The NASCAR Cup Series is set to have a points race at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time in 30 years so what do drivers think about that?
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. -- The day is Sept. 29, 1996 -- Bill Clinton was president of the U.S., the "Macarena" was the No. 1 song in the country and the Nintendo 64 finally launched.
That same day, Jeff Gordon brought his iconic Rainbow Warriors DuPont Chevrolet to victory lane with the neon yellow No. 24s adorning the car.
It was the final time a NASCAR Cup Series car would adorn victory lane after a Cup points race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Until this weekend.
After three years of hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race, North Wilkesboro is hosting a NASCAR Cup Series points race for the first time in 30 years.
When Gordon went to victory lane, 11 drivers in this weekend's weren't even born: Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, William Byron, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, Connor Zilisch.
(Yes, you read that right: All of Front Row Motorsports' Cup drivers weren't even born the last time North Wilkesboro hosted a Cup points race.)
While Zilisch wasn't born at the time of the last Cup points race at North Wilkesboro, the rookie has some laps at the track under his belt.
“I've raced late models at North Wilkesboro and I've always enjoyed the history of the place," Zilisch said. "It's going to be a long race. I remember racing 125 laps in my late model and thinking that was a lot so I can only imagine what 450 laps is going to feel like. I’m excited to see what we can do at Wilkesboro. I was pretty good there at the test we had earlier this year and I feel like that will be a help for me to be able to fire off in practice with a little bit of knowledge and experience.”
Tyler Reddick -- who leads the series in wins this season -- was just eight months old.
Meanwhile, Austin Dillon was six years old. He grew up around the lore of the track and understands how the past collides with the present at the track.
“North Wilkesboro Speedway has a ton of history behind it. You feel the nostalgia when you walk into the track. It’s really cool how tight the racing is. The track is probably one of the best repaves that I’ve ever been a part of. We’ve already moved up to the top of both ends, and then you’re also going to see guys digging around the bottom. I think you’re going to see two and three-wide racing there during the long runs. We don’t know what to expect when we really get into a long tire run, but I think it’s going to be an impactful race," Dillon said.
The Window World 450 NASCAR Cup Series race at North Wilkesboro is set to go green Sunday just after 7 p.m. ET on TNT, HBO Max, truTV, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and Performance Racing Network. Practice for the race is set for Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, with qualifying to follow.
