Logano dominates at North Wilkesboro

Three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano came into the first NASCAR Cup series points race in 30 years at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway looking to break out of his 45-race winless slump.

>When the checkered flag waved over Logano’s winning No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang in Sunday’s Window World 450, the cheering sold out crowd had witnessed an old-fashioned “butt whippin” as Logano lapped all but five cars. He led a career record of 323 laps to earn his first victory of 2026 and 38th NASCAR Cup series win.

>Logano started his amazing charge through the field from 11th place. By the end of the first stage, the Connecticut native was in third place just behind stage winner Ty Gibbs. Logano seized the lead in the second stage and never looked back.

>With the renewed skills of a three-time NASCAR champion, Logano slashed his fast No.22 Shell-Pennzoil Mustang through the field, easily winning the second stage of the 450-lap race and lapping most of the 36-car field.

>When the green flag waved starting the third and final stage, Logano was briefly challenged by NASCAR Cup points leader Denny Hamlin.

>Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing machine had good short-run speed compared to Logano’s car which had superior long-run speed. So, the 45-year-old Virginia native knew if he was going to challenge Logano’s fast Mustang, it had to be early in the stage.

>Hamlin got to within a few feet of Logano’s rear bumper, but as the run went on Logano’s better long-run speed combined with his uncanny ability to slice through traffic helped him pull away from the brief challenge of Hamlin to win by about 10 car lengths at the checkered flag.

>After an incredible victory burnout making several “doughnuts” on the starting line, Logano continued the smoky burnout completely around the track, picking up his son Hudson to complete to burnout back to the cheering crowd at starting line.

>An elated Logano commented on his huge win, “A win anywhere at this point would have sounded great. But coming here to North Wilkesboro is awesome. What a great car…Paul Wolfe (crew chief) what a great car he put together for us today. Just able to execute a smooth race, everyone on pit road did a good job, the engine of Roush-Yates was good. It feels good to get back in victory lane again, it’s been a tough year. Getting the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang doing some big smoky doughnuts around this place felt really good. This is a special place.”

>Logano’s huge win and points earned pushed him into 15th place in the points standings now 49 points ahead of the of cutline to qualify for the 2026 Chase to the NASCAR Cup Series championship with five races remaining before the start of the playoffs.

>Finishing behind winner Logano and second-place Hamlin was Chase Briscoe in third, with Shane Van Gisbergen and Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five.

>The NASCAR teams head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next weekend’s annual Brickyard 400 on the World’s Most Famous Racetrack.