NASCAR Makes Significant Changes to 2026 North Wilkesboro Cup Race

NASCAR has introduced a massive change to the 2025 North Wilkesboro Cup Race as it will run for 450 laps and will be a point-paying race.

NASCAR Makes Significant Changes to 2026 North Wilkesboro Cup Race

The Window World 400 at the North Wilkesboro (via NASCAR)

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NASCAR is currently undergoing a phase of multiple changes to the sport. Many of the circuits and other aspects are receiving changes in the wake of the increased public demand. Amongst many other things changing for the better in 2026, the pinnacle of stock racing has set its eyes on making some changes to the North Wilkesboro Cup Race.

The North Wilkesboro Circuit has run the All-Star race for the past couple of years and received a lot of positive feedback. However, it will now be run under the normal schedule as the Dover Speedway prepares to host the All-Star in the upcoming season.

Now, to make things exciting and provide even more racing action for the fans, a significant change has come to the Window World 400 race. Notably, NASCAR has added 50 extra laps to the North Wilkesboro race, effectively making the drivers run a total of 450 laps.

As such, the name will be changed from Window World 400 to Window World 450 to reflect the changes made to the race. Notably, the change in All-Star destination also means that the North Wilkesboro race will be a points-paying race after a very long time.

The North Wilkesboro Cup Race will be a point-paying race after almost 30 years, as the last time this happened was back in 1996. Hence, the fans and drivers are extremely excited to see what the racing product comes out to at the refreshed race in the North Carolina-based circuit.

The 2025 race at North Wilkesboro was extremely enjoyable, and many fans loved the racing action around the short oval. The upcoming race on the circuit will surely be even more enjoyable, especially because of the points-paying aspect.

North Wilkesboro director aims to create a “better experience” for the fans

The North Wilkesboro is certainly one of the more widely loved circuits amongst the fans. The 2025 season race was sold out and boasted a huge amount of fan attendance. As such, increasing the number of laps is only going to make the fans happier as they get to watch a lot more racing for the same ticket price.

The North Wilkesboro circuit (via Getty Images)
The North Wilkesboro circuit (via Getty Images)

The North Wilkesboro Speedway Director, Graig Hoffman, opened up on the newly introduced change and what it meant for the sport. Graig Hoffman asserted that the North Wilkesboro Speedway was all about the fans and thrived on their love and support.

He believes that adding more laps per dollar for the Window World 450 race will only create an even better experience for the fans. Hoffman continued that the Sunday-night race in 2026 will be electric for the fans in attendance, and the stakes will be higher than ever as the race will not pay points to the drivers and give the winner a direct ticket to the playoffs.

North Wilkesboro Speedway is all about the fans, and adding more laps per dollar to the Window World 450 is sure to create a better experience for everyone who enters the gates, Sunday-night races are made to be a spectacle. The Window World 450 will be an electric night at America’s throwback race track, and the stakes will be higher than ever before with the winner punching a ticket to the NASCAR Playoffs.

Graig Hoffman said via Racing America.

Certainly, NASCAR is giving attention to what the fans demand and fulfilling them as much as possible. Though the recent years have not been easy for the pinnacle of stock racing, they are still trying their best to thrive in the market. The sport still must introduce some crucial changes in its format that the fans and drivers have continued to egg on for quite a while now.

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