NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway for first Cup Series race since 2019
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 4, 2026, 10:45 PM
Last updated Jul 4, 2026
NASCAR's Cup Series makes its return to Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday after a seven-year hiatus. The 1.5-mile track last hosted a race in 2019, prior to the introduction of the Next Gen cars. Drivers have noted the challenges of adapting to the track's aging surface, with Denny Hamlin stating there are significant differences between a test race and a competitive environment. Chase Briscoe mentioned it feels like learning a new track. Bubba Wallace will drive a Space Jam-themed car, honoring the movie's 30th anniversary, while Carson Hocevar is set to make his 100th Cup Series start. The event marks a shift back to a traditional oval course after three years of street racing in downtown Chicago.
- •NASCAR last raced at Chicagoland Speedway in 2019.
- •Denny Hamlin has the pole position for Sunday’s race.
- •Bubba Wallace drives a special Space Jam-themed car.
- •Carson Hocevar is making his 100th career Cup Series start.
- •Drivers are adapting to a bumpy and aged track surface.
- 10:45 PMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Cup Series set for first race at Chicagoland Speedway since 2019
"It has been seven years since NASCAR last raced at Chicagoland Speedway. The Cup Series returns to Chicagoland on Sunday, and what was old is new again. “It is definitely like learning a new racetrack,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe said.
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