include no stage breaks at some ovals, earlier start times, more horsepower, a return to Rockingham, and a stronger media corps.
NASCAR drivers Tyler Reddick and Harrison Burton weigh in on whether drivers should be allowed to fight or be separated quickly after last week's altercation between Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR officials typically step in only when it becomes a physical confrontation, but one of the challenges is that they don't always reach the scene before a physical confrontation takes place. Meanwhile, NASCAR could consider racing in football stadium parking lots, similar to Formula One's recent race around Hard Rock Stadium, to reach new markets. Additionally, some Formula One drivers expressed displeasure with the pre-race festivities at the Miami Grand Prix, while NASCAR drivers prepare for the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro with additional track time. Finally, William Byron leads the Cup Series in stage points this season.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Austin Dillon participated in a Goodyear tire test at the historic North Wilkesboro racetrack, which hasn't hosted a NASCAR race since 1996. The drivers noted significant tire fall-off and the rough pavement, which is a favorite among fans. The track is undergoing modernization but keeping its historic feel. The drivers are unsure how the tire chosen for the All-Star Race will affect the racing, and the format of the race is still unknown.