Joey Logano race set as Blaney drops to rear at Wilkesboro
Polesitter Ryan Blaney will start Sunday's Window World 450 from the rear at North Wilkesboro Speedway after Team Penske fixed a power steering issue under unapproved adjustments rules. Joey Logano and the Cup field face a 450-lap night race—the first points-paying Cup event at the track since 1996—with green at 7 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Polesitter Ryan Blaney drops to the rear after a power steering fix under unapproved adjustments guidelines.
- Joey Logano called the 450-lap Window World 450 a long night race that should feel cooler than Saturday's Truck event.
- The race is the first points-paying Cup event at North Wilkesboro since 1996 and airs at 7 p.m. ET on TNT Sports.
- Ross Chastain also starts from the rear after failing pre-race inspection three times Saturday.
- Blaney enters third in points, 65 behind Denny Hamlin for the No. 1 Chase seed.
Why is Ryan Blaney starting from the rear?
Polesitter Ryan Blaney told TNT Sports his No. 12 Team Penske car needed a power steering repair before Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro. That work falls under NASCAR's unapproved adjustments guidelines, so he must start last.
A NASCAR spokesperson later confirmed Blaney will drop to the rear before the Window World 450. Coverage is set for TNT Sports, truTV, HBO Max, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Blaney is third in the standings, only 65 points behind Denny Hamlin in the fight for the No. 1 seed in The Chase. Starting last raises the stakes on a historic short-track return covered across Future Tech & AI Wonders for fans tracking the night.
What did Joey Logano say about the long night race?
Joey Logano framed the challenge simply: it is a long race, and a night start should help. He watched Truck Series drivers look worn out after Saturday's hotter afternoon and said cooler evening conditions will matter for Cup crews.
RACER reported the 450-lap distance is the longest Cup race ever at North Wilkesboro. The track last hosted a points race in 1996 at 400 laps; recent All-Star distances were 200 or 250 laps.
William Byron compared the night feel to Richmond—long green-flag runs, heavy braking, and tire management—while Logano argued the car's large brakes should hold up. For more context on the field's prep, see NASCAR.com's report on Blaney's rear start.
Who else starts at the back of the Window World 450?
Ross Chastain will also start from the rear. His No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet failed pre-race inspection three times Saturday, leading to the ejection of car chief David Fero and a pass-through penalty after the green flag.
With 37 cars, the full Cup field is larger than recent North Wilkesboro All-Star grids. Logano noted passing will be hard on a congested track, and Blaney said attrition, brakes, and a new flimsy bumper structure could shape the finish.
Green flies after 7 p.m. ET with temperatures forecast near 85 degrees—cooler than Saturday's 90-plus Truck heat, but still a grind for Joey Logano, Blaney, and the rest of the grid.