2 months ago
Taylor McGregor is the Cubs reporter on Marquee Sports and also works the sidelines for ESPN. Her diligent work during unusual circumstances made her a viral star earlier this week when she expertly kept viewers up to speed during a power outage that delayed kickoff in the SMU-Florida State contest. Amid this, it was right back to work for McGregor as the Cubs continued their series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. And it didn't take long until she found herself in another unusual situation.
Calling into The Score on Wednesday, McGregor thought she had a great temporary work station in her car on the side of the street. The thought was to do a quick hit and then get back on the road and out of the way. Plus, who is going to bother someone doing sports talk on the shoulder? Isn't this America?
That plan quickly took a turn as a security guard made it very clear to McGregor and the Chicagoland listening audience that she needed to move, like, right now.
You know what? This is just a case where everyone involved is doing their job and doing it well. The hosts are making sure they get the maximum entertainment value from the guest. McGregor is not about to let any number of transportation or technological issues from getting people all the Cubs info they need. And that security guard rightly does not care if someone is on a Zoom call, they cannot do that here. Respect all around.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
#Cubs #work #unusual #right
Calling into The Score on Wednesday, McGregor thought she had a great temporary work station in her car on the side of the street. The thought was to do a quick hit and then get back on the road and out of the way. Plus, who is going to bother someone doing sports talk on the shoulder? Isn't this America?
That plan quickly took a turn as a security guard made it very clear to McGregor and the Chicagoland listening audience that she needed to move, like, right now.
You know what? This is just a case where everyone involved is doing their job and doing it well. The hosts are making sure they get the maximum entertainment value from the guest. McGregor is not about to let any number of transportation or technological issues from getting people all the Cubs info they need. And that security guard rightly does not care if someone is on a Zoom call, they cannot do that here. Respect all around.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
#Cubs #work #unusual #right
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3 months ago
NASCAR announced Tuesday it will not return to Chicago in 2027.
NASCAR officials previously said they would not return to downtown Chicago for 2026, but planned to return in 2027.
Chicago's first ever NASCAR street race was hosted in 2023.
NASCAR will return to the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet June 25-27.
SEE ALSO | NASCAR Chicago Street Race will not return in 2026, could come back in 2027
#street #tuesday #chicagoland #june
NASCAR officials previously said they would not return to downtown Chicago for 2026, but planned to return in 2027.
Chicago's first ever NASCAR street race was hosted in 2023.
NASCAR will return to the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet June 25-27.
SEE ALSO | NASCAR Chicago Street Race will not return in 2026, could come back in 2027
#street #tuesday #chicagoland #june
4 months ago
Notre Dame has done a great job recruiting Illinois, as it just landed Mount Carmel powerhouse linebacker Roman Igwebuike.
The Irish have missed on other targets, some of them his teammates, and are after another Chicagoland star in Brayden Parks. The 6-foot, 3-inch and 305-pound defensive tackle is ranked as the No. 199 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite and for many has seemed like a Notre Dame lean.
That might not be the case anymore, as On3’s Steve Wiltfong reports (subscription required) that Parks might be higher on Oregon than the Irish. “I believe that if it were completely up to four-star defensive tackle Brayden Parks, the Chicagoland standout would also elect to play for Oregon. He’s also high on Notre Dame but he seems to be even more excited about the Ducks.” Not the best news, but there are other factors in his recruitment, most notably his family.
Wiltfong also says that his family loves what the Irish have to offer, and the proximity to home so they’d be able to see him play more often. As this recruitment continues, farther away from official visits, it looks like Notre Dame has lost some steam. Hopefully they can regain it back before Parks makes his final decision.
Contact/Follow us IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
The Irish have missed on other targets, some of them his teammates, and are after another Chicagoland star in Brayden Parks. The 6-foot, 3-inch and 305-pound defensive tackle is ranked as the No. 199 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite and for many has seemed like a Notre Dame lean.
That might not be the case anymore, as On3’s Steve Wiltfong reports (subscription required) that Parks might be higher on Oregon than the Irish. “I believe that if it were completely up to four-star defensive tackle Brayden Parks, the Chicagoland standout would also elect to play for Oregon. He’s also high on Notre Dame but he seems to be even more excited about the Ducks.” Not the best news, but there are other factors in his recruitment, most notably his family.
Wiltfong also says that his family loves what the Irish have to offer, and the proximity to home so they’d be able to see him play more often. As this recruitment continues, farther away from official visits, it looks like Notre Dame has lost some steam. Hopefully they can regain it back before Parks makes his final decision.
Contact/Follow us IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
4 months ago
NASCAR has officially closed the book on one of the most talked-about incidents from last weekend's Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Despite the on-track clash between Austin Hill and Shane van Gisbergen that ignited debate across the garage and among fans, neither driver will face penalties from NASCAR. The sanctioning body determined there was not enough evidence to conclude the contact was intentional or deserving of disciplinary action.
The ruling means both drivers head into Sunday's Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway without any points deductions, suspensions, or fines. But while the penalty report is complete, the rivalry is anything but.
