Chase Briscoe captured his maiden victory of the 2026 NASCAR season at Chicagoland Speedway, edging out a field that featured a dramatic opening‑lap collision.
A sell‑out crowd returns to Joliet
The race marked NASCAR’s comeback to Chicagoland Speedway after a seven‑year absence, drawing a packed audience in Joliet, Illinois, and signaling the series’ renewed interest in the Midwest.
Bubba Wallace, driving a Space Jam‑inspired paint scheme, led stage two before finishing sixth, while his teammate Tyler Reddick suffered a radiator issue that dropped him to 36th, costing him 44 points in the Cup Series standings.
Christopher Bell finished second, followed by Denny Hamlin in third, William Byron in fourth and Alex Bowman in fifth, completing a tightly contested top five.
Chaos on the opening lap
Multiple crashes erupted early, including a multi‑car incident involving John Hunter Nemechek and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. that reshaped the running order before the green flag settled.
Fans left the venue upbeat about the track’s future, even as they endured long entry lines, underscoring a hopeful outlook for NASCAR’s presence in the region.