Chase Briscoe captured his first victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season at Chicagoland Speedway, sealing the win with a celebratory burnout that sent a plume of smoke over the track.
A Rain‑Soaked Return to Chicagoland
Christopher Bell chased him down to finish second, marking his fourth runner‑up result of the year, while Denny Hamlin, who started from pole position, held on for third. The top five was completed by William Byron and Alex Bowman.
The event marked NASCAR’s comeback to the Illinois venue after a three‑year hiatus, but the race was far from smooth. Rain showers forced a delay, and teams wrestled with a crowded infield that created parking headaches for fans and staff alike. Despite the conditions, Toyota emerged as the dominant manufacturer, with seven of the ten leading cars bearing its branding.
Tyler Reddick’s championship aspirations took a hit when an oil leak forced him out of contention, finishing 36th, while Kyle Larson spun out of Turn 4 on lap 93, relegating him to 34th. Bubba Wallace managed a sixth‑place finish in his No. 23 Toyota Camry, and Ryan Blaney continued his streak with a seventh straight top‑10 result.
The final stretch saw Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim and Riley Herbst round out the top ten, capping a weekend that blended on‑track action with the logistical challenges of a rain‑soaked event.