The controversy began on Lap 48 at Chicagoland when van Gisbergen's No. 97 Chevrolet made contact with Hill's No. 33 Chevrolet entering Turns 3 and 4.
Hill spun into the outside wall, ending his afternoon. Under the ensuing caution, Hill drove alongside van Gisbergen and made contact with the Trackhouse Racing driver's car, a move that immediately fueled speculation that NASCAR could hand down penalties to one or both competitors.
Despite the on-track clash between Austin Hill and Shane van Gisbergen that ignited debate across the garage and among fans, neither driver will face penalties from NASCAR. The sanctioning body determined there was not enough evidence to conclude the contact was intentional or deserving of disciplinary action.
The ruling means both drivers head into Sunday's Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway without any points deductions, suspensions, or fines. But while the penalty report is complete, the rivalry is anything but.
The controversy began on Lap 48 at Chicagoland when van Gisbergen's No. 97 Chevrolet made contact with Hill's No. 33 Chevrolet entering Turns 3 and 4.
Hill spun into the outside wall, ending his afternoon. Under the ensuing caution, Hill drove alongside van Gisbergen and made contact with the Trackhouse Racing driver's car, a move that immediately fueled speculation that NASCAR could hand down penalties to one or both competitors.
4 months ago
Chase Briscoe didn't wreck anybody to make his point this week. He just went on a podcast and said the thing every driver in the Cup Series garage already knows but almost ****** ody puts on the record: NASCAR's disciplinary process has a don't-ask-don't-tell problem, and it keeps turning the sport's biggest stars into bad actors every time a fresh wreck gets reviewed.
The remarks came on the Rubbin' is Racing podcast, days after NASCAR closed the books on two separate Chicagoland Speedway incidents without issuing a single penalty. Briscoe's issue isn't that NASCAR lets drivers settle scores on the racetrack - he's fine with that part. His problem is what happens after the checkered flag, when a driver who obviously wrecked somebody on purpose has to stand in front of reporters and call it a racing incident, because that's the price of staying out of the penalty report. "Everybody knows you're lying about it," Briscoe said, describing the bind NASCAR's own process puts drivers in.
He's not wrong about the bind. He's also sitting on more supporting evidence than he probably realized, because NASCAR has spent this entire season demonstrating, in exhaustive public detail, what actually earns a driver a fine, and intent alone has never been enough.
Rewind to Texas Motor Speedway in early May, before any of the Chicagoland drama existed. Ryan Preece got frustrated with Ty Gibbs, announced his intentions over his own team radio, and turned Gibbs into the outside wall about half a lap later. NASCAR's response was swift and public: a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty, among the stiffest behavioral penalties handed out all year. NASCAR's vice president of racing communications walked through the reasoning himself: officials reviewed the team radio, the in-car video and the car's SMT telemetry data, and the combination of Preece stating his intentions and then following through on them was enough to cross into what the rulebook labels actions detrimental to stock car racing. RFK Racing appealed. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty in late May, and Preece was left admitting it no longer mattered what he thought, the fine and the points were staying gone.
This wasn't Briscoe's first brush with NASCAR's points ledger this year either. His own speeding penalty back in March already put a dent in his playoff cushion, which makes his willingness to needle NASCAR's officiating now feel less like a driver picking a random fight and more like someone who has personally paid the price of the system he's describing.
The remarks came on the Rubbin' is Racing podcast, days after NASCAR closed the books on two separate Chicagoland Speedway incidents without issuing a single penalty. Briscoe's issue isn't that NASCAR lets drivers settle scores on the racetrack - he's fine with that part. His problem is what happens after the checkered flag, when a driver who obviously wrecked somebody on purpose has to stand in front of reporters and call it a racing incident, because that's the price of staying out of the penalty report. "Everybody knows you're lying about it," Briscoe said, describing the bind NASCAR's own process puts drivers in.
He's not wrong about the bind. He's also sitting on more supporting evidence than he probably realized, because NASCAR has spent this entire season demonstrating, in exhaustive public detail, what actually earns a driver a fine, and intent alone has never been enough.
Rewind to Texas Motor Speedway in early May, before any of the Chicagoland drama existed. Ryan Preece got frustrated with Ty Gibbs, announced his intentions over his own team radio, and turned Gibbs into the outside wall about half a lap later. NASCAR's response was swift and public: a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty, among the stiffest behavioral penalties handed out all year. NASCAR's vice president of racing communications walked through the reasoning himself: officials reviewed the team radio, the in-car video and the car's SMT telemetry data, and the combination of Preece stating his intentions and then following through on them was enough to cross into what the rulebook labels actions detrimental to stock car racing. RFK Racing appealed. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty in late May, and Preece was left admitting it no longer mattered what he thought, the fine and the points were staying gone.
This wasn't Briscoe's first brush with NASCAR's points ledger this year either. His own speeding penalty back in March already put a dent in his playoff cushion, which makes his willingness to needle NASCAR's officiating now feel less like a driver picking a random fight and more like someone who has personally paid the price of the system he's describing.
4 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series' long-awaited return to Chicagoland Speedway delivered more than an exciting race. It also drew a healthy television audience.
