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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 Long John Silver’s Ford, and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Body Guard Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Cup Series will take a key step toward the 2026 season this week with an organizational test at North Wilkesboro Speedway<\/a>.<\/p>\n The one-day test is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13. This will serve as the first major on-track evaluation of NASCAR\u2019s updated 750-horsepower rules package. According to Zack Albert of NASCAR.com<\/a>, one team from each chartered Cup Series organization will participate as the sport prepares for North Wilkesboro\u2019s return to the points-paying schedule.<\/p>\n NASCAR officials plan to use the test to gather data, review competition goals, and allow teams to fine-tune setups ahead of the regular-season event.<\/p>\n NASCAR evaluates 750-horsepower short-track package<\/p>\n NASCAR confirmed the test will focus on the new 750-horsepower rules package for tracks shorter than 1.5 miles. The package increases baseline horsepower from 670 and uses an aerodynamic configuration first introduced on short tracks in 2024.<\/p>\n That setup includes three-inch rear spoilers and fewer strakes on the rear diffuser. NASCAR implemented the changes to reduce downforce and improve racing quality on short tracks.<\/p>\n Teams will spend the day running extended sessions to evaluate tire wear, braking zones, and overall car balance. NASCAR scheduled the test session from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n As noted by Albert<\/a>, the session represents the first full rehearsal of the 750-horsepower<\/a> package ahead of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Why NASCAR targeted 750 horsepower for short tracks<\/p>\n The North Wilkesboro test reflects a broader direction NASCAR set in motion last year. Competition officials selected 750 horsepower for short tracks and road courses in 2026 after sustained feedback from drivers, teams, manufacturers, and fans.<\/p>\n Steve O\u2019Donnell said the decision required balance. John Probst<\/a> added that early tests like North Wilkesboro are important to confirm durability, performance, and competition goals before the package is expanded further across the schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cThat gives us an opportunity to sample some of the short tracks, road courses early in the season, get a look at the engines after we\u2019ve raced them at the new power level, Probst said. \u00a0It is a package. It\u2019s the downforce, it\u2019s the drag, it\u2019s the power, it\u2019s the tire wear, all together that\u2019s creating those good shows, he added. \u201d<\/p>\n North Wilkesboro prepares for Cup Series return<\/p>\n North Wilkesboro Speedway is a 0.625-mile oval. It last hosted a points-paying Cup Series race in 1996. After years of inactivity, renovation efforts helped return the facility to the NASCAR calendar.<\/p>\n The speedway has hosted the All-Star Race for the past three seasons. Its return to the regular-season schedule will come with the Window World 450 on July 19 at 7 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n TNT Sports will carry the television broadcast, with radio coverage provided by PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio<\/a>. The race will also stream on HBO Max.<\/p>\n NASCAR will open the grandstands for Tuesday\u2019s test from noon to 5 p.m. ET with free admission.<\/p>\n Drivers and teams scheduled to participate<\/p>\n Each chartered Cup Series organization will field one car in the test, with Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota teams all represented.<\/p>\n The expected driver list includes Ross Chastain<\/a>, Daniel Su\u00e1rez, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott<\/a>, AJ Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Joey Logano, Zane Smith, Cole Custer, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Cody Ware.<\/p>\n Teams will leave North Wilkesboro with data that will shape preparation not only for the July race but for other short-track events on the 2026 schedule.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDogli Wilberforce<\/a> is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on NASCAR\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 02: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 Long John Silver’s Ford, and Chris…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":366985,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,634,82],"class_list":["post-403907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nascar","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/366985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}