North Wilkesboro Speedway is scheduled to host its first NASCAR Cup Series points race in 30 years this Sunday night, but will it actually get to host its first Cup Series points race qualifying session on Saturday?
Rain has made a habit of washing out Cup Series qualifying sessions this season, specifically on the ovals. Four of such sessions have been canceled due to inclement weather already this year.
According to AccuWeather, Saturday's qualifying session at the four-turn, 0.625-mile (1.006-kilometer) North Wilkesboro, North Carolina oval could be next.
There is a 56% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm, with predictions that "storms can bring flooding downpours and localized damaging wind gusts".
Practice is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 6:10 p.m. ET.
In the event that qualifying is canceled, NASCAR would simply use the two-variable metric that is typically used to determine the qualifying order to determine the starting lineup, albeit in reverse.
This formula, which has been used since 2025, factors in each car's rank in the owner standings as well as its finish in the most recent race at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway).
There is also a 65% chance of an afternoon thunderstorm on Sunday, although the race is not scheduled to begin until after 7:00 p.m. ET.
Here is what the starting lineup will look like for Sunday's 450-lap Window World 450 if Saturday's qualifying session is canceled.
North Wilkesboro NASCAR Cup Series lineup if qualifying is canceled
Order | Driver |
|---|---|
1 | Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford |
2 | Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
3 | Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
4 | Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
5 | Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota |
6 | Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
7 | Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
8 | Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
9 | Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford |
10 | Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
11 | Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford |
12 | Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
13 | Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
14 | Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford |
15 | William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
16 | Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
17 | Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
18 | Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford |
19 | John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
20 | Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet |
21 | Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford |
22 | Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
23 | Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford |
24 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet |
25 | Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
26 | Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota |
27 | Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
28 | Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford |
29 | Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford |
30 | Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
31 | Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford |
32 | Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
33 | Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
34 | Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota |
35 | A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
36 | Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet |
37 | Chad Finchum, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford |
Tune in to TNT at 7:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, July 19 for live coverage of the Window World 450 from North Wilkesboro Speedway and don't miss the track's first NASCAR Cup Series points race since 1996!
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