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,

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been advocating for the return of a historic circuit to the NASCAR Cup Series calendar, and the 2026 schedule confirmed his hopes.

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.

Plenty of changes and a few surprises, as NASCAR unveils its 2026 schedules for Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

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.

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

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.

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