According to Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern, Sunday's Cup Series race on TNT Sports averaged 2.1 million viewers. It marked NASCAR's first Cup event at Chicagoland since 2019 and outperformed the previous week's Sonoma Raceway broadcast on the network.
While the number fell just shy of Prime Video's average audience during its five-race Cup Series schedule earlier this season, it continued a solid stretch of television numbers as NASCAR heads into the second half of the regular season.
The 2.1 million average viewers represented a noticeable increase from the 1.8 million who watched the Sonoma race on TNT Sports the previous weekend. That gain came despite Chicagoland not hosting a Cup Series race since 2019, when NASCAR removed the 1.5-mile Illinois oval from the schedule.
The return had generated considerable buzz throughout the weekend. Fans packed the grandstands, and the race itself produced plenty of action as drivers adjusted to a track that many in the current field had either never raced or had limited experience competing on.
According to Sports Business Journal's Adam Stern, Sunday's Cup Series race on TNT Sports averaged 2.1 million viewers. It marked NASCAR's first Cup event at Chicagoland since 2019 and outperformed the previous week's Sonoma Raceway broadcast on the network.
While the number fell just shy of Prime Video's average audience during its five-race Cup Series schedule earlier this season, it continued a solid stretch of television numbers as NASCAR heads into the second half of the regular season.
The 2.1 million average viewers represented a noticeable increase from the 1.8 million who watched the Sonoma race on TNT Sports the previous weekend. That gain came despite Chicagoland not hosting a Cup Series race since 2019, when NASCAR removed the 1.5-mile Illinois oval from the schedule.
The return had generated considerable buzz throughout the weekend. Fans packed the grandstands, and the race itself produced plenty of action as drivers adjusted to a track that many in the current field had either never raced or had limited experience competing on.
4 months ago
The simmering feud between Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith isn’t staying behind at Chicagoland Speedway.
With NASCAR confirming the two drivers will meet with series officials before Sunday’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway, Smith made it abundantly clear this week that his opinion of Hocevar hasn’t changed. If anything, it has only hardened.
Appearing on the “Racin’ With The Boys” podcast, the Front Row Motorsports driver revisited the growing rivalry that spilled over during last weekend’s Cup Series race and offered one of his strongest public criticisms yet of the Spire Motorsports driver.
The tension between the two drivers has been building for months.
Last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, contact between the pair on Lap 32 sent both cars into the outside wall. NASCAR reviewed the incident afterward and elected not to issue penalties, but the series will hold a meeting with both drivers before Sunday’s race at EchoPark Speedway.
With NASCAR confirming the two drivers will meet with series officials before Sunday’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at EchoPark Speedway, Smith made it abundantly clear this week that his opinion of Hocevar hasn’t changed. If anything, it has only hardened.
Appearing on the “Racin’ With The Boys” podcast, the Front Row Motorsports driver revisited the growing rivalry that spilled over during last weekend’s Cup Series race and offered one of his strongest public criticisms yet of the Spire Motorsports driver.
The tension between the two drivers has been building for months.
Last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, contact between the pair on Lap 32 sent both cars into the outside wall. NASCAR reviewed the incident afterward and elected not to issue penalties, but the series will hold a meeting with both drivers before Sunday’s race at EchoPark Speedway.
4 months ago
Austin Dillon encountered a tire problem and finished 24th at Chicagoland Speedway, so you might ***** ume he didn't enjoy NASCAR's first Cup Series race there in seven years.
You'd be wrong.
"I thought the racing was great," Dillon told the News-Journal. "Our tires wore out pretty bad. We had a little issue with our right rear, but I loved the fact that we could race all over the track and saw some pretty good racing."
The Richard Childress Racing veteran thought the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois, felt similar to when he last competed there in 2019.
Would he like Chicagoland to stay on the schedule going forward?
You'd be wrong.
"I thought the racing was great," Dillon told the News-Journal. "Our tires wore out pretty bad. We had a little issue with our right rear, but I loved the fact that we could race all over the track and saw some pretty good racing."
The Richard Childress Racing veteran thought the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois, felt similar to when he last competed there in 2019.
Would he like Chicagoland to stay on the schedule going forward?
4 months ago
Austin Hill has earned a reputation in NASCAR for wrecking other drivers, sometimes intentionally, and letting his emotions get the best of him. That appeared to be the case again on Sunday night following his incident with Shane van Gisbergen at Chicagoland Speedway.
Two weeks ago at Naval Base Coronado, Hill accidentally took out van Gisbergen when the No. 33 car missed the bottom after the restart and caused a wreck that delivered race-ending damage to the No. 97. SVG’s revenge seemed to come on Sunday night in the eero 400.
On Sunday night at Chicagoland during Lap 48, Hill came down in front of van Gisbergen’s nose heading into the turn. That’s when the No. 97 plowed into the No. 33, sending the car spinning into the wall for race-ending damage.
On the radio, team owner Richard Childress immediately called the move by SVG intentional and he seemed to want NASCAR to look into the matter. Hill also voiced his frustration, with the No. 33 team pleading with him to focus on the “big picture” and not retaliate.
