NASCAR’s long‑awaited return to Illinois
After a four‑year hiatus, the Cup Series roars back to Chicagoland Speedway, with Hamlin on pole, Larson close behind, and a full 38‑car field ready for Sunday’s race.
Jul 4, 2026
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Connor Zilisch
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Connor Zilisch across Nascar.
Hamlin Takes Pole as NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland Speedway
Denny Hamlin secured the pole with a 30.296‑second lap, averaging 178.241 mph, while Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher followed in the top three.
Jul 4, 2026
Chevrolet Eyes Ninth Straight Win at Chicagoland
The upcoming O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Chicagoland Speedway will feature a pole‑sitting Connor Zilisch and a lineup packed with Chevrolet-powered entries, while Toyota looks to break its winless streak.
Jul 4, 2026
Jesse Love leads practice at Chicagoland Speedway ahead of NASCAR O’Reilly Series race
Jesse Love posted the fastest lap at 31.118 seconds, averaging 173.533 mph, with Jeb Burton and Justin Allgaier close behind.
Jul 4, 2026
Connor Zilisch grabs pole for 2026 Cuervo 300 amid weather‑delayed qualifying
Rain‑soaked Friday at Chicagoland Speedway saw the pole position awarded to Connor Zilisch, with Brent Crews alongside, while a metric‑based system determined the rest of the grid, relegating several top contenders to 20th place or worse.
Jul 4, 2026
Zilisch Takes Pole as JR Motorsports Sets Chicagoland Starting Lineup
Connor Zilisch will lead the field for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Series event after qualifying was scrapped, with Brent Crews alongside him on the front row.
Jul 4, 2026
NASCAR Qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway Introduces 2025 Metric Ahead of Chicago 400 Broadcast
A new 2025 qualifying metric sets the lineup for Sunday’s 267‑lap race at Chicagoland Speedway, with new non‑chartered entries and a live TNT broadcast.
Jul 4, 2026
Rain Forces NASCAR to Reorder Chicagoland Starting Grid
NASCAR called off Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway due to thunderstorms, opting for a brief practice session. Should Cup qualifying also be canceled, the starting order for Sunday's 38‑car eero 400 will be determined by reversing the metric scores, giving Ty Gibbs the pole and J.J. Yeley the last spot. The race will air live on TNT at 6 p.m. ET.
Jul 4, 2026
Hamlin Leads NASCAR Cup as Analysts Size Up Chicago Challenge
Denny Hamlin’s recent surge to the top of the standings, driven by solid performances and Tyler Reddick’s misfortune, sets the stage for a deep dive into the upcoming Chicago race, where tire dynamics and rivalries could reshape the playoff picture.
Jul 4, 2026
Connor Zilisch Secures Pole as Rain Delays Chicagoland NASCAR Action
Connor Zilisch will lead the field for the Cuervo 300 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Chicagoland Speedway on July 4, after rain forced NASCAR to set the lineup via its metric system. The 200‑lap, 300‑mile race will air on the CW Network and stream on FUBO, while notable drivers such as Chase Elliott line up 11th.
Jul 4, 2026
NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland Speedway for Independence Day Cuervo 300
The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Joliet, Illinois, for a 300‑mile showdown on July 4, featuring Justin Allgaier, Chase Elliott, Cole Custer and Connor Zilisch.
Jul 4, 2026
Hamlin Leads Odds as NASCAR Revives Oval Racing at Chicagoland
Denny Hamlin tops the betting board at +300, with Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson close behind, while veteran Brad Keselowski eyes a historic win.
Jul 4, 2026
NASCAR O’Reilly Series Returns to Chicagoland in 2026
NASCAR’s O'Reilly Series is scheduled to race at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2026, marking the series’ 20th event of the year and its first appearance at the Illinois track since 2019.
Jul 4, 2026
Rain Forces NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to Redefine Chicagoland Starting Grid
A sudden rainstorm cancels practice at Chicagoland Speedway, reshaping the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starting order and giving emerging drivers a chance to shine.
Jul 4, 2026
Toyota’s Practice Dominance at Chicagoland Ahead of eero 400
Ahead of the eero 400, practice at Chicagoland Speedway revealed a dominant Toyota performance, with Riley Herbst topping the times and a cluster of championship contenders jostling for pole position.
Jul 4, 2026
Storm Forces NASCAR to Reschedule Practice and Cancel Qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway
A severe storm in Joliet, Illinois, has disrupted NASCAR's return to Chicagoland Speedway, moving practice to Saturday and scrapping qualifying. The starting lineup will be set by the NASCAR rulebook, while ARCA and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series events face similar weather risks.
Jul 4, 2026
Storm Cancels ARCA Qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway, Moves NASCAR Practice to Saturday
A severe thunderstorm at Chicagoland Speedway called off ARCA qualifying, prompting NASCAR to shift practice to Saturday and set the starting order by metric, while the race is slated for a 5:35 p.m. ET green flag on The CW.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR Cup Series Returns to Chicagoland Speedway for Practice Ahead of Sunday Race
NASCAR drivers took to Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, marking their first practice session since 2019. Riley Herbst set the fastest lap while Erik Jones was forced to exit with damage.
Jul 3, 2026
Denny Hamlin Eyes Championship in Final Stretch, Citing Playoff Evolution
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into its penultimate race, Denny Hamlin discusses how the new playoff format reshapes his championship outlook, citing past near‑misses and a current two‑point lead over Tyler Reddick.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR O’Reilly Series Faces Weather Delay at Chicagoland Speedway
NASCAR’s O’Reilly Series will run at Chicagoland Speedway tomorrow, but inclement weather has pushed practice to Saturday and eliminated qualifying, setting the grid by rule and giving Connor Zilisch the pole.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR Revives Chicagoland Speedway for 2026 eero 400
After a seven‑year absence, NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway with a streamlined qualifying system that promises a fresh competitive dynamic for the 2026 eero 400.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR O’Reilly Series Returns to Chicagoland Speedway in 2026
The 2026 season will feature a unique qualifying format at Chicagoland Speedway, where a single flying lap determines the starting lineup for the Cuervo 300.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR O’Reilly Series Returns to Chicagoland for Cuervo 300 in July 2026
The NASCAR O'Reilly Series will headline the Cuervo 300 at Chicagoland Speedway this July, marking the series' first 1.5‑mile race since the May 2026 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With early betting lines already released, drivers such as Justin Allgaier and Connor Zilisch are listed as favorites.
Jul 3, 2026
NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland Speedway in July 2026 with a New Qualifying Format
After a seven‑year hiatus, the NASCAR Cup Series will race at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2026. The event will use a streamlined qualifying system where each driver completes one lap to determine the starting order for the eero 400.
Jul 3, 2026