Denny Hamlin in favor of North Wilkesboro returning to NASCAR Cup schedule

Denny Hamlin, the 2026 NASCAR Cup points leader, wants the circuit to return in 2027 to historic North Wilkesboro, where he finished runner-up to Joey Logano on July 19 in the Window World 450.

The North Wilkesboro short track returned to the Cup Series when it hosted three All-Star races from 2023 to 2025. The July 19 race was the first points race at North Wilkesboro since 1996. The 2027 Cup schedule has not been released.

Hamlin, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, said on his podcast “Actions Detrimental” recently that he was in favor of keeping North Wilkesboro on the schedule, but remains unsure in what capacity.

<1 / 46

<2 / 46

<3 / 46

<4 / 46

<5 / 46

<6 / 46

<7 / 46

<8 / 46

<9 / 46

<10 / 46

<11 / 46

<12 / 46

<13 / 46

<14 / 46

<15 / 46

<16 / 46

<17 / 46

<18 / 46

<19 / 46

<20 / 46

<21 / 46

<22 / 46

<23 / 46

<24 / 46

<25 / 46

<26 / 46

<27 / 46

<28 / 46

<29 / 46

<30 / 46

<31 / 46

<32 / 46

<33 / 46

<34 / 46

<35 / 46

<36 / 46

<37 / 46

<38 / 46

<39 / 46

<40 / 46

<41 / 46

<42 / 46

<43 / 46

<44 / 46

<45 / 46

<46 / 46

“I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, I’m for a race at North Wilkesboro, how about that? That’s where I’ll stand on it.”

He compared the 0.625-mile oval at North Wilkesboro to the 0.5-mile short track at Bristol.

“It’s a racey track,” Hamlin said. “It reminds me a lot of Bristol. When they changed Bristol from its one-groove track, and then they re-concreted it, put variable banking, they ground it, next thing you know, we were racing all around Bristol from the bottom to the top. I can tell you from a competitor standpoint, we were like, ‘This is freaking awesome.’ Every lane runs the same speed, so if you’re faster, you just go to a different lane.”

With only five races remaining in the 2026 regular season, Hamlin made his predictions for which 16 drivers will get into the 10-race Chase. The 13th through 16th in the point standings are Bubba Wallace, Shane van Gisbergen, Logano and Austin Cindric.

Hamlin had expected Ross Chastain to get in, but Chastain’s 27th-place finish at North Wilkesboro changed that. Chastain dropped to 21st in the point standings.

“I’m officially off the Ross Chastain (train),” Hamlin said. “I just keep thinking that there’s enough there, but there’s just not. Not enough time, not enough car, just not going to make it.”

Hamlin also ruled out Michael McDowell, who is currently 20th in the point standings, adding that McDowell’s team has underperformed in 2026. He also ruled out Brad Keselowski, who is at 19th.

“With the tracks that are left, I’m going to say the field (as it is) is the field,” Hamlin said. “That’s just off of performance. If someone goes and blows a motor, wrecks, that changes everything. And that will happen. But I just think these guys are just separating themselves, and these guys (outside the bubble) can’t catch them.”

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MIkeOrganWriter.