Chicagoland Speedway hosts NASCAR Cup Series under NextGen cars
Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 4, 2026, 10:53 PM
Last updated Jul 4, 2026
Chicagoland Speedway is hosting a NASCAR Cup Series event tonight, marking its return after a hiatus since 2019. The track has undergone significant changes in how it interacts with the NextGen car platform, leading to uncertainties about race dynamics. Since this iteration of NASCAR has shifted significantly, teams are eager to assess performance in this potentially challenging environment. Race officials and teams are focused on adapting strategies for the unique characteristics of the new surface and layout.
- •Chicagoland Speedway last hosted a NASCAR race in 2019.
- •The NextGen car represents a major departure from previous models.
- •Teams are adjusting strategies for the new track layout.
- •Race officials are preparing for potential challenges with the track's surface.
- 10:53 PMMotorsport.com — Chicagoland is a new, very jumpy race track for NASCAR NextGen cars
- 10:53 PMYahoo Sports — Chicagoland is a new, very jumpy race track for NASCAR NextGen cars
"For all intents and purposes, Chicagoland Speedway is a new racetrack for this iteration of the NASCAR Cup Series and it’s very much an open question about how it will race on Sunday night. It’s a new track, not because of how much it has aged since its last race weekend in 2019, but because the NextGen car is such a radically different platform compared to those that came before ...Keep reading
"The big jump has been compared to the 'ramp' at San Diego two weeks ago
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comJul 4, 2026, 10:53 PMChicagoland is a new, very jumpy race track for NASCAR NextGen cars
For all intents and purposes, Chicagoland Speedway is a new racetrack for this iteration of the NASCAR Cup Series and it’s very much an open question about how it will race on Sunday night. It’s a new track, not because of how much it has aged since its last race weekend in 2019, but because the NextGen car is such a radically different platform compared to those that came before ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsJul 4, 2026, 10:53 PMChicagoland is a new, very jumpy race track for NASCAR NextGen cars
The big jump has been compared to the 'ramp' at San Diego two weeks ago
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