After an eight year absence, NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway for some Independence Day and 250th birthday celebrations with the eero 400.
Along with this marking the return to Chicagoland after a seven year absence; this is also round two of the In-Season Challenge with the 16 drivers who survived round one going head to head.
O’Reilly Series practice was postponed after a rain shower moved through, but the track has been dried and the Cup Series drivers are ready to go for a ful 50 minute practice session.
This is the first time that NASCAR has brought the Next Gen car to Chicagoland.
There are a few bumps around the track that can send the drivers airborne as they cross them.
Thirty-seven teams brought cars to Chicagoland for 40 starting spots.
Ryan Preece is not a happy driver – NASCAR has mandated that Preece raise the height of his neck in the car.
And good news for the 20 team; the cast is off of Christopher Bell’s left wrist! He is wearing a splint. There is no driver on standby this week and the modifications to the car for a backup driver are not in the car!
The teams were given three sets of tires for the practice session.
Early in the practice session, Kyle Larson sat atop the leaderboard for much of the session, but once the crews added fresh tires to the cars, the lap times increased with Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace also putting their cars at the top in single lap times. Tyler Reddick dominated the field in multiple lap times.
With just three minutes remaining in practice, Riley Herbst ran the fastest lap time of 30.326 seconds around the mile and a half track.
Erik Jones has some damage on the underside of his car and will have to be repaired before the race.
A total of 38 teams brought cars to Chicagoland for the race.
After some Friday evening practice, the drivers take to the track for single lap qualifying to set the field.
This is career race start 600 for crew chief Booty Barker.
The Chicagoland race is start number 100 for Tu Dillon.
Cody Ware got into the wall during his qualifying run reporting an issue with the ECU.
Michael McDowell will not make a qualifying run after three failed inspection attempts. The car chief has been ejected, he will not be allowed to make a pit stall selection, and he will have to serve a passthrough penalty once the green flag drops.
Kyle Larson also had some inspection issues but the car passed on the third try; as a result, Larson has had his car chief ejected and will have his pit stall assigned by NASCAR, but he will not lose his second place starting position.
Carson Hocevar is making race start number 100 this weekend.
The first driver on the track is JJ Yeley who posted a time of 31.969 seconds.
With a time of 30.296 seconds around the 1.5 mile track, Denny Hamlin puts his number eleven car on the pole. And missing the lead spot by just one thousandth of a second, Kyle Larson will start alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the eero 400:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski
Ty Gibbs
Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott
William Byron
AJ Allmendinger
Alex Bowman
Tyler Reddick
Carson Hocevar
Zane Smith
John Hunter Nemechek
Riley Herbst
Ross Chastain
Ryan Preece
Connor Zilisch
Erik Jones
Austin Cindric
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Austin Dillon
Daniel Suarez
Ty Dillon
Corey Heim
Todd Gilliland
Shane van Gisbergen
Joey Logano
Noah Gragson
Cole Custer
Josh Berry
Austin Hill
JJ Yeley
Michael McDowell
Cody Ware
Stage one is 80 laps, stage two is 85 laps, and stage three is 102 laps for a total of 267 laps around the 1.5 mile track. The drivers will need to make pit stops in every stage with a fuel load of 65 to 70 laps.
Marty Smith reports that the track is a sell out with race fans from 31 countries and all 50 states.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Kyle Larson alongside. Hamlin jumps out in front for the lead as drivers begin to spread out along the track. Ryan Preece and Connor Zilisch spin out after contact to bring out the caution flag on the first lap. Zilisch hits the inside wall hard. John Hunter Nemechek squeezes Ricky Stenhouse Jr into the wall. Erik Jones makes contact with Ryan Preece to send Preece into Zilisch.
Ryan Preece has returned to the track four laps down.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap seven. Hamlin and Larson go side by side before Kyle Larson takes the lead. The drivers are spread out three and four wide across the track.
Connor Zilisch is out of the race.
Lap eight, Michael McDowell makes his passthrough penalty down pit road but manages to stay on the lead lap.
Lap 10, the top five are Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace.
Lap 14, Denny Hamlin and Chris Bueschder battle for second.
Lap 16, Kyle Larson has a third of a second lead on Denny Hamlin; Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 19, Denny Hamlin battles Kyle Larson for the lead and becomes the new leader.
Lap 22, Denny Hamlin has pulled ut to a two second lead on Kyle Larson; Chris Buescher, Christopher Bell, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap 24, Christopher Bell passes Chris Buescher for third.
Lap 27, Bubba Wallace begins to challenge Chris Buescher for fourth.
Lap 29, Denny Hamlin continues to increase his lead and is now two and a half seconds on Kyle Larson; Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Several teams report that the bottom of the track is working but the high line has not come in yet.
The race began under bright sunlight; but it will finish under the lights.
Zane Smith brings out the second caution flag of the race after making contact with Carson Hocevar who gets slideways and into the wall. Smith also gets into the wall.
Drivers come down pit road for service. There are only three cars not on the lead lap.
Michael McDowell is the “lucky dog”.
Denny Hamlin edges out to win the race off of pit road from pit stall number one.
