Overview
- Goodyear completed a two-day tire test at Chicagoland with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson, and the drivers said the surface looks better than expected and is ready to race.
- Blaney pointed to a harsh tunnel bump and widening lane seams that can trigger mistakes and open passing lanes, which he said should make for a livelier race.
- NASCAR has booked the track for the Fourth of July weekend with the Cup Series main event on Sunday, marking the speedway’s first race since 2019 after COVID-19 halted 2020 plans.
- Fans were welcomed for day one of testing and the turnout suggested strong local interest in the speedway’s comeback in Joliet, Illinois.
- The return replaces Chicago’s downtown street race, which outlets reported lost money over three years, as some drivers still voice interest in future dates at Road America in Wisconsin.