“”That was on purpose from California.”
Two weeks ago at Naval Base Coronado, Hill accidentally took out van Gisbergen when the No. 33 car missed the bottom after the restart and caused a wreck that delivered race-ending damage to the No. 97. SVG’s revenge seemed to come on Sunday night in the eero 400.
On Sunday night at Chicagoland during Lap 48, Hill came down in front of van Gisbergen’s nose heading into the turn. That’s when the No. 97 plowed into the No. 33, sending the car spinning into the wall for race-ending damage.
On the radio, team owner Richard Childress immediately called the move by SVG intentional and he seemed to want NASCAR to look into the matter. Hill also voiced his frustration, with the No. 33 team pleading with him to focus on the “big picture” and not retaliate.
“”That was on purpose from California.”
4 months ago
NASCAR is performing a deeper inspection process after the Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway last weekend. Denny Hamlin's No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing has been taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further inspection after Chicagoland, the sport announced. Hamlin finished in fourth place on Sunday night.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been sensational during the 2026 Cup Series season and earned another top-5 finish at Chicagoland. NASCAR taking Hamlin's No. 11 car to the R&D Center doesn't automatically mean something is wrong; however, it does heighten the risk of a potential penalty.
In the NextGen car era, drivers and teams have received significant penalties when NASCAR takes a car to the R&D Center. There have been several occasions when they have lost over 100 points due to an infraction. Most cars are cleared after going to the R&D Center, but exceptions exist.
Hamlin will likely be OK; however, NASCAR has blasted teams in the past for any wrongdoing.
More: Chase Briscoe wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland in June 2026
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been sensational during the 2026 Cup Series season and earned another top-5 finish at Chicagoland. NASCAR taking Hamlin's No. 11 car to the R&D Center doesn't automatically mean something is wrong; however, it does heighten the risk of a potential penalty.
In the NextGen car era, drivers and teams have received significant penalties when NASCAR takes a car to the R&D Center. There have been several occasions when they have lost over 100 points due to an infraction. Most cars are cleared after going to the R&D Center, but exceptions exist.
Hamlin will likely be OK; however, NASCAR has blasted teams in the past for any wrongdoing.
More: Chase Briscoe wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland in June 2026
4 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series returned to Chicagoland Speedway, and it was an overwhelming success. NASCAR sold out Chicagoland in its first race weekend since the 2019 season. William Byron won both stages; however, it was a Joe Gibbs Racing showdown in the final laps at Chicagoland on Sunday night.
Chase Briscoe and the No. 19 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won the eero 400 at Chicagoland, earning their first victory of the 2026 Cup Series season. Briscoe held off a hard-charging Christopher Bell, who had the best car in the Final Stage. If not for A.J. Allmendinger's lapped car, the result might have been different on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin extended his points lead to 44 points over Tyler Reddick in the regular season standings after the No. 45 car had to change a radiator during the event. However, Briscoe was the top story on Sunday night, as he finally earned his first win of the 2026 season.
No. 19 Chase Briscoe
No. 20 Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe and the No. 19 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won the eero 400 at Chicagoland, earning their first victory of the 2026 Cup Series season. Briscoe held off a hard-charging Christopher Bell, who had the best car in the Final Stage. If not for A.J. Allmendinger's lapped car, the result might have been different on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin extended his points lead to 44 points over Tyler Reddick in the regular season standings after the No. 45 car had to change a radiator during the event. However, Briscoe was the top story on Sunday night, as he finally earned his first win of the 2026 season.
No. 19 Chase Briscoe
No. 20 Christopher Bell
4 months ago
JOLIET, IL — With all the attention on Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick and the way they’ve racked up NASCAR Cup Series wins for Toyota, it’s been easy to overlook Chase Briscoe.
Not so much anymore.
Following up on a runner-up finish on the Sonoma Raceway road course in California, Briscoe capped a popular weekend at Chicagoland Speedway with his first victory of the season July 5.
“We have not been as consistent, I would say, as [Hamlin and Reddick],” said Briscoe, who won three races and finished third in the 2025 championship. “But from a speed standpoint, I feel like we’ve been right here with them.”
Briscoe, 31, held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell, who also was chasing his first win of the season, by .276 seconds. Hamlin took third, giving team owner Joe Gibbs the top three spots in the finishing order on a night Toyotas claimed seven of the top 10.
Not so much anymore.
Following up on a runner-up finish on the Sonoma Raceway road course in California, Briscoe capped a popular weekend at Chicagoland Speedway with his first victory of the season July 5.
“We have not been as consistent, I would say, as [Hamlin and Reddick],” said Briscoe, who won three races and finished third in the 2025 championship. “But from a speed standpoint, I feel like we’ve been right here with them.”
Briscoe, 31, held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell, who also was chasing his first win of the season, by .276 seconds. Hamlin took third, giving team owner Joe Gibbs the top three spots in the finishing order on a night Toyotas claimed seven of the top 10.
