2026 Window World 450
| Race details[1][2][3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 21 of 36 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
| Date | July 19, 2026 | ||
| Location | North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 0.625 miles (1.006 km) | ||
| Distance | 450 laps, 281.25 mi (452.63 km) | ||
| Television in the United States | |||
| Network | TNT | ||
| Announcers | Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Steve Letarte | ||
| Radio in the United States | |||
| Radio | PRN | ||
| Booth announcers | Brad Gillie and Mark Garrow | ||
| Turn announcers | Pat Patterson (4) | ||
The 2026 Window World 450 is an upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race that will be held on July 19, 2026, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Contested over 450 laps on the 0.625-mile-long (1.006 km) asphalt short track, it will the 21th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, as well as the fourth race of the 2026 NASCAR In-Season Challenge.
Report
Background
North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625 miles (1.006 km) paved oval short track in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The track has hosted a variety of racing events since its inaugural season of racing in 1947; primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. It has been owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) since 2007 with Ronald Queen serving as director of operations. North Wilkesboro Speedway is served by U.S. Route 421.
The track has a capacity of 25,000 as of 2023, down from its peak of 60,000 in 1996. NWS retains a vintage aesthetic from the 1990s as part of an effort to preserve the historical value of the track. As a result, the facility retains some of its original buildings built before the track's first closure in 1996, including buildings featuring Winston Cigarettes sponsorship and suites built in the 1980s. Developers in recent years have also added other amenities as part of a revival effort that started in 2022.
When the race returned to the schedule, it was originally scheduled as a 400 lap event, being dubbed as the "Window World 400".[4] However, on December 4, 2025, North Wilkesboro track officials announced the race would be extended by 50 laps, being dubbed as the "Window World 450".[5]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Media
Television
TNT will cover the race on the television side, and it will be produced by NASCAR Productions, as were the previous five races. Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte will call the race from the broadcast booth. Marty Snider, Shannon Spake and Danielle Trotta will handle pit road for the television side.
| TNT | |
|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Adam Alexander Color-commentator: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Color-commentator: Steve Letarte |
Marty Snider Shannon Spake Danielle Trotta |
Radio
The race will be broadcast on radio by the Performance Racing Network and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Brad Gillie and Mark Garrow will call the race from the booth when the field races down the front stretch. Pat Patterson will call the race from outside of turn 4 when the field races on turn 4. On pit road, PRN will be manned by Brett McMillan, TBA and Wendy Venturini.
| PRN | ||
|---|---|---|
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Brad Gillie Announcer: Mark Garrow |
Turn 4: Pat Patterson | Brett McMillan TBA Wendy Venturini |
References
- ^ "2026 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
- ^ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "North Wilkesboro Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- ^ "Window World 400 Marks North Wilkesboro's First NASCAR Cup Series Points Race Since 1996". North Wilkesboro Speedway. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "50 laps added to 2026 NASCAR Cup race at North Wilkesboro". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.