2026 Window World 450

{{Short description|NASCAR stock car race held in North Wilkesboro, U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox NASCAR race report | Type = NASCS | Race_No = 21 | Season_No = 36 | Year = 2026 | Race Name = Window World 450 | Details ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=2026 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2026-nascar-cup-series-schedule/|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=October 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="2026schedule">{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2025/08/20/nascar-releases-2026-schedule-adding-chicagoland-and-shifting-all-star-to-dover |title=NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover |website=NASCAR |date=August 20, 2025 |access-date=August 20, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=North Wilkesboro Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/north-wilkesboro-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|accessdate=February 27, 2023|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=February 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219053741/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/atlanta-motor-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | Fulldate = {{Start date|2026|07|19}} | Image = North Wilkesboro Speedway 2024.svg | Caption = | Location = North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina | Course_mi = 0.625 | Course_km = 1.006 | Distance_laps = 450 | Distance_mi = 281.25 | Distance_km = 452.63 | Weather = | Avg =  | Pole_Driver = | Pole_Team = | Pole_Time = | Most_Driver = | Most_Team = | Most_laps = | Fast_Driver = | Fast_Team = | Fast_Time = | Car = | First_Driver = | First_Team = | Network = TNT | Announcers = Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Steve Letarte | Ratings = | Radio = PRN | Booth_Ann = Brad Gillie and Mark Garrow | Turn_Ann = 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=== [[File:North Wilksboro Speedway April 2011.jpg|left|thumb|North Wilkesboro Speedway, the track where the race was held.]] '''North Wilkesboro Speedway''' is a {{Convert|0.625|mi|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'''".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Window World 400 Marks North Wilkesboro's First NASCAR Cup Series Points Race Since 1996 |url=https://www.northwilkesborospeedway.com/media/window-world-400-marks-north-wilkesboro-first-nascar-cup-series-points-race-since-1996.html |access-date=August 20, 2025 |publisher=North Wilkesboro Speedway}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite news |title=50 laps added to 2026 NASCAR Cup race at North Wilkesboro |url=https://www.jayski.com/2025/12/04/50-laps-added-to-2026-nascar-cup-race-at-north-wilkesboro/ |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |date=December 4, 2025 |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> {{clear}}

====Entry list==== * '''(R)''' denotes rookie driver. * '''(i)''' denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.

<!--- ==Practice== [[]] was the fastest in the practice session with a time of seconds and a speed of {{Convert||mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.

===Practice results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Time ! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- ! 1 | || || || || || |- ! 2 | || || || || || |- ! 3 | || || || || || |- !colspan="7"|[ Official practice results] |}

==Qualifying== [[]] scored the pole for the race with a time of and a speed of {{Convert||mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=|url=|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=July 18, 2026|location=North Wilkesboro, North Carolina|date=July 18, 2026}}</ref>

===Qualifying results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Time ! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- ! 1 | || || || || || |- ! 2 | || || || || || |- ! 3 | || || || || || |- ! 4 | || || || || || |- ! 5 | || || || || || |- ! 6 | || || || || || |- ! 7 | || || || || || |- ! 8 | || || || || || |- ! 9 | || || || || || |- ! 10 | || || || || || |- ! 11 | || || || || || |- ! 12 | || || || || || |- ! 13 | || || || || || |- ! 14 | || || || || || |- ! 15 | || || || || || |- ! 16 | || || || || || |- ! 17 | || || || || || |- ! 18 | || || || || || |- ! 19 | || || || || || |- ! 20 | || || || || || |- ! 21 | || || || || || |- ! 22 | || || || || || |- ! 23 | || || || || || |- ! 24 | || || || || || |- ! 25 | || || || || || |- ! 26 | || || || || || |- ! 27 | || || || || || |- ! 28 | || || || || || |- ! 29 | || || || || || |- ! 30 | || || || || || |- ! 31 | || || || || || |- ! 32 | || || || || || |- ! 33 | || || || || || |- ! 34 | || || || || || |- ! 35 | || || || || || |- ! 36 | || || || || || |- ! colspan="7"|[ Official qualifying results] |}

==Race==

===Race results===

====Stage Results====

'''Stage One''' ''Laps:'' 80

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |1 || || || || || 10 |- |2 || || || || || 9 |- |3 || || || || || 8 |- |4 || || || || || 7 |- |5 || || || || || 6 |- |6 || || || || || 5 |- |7 || || || || || 4 |- |8 || || || || || 3 |- |9 || || || || || 2 |- |10 || || || || || 1 |- |}

'''Stage Two''' ''Laps:'' 80

===Final Stage Results===

'''Stage Three''' ''Laps:'' 185

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% |- ! Pos ! Grid ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Laps ! Points |- |1 || || || || || || || |- |2 || || || || || || || |- |3 || || || || || || || |- |4 || || || || || || || |- |5 || || || || || || || |- |6 || || || || || || || |- |7 || || || || || || || |- |8 || || || || || || || |- |9 || || || || || || || |- |10 || || || || || || || |- |11 || || || || || || || |- |12 || || || || || || || |- |13 || || || || || || || |- |14 || || || || || || || |- |15 || || || || || || || |- |16 || || || || || || || |- |17 || || || || || || || |- |18 || || || || || || || |- |19 || || || || || || || |- |20 || || || || || || || |- |21 || || || || || || || |- |22 || || || || || || || |- |23 || || || || || || || |- |24 || || || || || || || |- |25 || || || || || || || |- |26 || || || || || || || |- |27 || || || || || || || |- |28 || || || || || || || |- |29 || || || || || || || |- |30 || || || || || || || |- |31 || || || || || || || |- |32 || || || || || || || |- |33 || || || || || || || |- |34 || || || || || || || |- |35 || || || || || || || |- |36 || || || || || || || |- |37 || || || || || || || |- |38 || || || || || || || |- |39 || || || || || || || |- !colspan="8"|[ Official race results] |}

==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, Danielle Trotta, and Alan Cavanna will handle pit road for the television side.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="2"|TNT |- !Booth announcers!!Pit reporters |- |'''Lap-by-lap:''' Adam Alexander '''Color-commentator:''' Dale Earnhardt Jr. '''Color-commentator:''' Steve Letarte || Marty Snider Danielle Trotta Alan Cavanna |}

===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, Alan Cavanna and Wendy Venturini.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="3"|PRN |- !Booth announcers!!Turn announcers!!Pit reporters |- | '''Lead announcer:''' Brad Gillie '''Announcer:''' Mark Garrow || '''Turn 4:''' Pat Patterson || Brett McMillan Alan Cavanna Wendy Venturini |} <!-- ==Standings after the race== {{col-start}} {{col-2}} ;Drivers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! ! Pos ! Driver ! Points |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 15 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- class="sortbottom" !colspan="9"|[ Official driver's standings] |} {{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! ! Pos ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | | style="text-align:center;"| (–) |- class="sortbottom" |}

*'''Note''': Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. {{col-end}}

===NASCAR In-Season Challenge bracket=== {{2026 NASCAR In-Season Tournament Bracket}} -->

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race | Series = NASCAR Cup Series | Monsteryear = 2026 | Previous_race = 2026 Quaker State 400 | Next_race = 2026 Brickyard 400 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Window World 450, 2026}} Category:2026 in sports in North Carolina Category:2026 NASCAR Cup Series Category:July 2026 sports events in the United States Category:NASCAR races at North Wilkesboro Speedway