4 months ago
The NASCAR O'Reilly Series competed at Chicagoland Speedway, and it was a thrilling event. On the Fourth of July, NASCAR was forced to delay the start of the event due to the weather. Connor Zilisch won Stage 1, while Chase Elliott won Stage 2; however, neither driver was able to enter victory lane.
Brandon Jones and the No. 20 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won Saturday night's race at Chicagoland, earning their first victory of the 2026 O'Reilly Series season. Jones was able to pass Elliott in NASCAR overtime, securing the first victory at Chicagoland in NASCAR since Alex Bowman during the 2019 season.
It has been a tough season for Jones and the No. 20 team, but everything came to fruition on Saturday night. Jones displayed elite speed and had to pass a NASCAR Cup Series champion to win the race. It might arguably be the best restart of Jones' NASCAR career against Elliott at Chicagoland.
No. 20 Brandon Jones
No. 88 Chase Elliott
Brandon Jones and the No. 20 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won Saturday night's race at Chicagoland, earning their first victory of the 2026 O'Reilly Series season. Jones was able to pass Elliott in NASCAR overtime, securing the first victory at Chicagoland in NASCAR since Alex Bowman during the 2019 season.
It has been a tough season for Jones and the No. 20 team, but everything came to fruition on Saturday night. Jones displayed elite speed and had to pass a NASCAR Cup Series champion to win the race. It might arguably be the best restart of Jones' NASCAR career against Elliott at Chicagoland.
No. 20 Brandon Jones
No. 88 Chase Elliott
4 months ago
Sunday night’s eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway demonstrated why NASCAR made the right decision to return to this track. We got a few surprises in the NASCAR race tonight, with Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson finishing near the back of the field, and some standouts delivering great finishes under the lights with Chase Briscoe getting the win.
Let’s dive into our winners and losers from the NASCAR race today at Chicagoland.
Pitting a few laps after Chase Briscoe in the final stage didn’t quite work out for the No. 20 team, but Christopher Bell should still feel good about the outcome tonight. Still racing with a fractured wrist that is essentially making him drive left-handed, Bell finished second on Sunday night at Chicagoland and that gives him consecutive top-five finishes. Pulling that off seemed impossible a few weeks ago when many ***** umed the wrist injury might keep him out of action. With 90 total points in the last two races, Bell has given himself a 101-point advantage above the cutline.
Related: NASCAR Standings Right Now, The Chase Cutline after Chicago
Connor Zilisch is the unluckiest driver in NASCAR, perhaps ever. It had already been a disastrous rookie season for Zilisch coming into Chicagoland. At a minimum, the No. 88 team just wanted him to get laps in so he could gain a lot more experience after picking up six DNFs this season. Seconds into the eero 400, still on Lap 1, Ryan Preece got turned down the track after contact, collected the No. 88, and sent Zilisch’s car skidding into the inside wall with race-ending damage. Another last-place finish for the 19-year-old, who might need to hire an Etsy witch at this point.
Let’s dive into our winners and losers from the NASCAR race today at Chicagoland.
Pitting a few laps after Chase Briscoe in the final stage didn’t quite work out for the No. 20 team, but Christopher Bell should still feel good about the outcome tonight. Still racing with a fractured wrist that is essentially making him drive left-handed, Bell finished second on Sunday night at Chicagoland and that gives him consecutive top-five finishes. Pulling that off seemed impossible a few weeks ago when many ***** umed the wrist injury might keep him out of action. With 90 total points in the last two races, Bell has given himself a 101-point advantage above the cutline.
Related: NASCAR Standings Right Now, The Chase Cutline after Chicago
Connor Zilisch is the unluckiest driver in NASCAR, perhaps ever. It had already been a disastrous rookie season for Zilisch coming into Chicagoland. At a minimum, the No. 88 team just wanted him to get laps in so he could gain a lot more experience after picking up six DNFs this season. Seconds into the eero 400, still on Lap 1, Ryan Preece got turned down the track after contact, collected the No. 88, and sent Zilisch’s car skidding into the inside wall with race-ending damage. Another last-place finish for the 19-year-old, who might need to hire an Etsy witch at this point.
4 months ago
Chase Briscoe survived a late charge from teammate Christopher Bell to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, delivering Joe Gibbs Racing another victory and punching his ticket into the 2026 Chase.
Bell, continuing to race through a fractured left wrist, finished just 0.276 seconds behind Briscoe after spending the closing laps searching for an opening that never came. Polesitter Denny Hamlin completed an all-Toyota podium in third.
The manufacturer didn’t stop there.
Toyota placed seven drivers inside the top 10, marking the first time in company history it has put seven cars in the top 10 of a NASCAR Cup Series race.
William Byron finished fourth as the highest-running Chevrolet, while teammate Alex Bowman rounded out the top five. Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim and Riley Herbst completed the top 10.
Bell, continuing to race through a fractured left wrist, finished just 0.276 seconds behind Briscoe after spending the closing laps searching for an opening that never came. Polesitter Denny Hamlin completed an all-Toyota podium in third.
The manufacturer didn’t stop there.
Toyota placed seven drivers inside the top 10, marking the first time in company history it has put seven cars in the top 10 of a NASCAR Cup Series race.
