The NASCAR Cup Series rulebook, not speeds on track, will set the starting lineup for Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. While Mother Nature intervened with on-track action on Saturday evening, the weather did clear out, which forced NASCAR to make a decision. Ultimately, NASCAR chose to favor a practice session over qualifying for Sunday’s race.
As a result of the weather forcing the cancellation of qualifying, Ryan Blaney, last week’s race winner, will lead the field to green in Sunday night’s NASCAR Cup Series Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Ty Gibbs will join Blaney on the front row for Sunday’s race.
Christopher Bell, Carson Hocevar, and Tyler Reddick will round out the top-five drivers in the starting grid.
While qualifying was canceled, that didn’t stop drama from unfolding prior to Saturday evening’s NASCAR Cup Series practice session, as three teams ran into a snag in pre-race inspection at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team failed pre-race inspection three times and, as a result, will suffer the toughest penalties of the group.
Chastain has lost pit selection, will drop to the rear prior to the green flag of Sunday’s Window World 450, and he will be forced to perform a pass-thru penalty after taking the green flag in the race. Additionally, David Fero, the car chief for the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing team has been ejected for the remainder of the race weekend.
Chastain was slated to start the race from the 13th position.
In addition to Chastain’s No. 1 car’s issues, Austin Hill’s No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, and Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet also failed pre-race inspection twice.
As a result of the double inspection failures, both teams will be without their car chiefs (No. 33: Michael Alexander Jr. and No. 88: Eddie D’Hondt Jr.) for the remainder of the race weekend, and both teams have lost their pit selection for Sunday’s race.
