Logano wins first NASCAR Cup race of season at North Wilkesboro

Joey Logano held off Denny Hamlin to win his first NASCAR Cup Series race of the season Sunday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the first points race there in 30 years. The 36-year-old driver took the lead during Stage 2 and led 323 of 450 laps in a race with five cautions. Logano finished ahead of Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs and Shane Van Gisbergen.

details Logano's victory was his 38th in the Cup Series and ended a drought that dated to May 2025 at Texas Motor Speedway. The win moved him into playoff contention after he entered the race outside the top 16. Hamlin said after the race that Logano's performance through traffic was impressive.

" The 0.625-mile track, built in 1947, had not hosted a points race since Sept. 29, 1996. Speedway Motorsports cleared vegetation and refurbished the facility before returning it to the schedule.

Gilliland advanced to the finals of the $1 million NASCAR In-Season Challenge. Blaney defeated Christopher Bell in the semifinals, while Gilliland eliminated Chase Elliott. The champion will be decided next Sunday at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, with the higher-finishing driver receiving the prize.

incidents Tyler Reddick was involved in an incident on lap 184 when Alex Bowman cut him off entering pit road. Blaney, who won the previous week at Atlanta, started from the rear after a power-steering issue and later received a speeding penalty that dropped him 15 positions.