William Byron finished fourth as the highest-running Chevrolet, while teammate Alex Bowman rounded out the top five. Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim and Riley Herbst completed the top 10.
4 months ago
Chase Briscoe collected his sixth career NASCAR Cup win and his first of the 2026 season on Sunday, winning in NASCAR's long-awaited return to Chicagoland Speedway.
He had to hold off a charging Christopher Bell at the end of the race, and led a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3 with Bell second and Denny Hamlin third.
Briscoe also claimed the win on crew chief James Small's birthday, delivering him quite the gift.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim, and Riley Herbst filled out the remainder of the top ten.
He had to hold off a charging Christopher Bell at the end of the race, and led a Joe Gibbs Racing 1-2-3 with Bell second and Denny Hamlin third.
Briscoe also claimed the win on crew chief James Small's birthday, delivering him quite the gift.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Alex Bowman finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Corey Heim, and Riley Herbst filled out the remainder of the top ten.
4 months ago
Denny Hamlin increased his NASCAR Cup Series points lead substantially after a top-5 finish at Chicagoland on July 5.
Hamlin finished 3rd, while Tyler Reddick's radiator damage resigned him to a 36th-place run. Hamlin leads Reddick by 44 points heading to Atlanta next week.
Chase Briscoe claimed his first win of the season in the eero 400 to get further away from the Chase bubble. Erik Jones jumped into 16th with a solid 15th-place finish, while Ryan Preece finished 32nd after a Lap 1 spin.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
CHICAGOLAND RESULTS: Who won NASCAR Cup Chicagoland race? Winner is Chase Briscoe, plus full results
Hamlin finished 3rd, while Tyler Reddick's radiator damage resigned him to a 36th-place run. Hamlin leads Reddick by 44 points heading to Atlanta next week.
Chase Briscoe claimed his first win of the season in the eero 400 to get further away from the Chase bubble. Erik Jones jumped into 16th with a solid 15th-place finish, while Ryan Preece finished 32nd after a Lap 1 spin.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
CHICAGOLAND RESULTS: Who won NASCAR Cup Chicagoland race? Winner is Chase Briscoe, plus full results
4 months ago
Chase Briscoe brought home win No. 1 of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Briscoe passed race leader William Byron on green flag stops and held off the Hendrick Motorsports driver for the victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the eero 400.
Briscoe had second-place finishes at both Atlanta and Sonoma for his best races of the year prior to the NASCAR Chicagoland race. Briscoe and the NASCAR Cup Series return to Atlanta next week.
Unofficial results
1. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Briscoe passed race leader William Byron on green flag stops and held off the Hendrick Motorsports driver for the victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the eero 400.
Briscoe had second-place finishes at both Atlanta and Sonoma for his best races of the year prior to the NASCAR Chicagoland race. Briscoe and the NASCAR Cup Series return to Atlanta next week.
Unofficial results
1. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 months ago
Three of the top four seeds advanced to the final eight of the NASCAR in-season challenge tournament after the eero 400 on July 5 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all advanced after top-10 runs, as did 12-seed (and Chicagoland race winner) Chase Briscoe.
The quarterfinals take place next week at EchoPark Speedway.
Here's the NASCAR in-season tournament challenge results in Round 2:
RACE RECAP: NASCAR Cup Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all advanced after top-10 runs, as did 12-seed (and Chicagoland race winner) Chase Briscoe.
The quarterfinals take place next week at EchoPark Speedway.
Here's the NASCAR in-season tournament challenge results in Round 2:
RACE RECAP: NASCAR Cup Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
4 months ago
Three of the top four seeds advanced to the final eight of the NASCAR in-season challenge tournament after the eero 400 on July 5 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all advanced after top-10 runs, as did 12-seed (and Chicagoland race winner) Chase Briscoe.
The quarterfinals take place next week at EchoPark Speedway.
Here's the NASCAR in-season tournament challenge results in Round 2:
RACE RECAP: NASCAR Cup Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all advanced after top-10 runs, as did 12-seed (and Chicagoland race winner) Chase Briscoe.
The quarterfinals take place next week at EchoPark Speedway.
Here's the NASCAR in-season tournament challenge results in Round 2:
RACE RECAP: NASCAR Cup Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
4 months ago
Chase Briscoe brought home win No. 1 of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Briscoe passed race leader William Byron on green flag stops and held off the Hendrick Motorsports driver for the victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the eero 400.
Briscoe had second-place finishes at both Atlanta and Sonoma for his best races of the year prior to the NASCAR Chicagoland race. Briscoe and the NASCAR Cup Series return to Atlanta next week.
Unofficial results
1. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Briscoe passed race leader William Byron on green flag stops and held off the Hendrick Motorsports driver for the victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the eero 400.
Briscoe had second-place finishes at both Atlanta and Sonoma for his best races of the year prior to the NASCAR Chicagoland race. Briscoe and the NASCAR Cup Series return to Atlanta next week.
Unofficial results
1. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 months ago
Tyler Reddick's June struggles have extended into July.
