Despite the announcement being made recently, Wilkes County racing fans have been preparing for this announcement for quite a while.

NASCAR has released its schedule for the 2026 season. In that announcement, it was revealed that North Wilkesboro Speedway will make its long-awaited return to the NASCAR Cup Series. The track will host its first points race in 30 years on Sunday,

Dover Motor Speedway will be the site of the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race, the sanctioning body announced Wednesday, providing a unique track on which to showcase the top drivers while keeping the sport’s history at the forefront after a successful three-year run for the event at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

It will be the 0.625-mile track’s first points-paying race since 1996. NASCAR is moving its annual All-Star Race to Dover, opening the door for North Wilkesboro to reclaim a permanent spot on the Cup calendar.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule leaked on Tuesday, and North Wilkesboro is getting a points race. As for the All-Star Race? That’ll head to Dover next season for the first time ever.

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — For the first time in 30 years, North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to host its first NASCAR Cup Series points race. As part of NASCAR's 2026 national schedule release on Wednesday, the governing body announced that the Window World 400 will take place at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Gordon, Earnhardt, Labonte, Martin and Wallace were household names when North Wilkesboro Speedway last hosted a NASCAR Cup Series points race on Sept. 29, 1996, a memorable race won by Jeff Gordon. The names have since changed to Logano,

NASCAR's Ben Kennedy announces North Wilkesboro Speedway's return to the Cup Series 2026 schedule as the All-Star Race shifts to Dover.

The Athletic claims that it has obtained next year's 38-race schedule, complete with a new regular-season race at North Wilkesboro.