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4w ago

NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland Speedway for Fourth of July Weekend

Tire wear on Chicagoland’s aged surface will shape team strategy and may help determine whether the oval stays on NASCAR’s schedule.

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JOLIET, ILLINOIS - JUNE 30: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30, 2019 in Joliet, Illinois.
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Overview

  • The Cup Series eero 400 is set for Sunday, July 5, with practice and qualifying on July 3–4 and live television and streaming on TNT/truTV and HBO Max.
  • Organizers posted a 39-driver entry list that mixes 36 full-timers with three part-time entries and the race counts as Round 2 of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge.
  • Oddsmakers opened Denny Hamlin as the favorite (DraftKings +320) with Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson listed among the top challengers, though odds will shift across the weekend.
  • Teams and Goodyear ran tire tests in April and drivers expect significant right-front wear on the old, abrasive 1.5-mile surface, making pit calls and tire management decisive race variables.
  • Early ticket sales showed large unsold sections before a late flash sale improved looks, and NASCAR is already in talks about reviving the Chicago street race for 2027, which could displace the oval despite recent facility work.