The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, on Sunday, July 5, for the eero 400, a 400‑mile event that marks a key stop on the 2026 schedule.
Denny Hamlin secured the pole position with a blistering lap of 30.296 seconds, edging out Kyle Larson by a mere 0.001 seconds and claiming his fourth pole of the season and his 52nd career pole.
The tight qualifying battle underscored the competitiveness of the field, with Larson to start just outside Hamlin on the front row, while Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski and Ty Gibbs rounded out the top five.
The race will consist of 267 laps on the 1.5‑mile oval, translating to a total distance of 400.5 miles, and will be divided into three stages — 80 laps, 85 laps and a final 102‑lap sprint.
Stage breaks will offer drivers a chance to earn valuable stage points, adding a strategic layer to the endurance test that will unfold over roughly three hours of action.
Hamlin’s Milestone
Hamlin’s 52nd career pole moves him to ninth on the all‑time NASCAR Cup Series list, a milestone that highlights his consistency and places him among the sport’s legends.
The starting grid features a blend of teams and manufacturers, including Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, RFK Racing and 23XI Racing, with drivers representing Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford.
Fans can expect a dynamic race as the stage structure rewards early aggression while still demanding durability for the final stretch.