The 2026 NASCAR eero 400 is set to light up Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday evening, with the green flag scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern Time. The 400‑mile event will bring together the sport’s elite drivers in a battle that promises high stakes and dramatic on‑track maneuvering.
Among the contenders, Denny Hamlin stands out as the +380 favorite to capture the checkered flag. The veteran pilot has already collected five victories this season, highlighted by his recent win in the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono on June 14. Hamlin’s performance has been anchored by Joe Gibbs Racing, the current +125 team favorite.
Expert Predictions
Close behind Hamlin, the odds board features a cluster of strong challengers. Tyler Reddick sits at +430, Kyle Larson at +600, Christopher Bell at +900, while Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are listed at +1000 and +1100 respectively. Alex Bowman, the 2019 Chicagoland winner, is also mentioned as a potential dark horse.
Betting enthusiasts will find a wealth of options on platforms such as FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings, where the race is priced as a head‑to‑head matchup. Analysts Phil Bobbitt and Steve Greco, whose predictive engine has delivered a 25.7 percent return on investment in 2024, predict Chris Buescher to edge out Bell in a matchup priced at +150 on DraftKings.
Bobbitt and Greco have built a reputation for turning longshots into cash, having correctly called Daniel Suarez at +3500 in Atlanta and Ross Chastain at +3000 in the Hollywood Casino 400. Their 2024 season yielded 47.18 units of profit across all racing articles, and early 2025 calls included William Byron at +2300 and Kyle Larson at +450.
The upcoming race not only offers a substantial prize pool but also the chance for bettors to capitalize on the duo’s proven model, which has amassed over $28,000 in hypothetical returns from $100 stakes over the past four years. As the excitement builds, all eyes will be on Chicagoland Speedway to see whether Hamlin can convert his favorite status into a victory.