NASCAR's Mid‑Season Milestone at Chicagoland
Sunday’s Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway will mark the start of the second half of the 2026 season, a pivotal stretch that will shape the playoff picture.
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson will lead the field from the front row after a dramatic qualifying session that saw the two championship contenders trade fastest laps.
The event comes after a seven‑year lull for the 1.5‑mile oval, which last hosted a Cup date in 2019 and previously ran NASCAR’s O’Reilly Series from 2001 through 2019.
Since the downtown Chicago street circuit made its debut in 2023, the speedway has been preparing for a resurgence, and this race will be the 19th of the year, kicking off eight remaining events before the regular season concludes.
Eight races remain in the 26‑race schedule, after which the series will head to a series of oval tracks, following two road‑course contests that have already tested the drivers’ versatility.
The starting lineup features a deep field of manufacturers and teams, with heavy representation from powerhouse outfits such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and RFK Racing, as well as a host of mid‑tier programs.
Fans can expect a competitive mix of veteran talent and rising stars, including names like Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace, all of whom are listed among the 34 drivers entered for the event.
With the playoffs looming, each stage at Chicagoland will carry extra weight, and the outcome could reshape the championship narrative heading into the final stretch.