Denny Hamlin claimed pole position for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, securing his 52nd career pole and the fourth of the 2026 season.
A Close Battle for the Front Row
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports came within a thousandth of a second of Hamlin’s lap, lining up second on the grid. The RFK Racing duo of Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski will start third and fourth, rounding out a competitive front row.
The qualifying session was shaped by shifting weather, with temperatures dropping and the track cooling, allowing speeds to climb. Michael McDowell encountered inspection issues, while Cody Ware spun into the wall at the exit of Turn 2, ending his attempt.
Hamlin said the favorable track conditions and perfect timing of his final run gave him the edge, and he now heads into the race as the championship leader, holding a one‑point advantage over Tyler Reddick.
With the grid set, attention turns to how the drivers will navigate the 1.5‑mile oval under the late‑afternoon sun, as teams look to translate qualifying pace into race‑day performance.