NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports arrives at North Wilkesboro Speedway this weekend with momentum, history and a strong chance to add another victory to its storied NASCAR résumé as the Cup Series returns to the historic short track for its first points-paying race since 1996.

The organization enters Sunday’s Window World 450 as one of the clear favorites at the revitalized 0.625-mile oval, a track where Hendrick Motorsports has enjoyed success both before and after North Wilkesboro’s recent revival.

Hendrick won the final two points-paying Cup races held at the facility before it left the NASCAR schedule, with Terry Labonte capturing the spring race and Jeff Gordon winning the fall event in 1996. Since the speedway returned as the host of the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023 through 2025, Kyle Larson added another victory by dominating the inaugural event in 2023, leading 145 laps.

Now, the organization will look to carry its recent short-track success into a race that counts toward the championship standings.

Larson enters the weekend seeking his first victory of the season while making his 200th NASCAR Cup Series start with Hendrick Motorsports. The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet has proven exceptionally strong at North Wilkesboro, winning both the 2023 All-Star Race and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the track.

Larson believes the track’s distinctive layout makes it one of the best venues on the schedule.

“I really believe it’s probably the best short track we have on our schedule,” Larson said. “It’s a cool track with a lot of history, and I’m just excited that it’s on the schedule. It was great when it was just the All-Star Race, but now to have a points-paying race at North Wilkesboro is pretty amazing.”

The Elk Grove, California, native enters the weekend sixth in the Cup standings and boasts the best average starting position in the series this season at 8.25.

Chase Elliott also arrives as a contender after enjoying consistent success on short tracks in recent years. Elliott has recorded top-10 finishes in all three All-Star Race appearances at North Wilkesboro and scored a victory at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season.

The 2020 Cup Series champion welcomes North Wilkesboro’s return to the schedule.

“It’s a great stop on our schedule,” Elliott said. “Really, really happy to have it back. Happy to see a racetrack saved that was likely going away. Great environment, great vibe.”

Elliott enters Sunday’s event fifth in the championship standings and remains alive in NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge tournament.

William Byron could also emerge as a major factor. The driver of the No. 24 All-Pro Chevrolet has established himself as one of the sport’s top short-track racers during the Next Gen era, winning four races on tracks measuring one mile or less.

While Sunday’s event will mark Byron’s first points-paying Cup start at North Wilkesboro, he believes recent performances have positioned the team for a strong weekend.

“It will be interesting to see how this weekend’s race will play out,” Byron said. “The last three years this has been the All-Star Race, so we’ve had different formats that dictate strategy. I feel like our performance has improved the last few weeks, so I’m optimistic.”

Alex Bowman rounds out the organization’s Cup lineup and enters the weekend after scoring two top-10 finishes in the last three races. Bowman finished fourth in last year’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro and sixth in the 2024 All-Star Open.

“North Wilkesboro has a lot of history, which always makes it an exciting track to go to,” Bowman said. “This year, with it being a points race, it’s a little different than it was as the All-Star Race.”

Collectively, Hendrick Motorsports has won four of the last seven Cup Series races contested on short tracks. The organization also remains NASCAR’s all-time leader in victories, poles, top-five finishes, top-10 finishes, laps led and championships.