The NASCAR Cup series takes to North Wilkesboro for the first time in nearly 30 years this Sunday for the annual All-Star race and a $1-million prize.

This is a non-points exhibition at the midpoint of the regular season. The races will be the first for NASCAR at North Wilkesboro since 1996.

Practice and qualifying are this afternoon at 3 pm with the all-star pit crew challenge at 4:45. Two Saturday heats are at 6:30 pm and 7:15 pm. 

The all-star open is at 4:30 pm Friday and the all-star race is at 7 pm. 

William Byron avoided a crash six laps from the finish and won in overtime at Darlington last week's throwback race. Byron became the first three-time winner this season but stands just fifth in points, 42 behind non-winning points leader Ross Chastain. 

Christopher Bell is second, 27 points back, followed by Kevin Harvick (-29) and Denny Hamlin (-36). Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, the only other multiple-race winners with two each, are 10th and 11th in points, respectively.

The XFinity series returns Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motorspeedway.

Christian Eckes led 82 of 158 laps and won under caution in double overtime at Darlington as the Craftsman Truck Series returns this week to North Wilkesboro.

The victory was the second for Eckes this season and the third of his career. It ended a five-race slump during which he’d finished no better than 15th. 

Stewart Friesen was second, followed by Tanner Gray, Byron and Carson Hocevar. Corey Heim led four times for 66 laps but finished just eighth. Defending series champion Zane Smith, the only other two-time winner, leads the point standings with Ty Majeski nine points behind and Heim 15 in arrears.

Practice for this week's North Wilkesboro is at 2 pm. Qualifying is tomorrow morning at 9:30 am with the race Saturday at 12:30 pm.