NASCAR: Logano shines with dominant win at North Wilkesboro

Credit: Meg Oliphant via Getty Images

Joey Logano snapped a 45-race winless streak at North Wilkesboro, leading 323 of the race's 450 laps on his way to victory.

As it unfolded

Ty Gibbs started on the front row alongside Christopher Bell. Ryan Blaney was slated to start first after qualifying was rained out but was forced to start in the rear after his team made unapproved adjustments to his car.

Gibbs had a good start, quickly separating from the pack and pulling Bell and Carson Hocevar along with him. Erik Jones and Tyler Reddick fought side by side for multiple laps trying to maintain the fourth position while the field settled in.

A caution was thrown on Lap 40 for John Hunter Nemechek, who spun in turn two. During the caution period, Kyle Larson and Connor Zilisch made hard contact on pit road but were able to continue.

Denny Hamlin, on old tyres, and Ty Gibbs led the restart. Shane Van Gisbergen passed Hamlin for the lead with around 30 laps in the Stage 1. Gibbs closed the gap on Van Gisbergen and overtook him on the outside coming to the green-and-white-checkered flag to conclude Stage 1.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

2. No. 97 - Shane Van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

3. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

4. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

6. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

7. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

8. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

9. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

10. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

Credit: David Jensen via Getty Images

Logano and Van Gisbergen controlled the restart after Gibbs was penalised for speeding on pit road under caution. Logano had the early advantage, but he and Van Gisbergen would swap the top spot multiple times. As the stage progressed, Chase Elliott moved up into second place and Hamlin also cracked the top three.

As green flag pit stops were beginning around the Lap 180 mark, a caution came out for a wreck involving Reddick and Alex Bowman as Bowman made a move towards pit road. Most of the leaders came for service under the yellow flag conditions.

Another caution was issued on Lap 199 when Josh Berry spun into the wall after contact with Bell.

Logano, Hamlin, Hocevar, Briscoe and Van Gisbergen continued their tenures atop the running order throughout Stage 2. Bubba Wallace marched through the top 10, ultimately settling into fourth. Logano drove to his first stage win of 2026.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

2. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

5. No. 97 - Shane Van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

6. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

7. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

8. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

9. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

10. No. 7 - Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports)

Credit: Meg Oliphant via Getty Images

Logano and Hamlin were the first off pit road and led the field back to green. Ty Gibbs inched his way back into the top 10, batting for eighth as the race hit Lap 300. Ryan Blaney moved into fourth over the course of the long green flag run, and Todd Gilliland, still competing in the NASCAR In-Season Challenge, held strong in ninth with about 100 laps remaining.

Hamlin kicked off green flag pit stops on Lap 360, prompting Logano to do the same. Following the pit cycle, Logano and Hamlin continued to run first and second. As green flag conditions persisted into the final 30 laps, Briscoe, Van Gisbergen, Gibbs and Wallace were the only other cars on the lead lap. All the lapped traffic slowed Logano's pace, allowing Hamlin to close in, but Logano was not to be denied, storming to his first win since Texas in May 2025.

Drivers advancing to the Finals at Indianapolis are Todd Gilliland and Ryan Blaney. Whichever driver finishes ahead of their opponent next week will win $1,000,000 USD.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

2. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 97 - Shane Van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

6. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

7. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing) [+1 Lap]

8. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) [+1 Lap]

9. No. 7 - Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports) [+1 Lap]

10. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing) [+1 Lap]

11. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) [+2 Laps]

12. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) [+2 Laps]

13. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) [+2 Laps]

14. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske) [+2 Laps]

15. No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) [+2 Laps]

16. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing) [+2 Laps]

17. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) [+3 Laps]

18. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing) [+3 Laps]

19. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) [+3 Laps]

20. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing) [+3 Laps]

21. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club) [+3 Laps]

22. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) [+3 Laps]

23. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing) [+4 Laps]

24. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports) [+4 Laps]

25. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) [+4 Laps]

26. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) [+4 Laps]

27. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) [+4 Laps]

28. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team) [+4 Laps]

29. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing) [+4 Laps]

30. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) [+5 Laps]

31. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club) [+5 Laps]

32. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (Trackhouse Racing) [+7 Laps]

33. No. 33 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) [+8 Laps]

34. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports) [+8 Laps]

35. No. 66 - Chad Finchum (Garage 66) [DNF]

36. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 16 - A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]