Reddick laid a large amount of oil down on the track after an apparent major issue on Lap 135 in the eero 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on July 5 at Chicagoland Speedway.
The No. 45 started smoking and laying down oil going into turn 3 shortly after pitting during a green flag cycle.
Reddick stopped down on pit road, with oil and fluid all across the right side of the car and on the windshield.
A 23XI Racing crew member told TNT that "something went through the radiator" that caused the issue.
Reddick laid a large amount of oil down on the track after an apparent major issue on Lap 135 in the eero 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on July 5 at Chicagoland Speedway.
The No. 45 started smoking and laying down oil going into turn 3 shortly after pitting during a green flag cycle.
Reddick stopped down on pit road, with oil and fluid all across the right side of the car and on the windshield.
A 23XI Racing crew member told TNT that "something went through the radiator" that caused the issue.
4 months ago
Richard Childress didn’t mince words after Austin Hill’s race unraveled during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Chicagoland Speedway.
Following contact between Hill and Shane van Gisbergen that ended Hill’s day, the Richard Childress Racing owner accused van Gisbergen of deliberately causing the incident, claiming it was retaliation for an earlier run-in between the two drivers.
The accusation quickly became one of the biggest storylines unfolding during Sunday’s race.
As Hill climbed from his damaged No. 21 Chevrolet after the crash, his radio traffic reflected immediate frustration inside the Richard Childress Racing camp.
According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Childress was heard over the team radio saying:
Following contact between Hill and Shane van Gisbergen that ended Hill’s day, the Richard Childress Racing owner accused van Gisbergen of deliberately causing the incident, claiming it was retaliation for an earlier run-in between the two drivers.
The accusation quickly became one of the biggest storylines unfolding during Sunday’s race.
As Hill climbed from his damaged No. 21 Chevrolet after the crash, his radio traffic reflected immediate frustration inside the Richard Childress Racing camp.
According to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, Childress was heard over the team radio saying:
4 months ago
JOLIET, IL – A return to Chicagoland Speedway after six years on the Fourth of July weekend highlights some of the quandaries NASCAR has with its schedule and also the opportunities.
Is it more important to try to reinvigorate an audience at a traditional oval or reach new fans through a downtown street race?
Did the pendulum swing too far toward road races in favor of traditional ovals?
Is Chicago, the United States' third-largest metro area, even the right place to race on Independence Day for a sport with rural roots and Southern traditions?
"We have a great facility here," said Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, whose team owners include Chicago sports icon Michael Jordan.
Is it more important to try to reinvigorate an audience at a traditional oval or reach new fans through a downtown street race?
Did the pendulum swing too far toward road races in favor of traditional ovals?
Is Chicago, the United States' third-largest metro area, even the right place to race on Independence Day for a sport with rural roots and Southern traditions?
"We have a great facility here," said Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, whose team owners include Chicago sports icon Michael Jordan.
4 months ago
Dark clouds rolled over Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, but the biggest storm facing NASCAR teams isn’t in the forecast.
It’s the strategic gamble that could decide Sunday’s Cup Series race.
Although Chicagoland hosted Cup Series races for nearly two decades before falling off the schedule after 2019, Sunday’s event marks the first time NASCAR’s Next Gen car will compete on the 1.5-mile oval. Seven years of aging pavement have transformed the racing surface, leaving crew chiefs with limited data and plenty of uncertainty heading into the 267-lap race.
That uncertainty has elevated one strategic question above all others: When should teams use their eight sets of Goodyear tires?
With an abrasive surface, unpredictable cautions and unknown tire wear over a long green-flag run, the answer could ultimately determine who leaves Chicagoland with the trophy.
It’s the strategic gamble that could decide Sunday’s Cup Series race.
Although Chicagoland hosted Cup Series races for nearly two decades before falling off the schedule after 2019, Sunday’s event marks the first time NASCAR’s Next Gen car will compete on the 1.5-mile oval. Seven years of aging pavement have transformed the racing surface, leaving crew chiefs with limited data and plenty of uncertainty heading into the 267-lap race.
That uncertainty has elevated one strategic question above all others: When should teams use their eight sets of Goodyear tires?
With an abrasive surface, unpredictable cautions and unknown tire wear over a long green-flag run, the answer could ultimately determine who leaves Chicagoland with the trophy.
4 months ago
Christopher Bell isn't completely healed.
But for the first time since fracturing his left wrist at Michigan International Speedway nearly a month ago, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver finally feels like he's moving in the right direction.
Bell confirmed Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway that he has traded the cast on his injured wrist for a removable splint, an encouraging milestone as he continues working back toward full strength. While the change won't immediately improve how he drives the No. 20 Toyota, it signals that his recovery is progressing on schedule after weeks of competing through discomfort.
It also comes at an important point in Bell's season.
Following a difficult stretch that threatened to derail his championship hopes, Bell rebounded with a fifth-place finish at Sonoma and will roll off sixth for Sunday's Cup Series race at Chicagoland.
But for the first time since fracturing his left wrist at Michigan International Speedway nearly a month ago, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver finally feels like he's moving in the right direction.
