NASCAR is set to make its long‑awaited comeback at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, this July, bringing the eero 400 to the 1.5‑mile oval for the first time since 2019.
A Return After Seven Years
The race will unfold on Sunday, July 5, at 5:19 p.m. Central Time, with practice sessions scheduled for the preceding Friday and a full qualifying run on Saturday. Thirty‑nine drivers are slated to take the green flag, among them part‑timers Austin Hill, Corey Heim, J.J. Yeley and Josh Bilicki, who join the regular roster.
The track’s worn‑out surface and the seven‑year hiatus add an extra layer of unpredictability, forcing teams to adapt quickly to a layout that has not hosted a Cup Series event in recent memory.
Among the drivers generating the most buzz are Denny Hamlin, who tops the points standings and has been the quickest competitor on similar tracks throughout the season, and Kyle Larson, a former runner‑up at Chicagoland in 2018 and 2019 who returns to a circuit he once dominated.
Ryan Blaney also enters the weekend with a series‑best 13 top‑10 finishes in 2026 and four previous starts at the venue, while Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell are expected to mount serious challenges for the win.
The event forms part of the NASCAR In‑Season Challenge, a bracket‑style format that pits drivers against one another in head‑to‑head matchups, with advancement determined by race results rather than points alone.
Historical notes add extra intrigue: Brad Keselowski remains the only multi‑time winner at Chicagoland, having captured victories in 2012 and 2014, while Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman each hold a solitary triumph at the track. Seventeen of the 39 entries have never contested a Cup Series race there, underscoring the fresh storylines that will unfold.
What’s at Stake
Beyond the trophy, the race offers teams a chance to fine‑tune strategies for the latter half of the season and to earn valuable momentum heading into the playoffs. For many of the younger drivers, a strong showing could cement their place in the competitive NASCAR landscape.