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NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway on July 4 despite rain delays

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 5, 2026, 5:26 AM

Last updated Jul 5, 2026

NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway on July 4 despite rain delays

Summary

NASCAR managed to race the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Cuervo 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 4 after thunderstorms delayed the start for several hours. The race began after midnight, concluding with an overtime finish in which Brandon Jones narrowly defeated Chase Elliott. This decision followed years of criticism regarding NASCAR's quickness to postpone races due to weather. Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer and Managing Director Ben Kennedy opted to race rather than delay to Sunday, a move aimed at restoring fan trust. NASCAR's efforts in July reaffirm its commitment to maintaining a strong fan experience.

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By the Numbers

•O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Cuervo 300 took place at Chicagoland Speedway.
•Brandon Jones defeats Chase Elliott in an overtime finish.
•Race started well after midnight due to earlier thunderstorms.
•NASCAR faced criticism for previous weather-related postponements.
•NASCAR leadership emphasizes fan commitment with this race scheduling.

Latest Updates

5:26 AMYahoo Sports — Elton Sawyer and Ben Kennedy Just Saved NASCAR’s Reputation With July 4th Brilliance

What they're saying

"
For years, NASCAR has heard the same criticism from fans whenever rain interrupted a race: don’t wave the white flag too early. On Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway, NASCAR finally gave fans exactly what they had been asking for. After thunderstorms delayed the start of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Cuervo 300 by several hours,…
— Yahoo Sports

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