Bell confirmed Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway that he has traded the cast on his injured wrist for a removable splint, an encouraging milestone as he continues working back toward full strength. While the change won't immediately improve how he drives the No. 20 Toyota, it signals that his recovery is progressing on schedule after weeks of competing through discomfort.
It also comes at an important point in Bell's season.
Following a difficult stretch that threatened to derail his championship hopes, Bell rebounded with a fifth-place finish at Sonoma and will roll off sixth for Sunday's Cup Series race at Chicagoland.
4 months ago
The starting lineup is officially set for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, and teams now know where they'll be making every pit stop during the eero 400.
Following Saturday's qualifying session, NASCAR released the official pit stall ***** ignments for all 38 drivers. While qualifying determines the starting grid, pit selection is another critical advantage, especially at a 1.5-mile intermediate track where green-flag pit cycles often shape the outcome of the race.
Drivers who qualified near the front earned the first opportunity to choose their preferred pit stalls, with teams weighing factors such as opening availability, clear entry and exit lanes, and proximity to pit road traffic.
Not every team had the chance to choose its ideal pit stall.
The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson failed pre-race inspection twice before passing on its third attempt. As a result, the team lost pit stall selection, and car chief Jesse Saunders was ejected for the remainder of the race weekend.
Following Saturday's qualifying session, NASCAR released the official pit stall ***** ignments for all 38 drivers. While qualifying determines the starting grid, pit selection is another critical advantage, especially at a 1.5-mile intermediate track where green-flag pit cycles often shape the outcome of the race.
Drivers who qualified near the front earned the first opportunity to choose their preferred pit stalls, with teams weighing factors such as opening availability, clear entry and exit lanes, and proximity to pit road traffic.
Not every team had the chance to choose its ideal pit stall.
The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson failed pre-race inspection twice before passing on its third attempt. As a result, the team lost pit stall selection, and car chief Jesse Saunders was ejected for the remainder of the race weekend.
4 months ago
Saturday qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway wasn't the end of NASCAR's workday.
Following pre-race inspection, NASCAR penalized the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Kyle Larson and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Michael McDowell after both teams failed inspection multiple times.
While both teams lost key personnel for the remainder of the weekend, the consequences were far more severe for McDowell, whose qualifying session never even began.
McDowell's No. 71 Chevrolet failed inspection three times before finally passing on its fourth attempt.
Because of the repeated failures, NASCAR ruled that McDowell would not be allowed to make a qualifying lap. Instead, he'll start Sunday's Cup Series race from 38th, forfeit pit stall selection and serve a pass-through penalty under green after the race begins.
Following pre-race inspection, NASCAR penalized the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Kyle Larson and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Michael McDowell after both teams failed inspection multiple times.
While both teams lost key personnel for the remainder of the weekend, the consequences were far more severe for McDowell, whose qualifying session never even began.
McDowell's No. 71 Chevrolet failed inspection three times before finally passing on its fourth attempt.
Because of the repeated failures, NASCAR ruled that McDowell would not be allowed to make a qualifying lap. Instead, he'll start Sunday's Cup Series race from 38th, forfeit pit stall selection and serve a pass-through penalty under green after the race begins.
4 months ago
Denny Hamlin will lead the field to the green flag Sunday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in one of the closest qualifying sessions of the 2026 season.
Hamlin turned a lap of 30.296 seconds (178.241 mph), edging Kyle Larson by just 0.001 seconds. Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski continued RFK Racing's strong weekend by qualifying third and fourth, while Ty Gibbs completed the top five.
Toyota placed five drivers inside the top eight, while reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano will have plenty of work to do after qualifying 31st.
Here's the complete starting lineup for Sunday's Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin turned a lap of 30.296 seconds (178.241 mph), edging Kyle Larson by just 0.001 seconds. Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski continued RFK Racing's strong weekend by qualifying third and fourth, while Ty Gibbs completed the top five.
Toyota placed five drivers inside the top eight, while reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano will have plenty of work to do after qualifying 31st.
Here's the complete starting lineup for Sunday's Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Denny Hamlin
4 months ago
The start time for the Cuervo 300 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race on July 4 at Chicagoland Speedway is being delayed for weather.
Rain fell on the 1.5-mile speedway about an hour before the scheduled green flag in Joliet, Illinois, as a part of a storm moving in from the west.
The track surface will need to be dried, and any storms with lightning will need to move through the area before the race can begin at Chicagoland.
Connor Zilisch is on the pole for the event after qualifying was canceled on July 3 and was condensed into a practice session earlier on July 4.
LIVE RACE UPDATES: NASCAR O'Reilly Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
Rain fell on the 1.5-mile speedway about an hour before the scheduled green flag in Joliet, Illinois, as a part of a storm moving in from the west.
The track surface will need to be dried, and any storms with lightning will need to move through the area before the race can begin at Chicagoland.
Connor Zilisch is on the pole for the event after qualifying was canceled on July 3 and was condensed into a practice session earlier on July 4.
LIVE RACE UPDATES: NASCAR O'Reilly Series Chicagoland race live updates, highlights, leaderboard
