The NASCAR Cup Series will make the trip to one of the most historic short track in NASCAR history. The Cup Series competed in the All-Star Race at North Wilksboro last year, but they have not had a points-paying race at this track in 30 year. North Wilksboro is .625-mile, short track with progressive banking. Most up the drivers say it is like riding a roller coaster because the backstretch goes uphill and then the drivers dive downhill on the front-stretch. There really is not track like North Wilksboro on the schedule. The Window World 450 can be seen Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.
Here are my Fantasy NASCAR picks for the race at EchoPark Speedway this weekend…
DRIVER GROUP GAME
GROUP A: CHRISTOPHER BELL (7): Bell started on the front, led 28 laps and went to Victory Lane at North Wilksboro last year. He also finished 2nd at Phoenix and 7th at Martinsville this year, so Bell has been good on the short tracks. The No. 20 team showed up with some speed again this weekend. Bell was fastest on every speed chart (single-lap, 10-lap, 20-lap and 30-lap) and he starts 3rd. Bell has the car to beat Sunday.
GROUP B: TY GIBBS (4): Gibbs destroyed the field in the Open Race at North Wilksboro last year. He led 153 of the 200 laps. He should be a great pick Sunday night if the No. 54 team can bring that same speed to the track this weekend. Gibbs has been one of the best drivers this year in the short track aero package. He won the race at Bristol and he finished 4th at Phoenix and Martinsville. Gibbs is fast again this weekend. The No. 54 car posted top-10 speed in practice and Gibbs starts 2nd for the race. Gibbs should score well for your Driver Group Game lineup Sunday night.
GROUP B: JOEY LOGANO (6): Logano dominated the All-Star Race at North Wilksboro last year. The No. 22 led 139 of the 250 laps and Logano finished 2nd in the race. The most similar track to North Wilksboro on the 2026 schedule is Martinsville. Logano finished 3rd in the race at Martinsville in March. The No. 22 car has the speed to finish up front Sunday night and be a great pick for your Driver Group Game lineup.
GROUP C: CARSON HOCEVAR (3): Speed has never been a problem for Hocevar and he was fast in the All-Star Race at North Wilksboro last year. He started 21st and finished 11th in the All-Star Race. He posted some of the fastest laps at the end of the race, so he had a good chance to finish in the top-10 if the race was a bit longer. Hocevar wasn’t blazing fast in practice but the No. 77 car starts 4th for the race. I will take a chance with the driver that the fans love and the drivers hate.
SPEEDWAY COLLECTIVE
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