Thirty years. That’s how long it had been since NASCAR’s Cup Series ran a points-paying race at North Wilkesboro Speedway — September 1996, back when Jeff Gordon was the man collecting trophies there. The old five-eighths-mile oval in the North Carolina hills got its official rebirth Sunday night, and Joey Logano made sure everybody remembered who was running the show.
Logano led 323 of 400 laps in the Window World 450 — a career single-race high — and ended a 45-race winless streak that stretched all the way back to May 4, 2025, at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 22 Team Penske Ford started 10th, methodically worked to the front during Stage 2, and then never gave it back. When the checkered flag dropped, only six cars were on the lead lap.
“What a great car,” Logano said after climbing out. “Paul Wolfe, what a great car he’s put together for us today. Just was able to execute a smooth race. Everyone on pit road did a great job. Just feels good to be back in victory lane. It’s been a tough year.”
He added a line that any father who’s spent too many Saturdays at the track would understand: “Dad’s going to be home a little late.”
The win was the 38th of Logano’s Cup Series career and his 70th across NASCAR’s top three national touring circuits, putting him in sole possession of 23rd on the all-time Cup wins list — one behind Hall of Famers Matt Kenseth and Tim Flock. More immediately, it mattered for the standings. Logano arrived at North Wilkesboro sitting 17th, one spot below the Chase cutline. The victory, combined with stage points, vaulted him to 15th and dropped Erik Jones below the top-16 cutoff.
“I knew coming this weekend we’ve got to capitalize on the points,” Logano said. “A win is great, but we really need the points. So really capitalized on those tonight.”
Denny Hamlin finished second and didn’t pretend his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota had enough for the No. 22. “You just got to compliment him on a great day and a great drive,” Hamlin said. “They were really good. There was a lot of times that I felt like my car was kind of close to where it needed to be and just a smidge off.”
Chase Briscoe took third in another JGR Toyota, followed by Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen. Bubba Wallace, Brad Keselowski, Todd Gilliland, Daniel Suarez, and Ryan Preece rounded out the top 10.
Gibbs won Stage 1 but got flagged for speeding exiting pit road to start Stage 2, sending him to the rear. He battled back to fourth. Ryan Blaney had the pole after rain washed out qualifying, but he started in the back for unapproved power-steering adjustments, clawed his way to third, then got tagged for speeding on pit road in Stage 3 and settled for 11th.
Josh Berry’s night ended on lap 199 when Christopher Bell got loose and knocked Berry’s No. 21 Ford into the outside wall. AJ Allmendinger retired with a broken toe link. Neither finished.
Van Gisbergen, who briefly led and traded the front spot with Logano early in Stage 2, radioed his crew during a pit stop that he was starting to cramp and requested two water bottles and “something with sugar.” He still finished fifth. “Just hot, man,” he said afterward. “Just soaked the whole time.”
The In-Season Challenge semifinals also played out Sunday. Todd Gilliland, the 25-seed, knocked off 4-seed Chase Elliott with an eighth-place finish to Elliott’s 17th. Ryan Blaney advanced past Christopher Bell. Gilliland and Blaney will race for the $1 million prize next weekend at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the final event on TNT’s broadcast slate this year, green flag at 2 p.m. ET.
Five races remain in the regular season. Hamlin still sits atop the points standings. And Logano, after 14 months of searching, finally found the speed that made him a three-time champion. The film doesn’t lie — 323 laps out front tells you everything you need to know.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — Logano Ends 14-Month Drought With Dominant North Wilkesboro Victory
- Yahoo Sports — Logano Wins NASCAR at North Wilkesboro, Ending 45-Race Winless Streak
- Yahoo Sports — NASCAR Results for North Wilkesboro Race, Full Finishing Order
- Yahoo Sports — NASCAR In-Season Tournament Results for Semifinals
- Yahoo Sports — What Cup Drivers Said at North Wilkesboro After Win by Logano