A historic comeback
NASCAR is set to race at Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019, marking the return of the storied 1.5‑mile venue to the Cup Series schedule after a seven‑year absence.
Drivers are treating the weekend as a learning experience, with Chase Briscoe noting that the track feels like an entirely new racetrack that demands fresh lines and braking points.
Austin Dillon likens the venue’s character to historic tracks such as Homestead and Darlington, emphasizing its unique blend of speed and handling challenges.
Testing in April saw Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson take to the asphalt, giving teams valuable data on tire behavior and car setup.
The Next Gen car, introduced in 2022, has shown mixed compatibility with the rough, bumpy surface of Chicagoland, prompting comments from Brad Keselowski that the car‑versus‑track combination could produce exciting racing.
Bubba Wallace will honor the 30th anniversary of the film Space Jam by piloting a themed car, and he recently attended a tribute event at Navy Pier that celebrated the movie’s legacy.
Christopher Bell is nursing a broken left wrist, wearing a splint instead of a cast, yet he managed a fifth‑place finish at Sonoma last weekend, underscoring his resilience.
Carson Hocevar, entering his 100th Cup Series start, captured his first victory at Talladega on April 26, a milestone that adds momentum to his rookie campaign.
Alex Bowman, who scored his first Cup win at Chicagoland in 2019 and repeated the feat on the downtown street course earlier this year, now joins an elite group of just 14 drivers to win on a 1.5‑mile track during the Next Gen era.