Denny Hamlin brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside on lap 38 from the outside lane. Drivers spread out on the track with Kyle Larson edging out for the lead.
William Byron passes Christopher Bell for third.
Bubba Wallace passes Christopher Bell for fourth.
William Byron passes Denny Hamlin for second.
Lap 41, the top five are Kyle Larson, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Chrisotpher Bell.
Lap 45, Kyle Larson has a lead of less than half a second on William Byron; Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Carson Hocevar reports that they are slow with an ill handling race car after contact from Zane Smith.
Austin Hill brings out the third caution flag after spinning out and getting into the wall. He has significant damage to his car. Hill gets bumped by Shane van Gisbergen.
Ryan Preece is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Tyler Reddick winning the race off of pit road after taking just two tires. Todd Gilliland gets turned around and is in his pit box backwards after contact with Christopher Bell who was coming out of his pit box.
After staying out on the track Austin Cindric brings the field down for the green flag restart with Riley Herbst alongside on lap 54. Drivers are four and five wide on the restart with Austin Cindric leading the race. Joey Logano battles with Austin Cindric for the lead.
Austin Cindric takes the lead with Chase Briscoe in second; Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 57, Kyle Larson has entered the top five; Denny Hamlin is back in 16th.
Austin Hill is out of the race.
Lap 61, Austin Cindric has a quarter of a second lead on Chase Briscoe; William Byron, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
With 15 laps remaining in stage one, Austin Cindric has a half second lead on William Byron; Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and Bubb Wallace round out the top five.
William Byron passes Austin Cindric for the lead.
Lap 71, Kyle Larson passes Austin Cindric for second.
The top five are William Byron, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, and Bubba Wallace.
Lap 73, Bubba Wallace passes Chase Briscoe for fourth.
Lap 76, Denny Hamlin has entered the top 10.
With four laps remaining in stage one, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on Kyle Larson.
William Byron wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
William Byron
Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace
Austin Cindric
Chase Briscoe
Chris Buescher
Riley Herbst
Denny Hamlin
Ty Gibbs
Tyler Reddick
NASCAR needs to make a repair on pit road and delays pit stops.
Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron winning the race off of pit road with Bubba Wallace coming out second.
Christopher Bell was charged with having too many crew members over the wall and will have to restart the race form the back of the longest line.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Bubba Wallace alongside on lap 89. Byron takes the lead with teammate Kyle Larson in second. Bubba Wallace passes Kyle Larson for second.
The top five are William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Denny Hamlin.
Lap 92, William Byron and Bubba Wallace battle for the lead with Bubba getting the lead.
The caution flag comes out on lap 93 when Kyle Larson gets loose with a smoking car and comes to a stop in the soggy grass. Larson’s car gets hooked up to the tow truck and is pulled right out back on the track. With flat tires, he has to be pushed to get going, causing damage to the underside of the car.
Ryan Preece is the “lucky dog” and is now back on the lead lap.
Some of the drivers back in the field come down pit road for service but they are not in the fuel window to make it to the end of the stage.
Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with William Byron alongside on lap 100. Drivers spread out across the track with Bubba Wallace edging out for the lead.
The top five are Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, and Tyler Reddick.
Shane van Gisbergen gets loose and touches the wall but keeps moving and the track stays green.
Lap 104, Bubba Wallace has a lead of over half a second on William Byron; Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Kyle Larson is back in the race but two laps down.
Lap 107, Bubba Wallace has a near one second lead on William Byron; Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
As the sun begins to set, it is causing some issues for the drivers.
Lap 111, Bubba Wallace has now pulled out to a near second and a half lead on William Byron.
Lap 116, Denny Hamlin battle with Chris Buescher for fourth and takes the spot.
Lap 119, William Byron has closed the gap on leader Bubba Wallace to under a second; Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
William Byron and Chase Briscoe battle for second.
Lap 122, Chase Briscoe passes William Bryon for second.
Denny Hamlin passes William Byron for third.
Chase Elliott has passes Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick for fifth.
Lap 124, Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace battle for the lead.
Chase Briscoe edges out Denny Hamlin for the lead; Bubba Wallace is back in third.
Lap 128, drivers begin making green flag pit stops.
Lap 129, leader Chris Buescher had to back up in his pit box to get a tire tightened. Denny Hamlin is the new leader but still needs to make a pit stop.
Bubba Walalce reports that his “car is getting worse”.
Lap 132, leader Denny Hamlin comes down pit road for service; Ryan Blaney is the new leader.
Tyler Reddick makes a second trip down pit road reporting “something is wrong”. There is fluid all over the car and coming out of the car. The crew takes the car behind the wall.
The caution flag comes out for fluid on the track. Several of the drivers have yet to make their pit stops. Several others are a lap down after making their pit stops.
Reports from the garage on Tyler Reddick’s car, “something went through the radiator”.
Lap 140, pit road is open with leaders coming down pit road for service. Ryan Blaney leads the was off of pit road with Christopher Bell coming out second.
William Byron is the new leader.
Seventeen cars took the wave around.
The crew is replacing the radiator in Tyler Reddick’s car with no further changes planned.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Briscoe alongside on lap 144.
The top five are William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs.
Bubba Wallace is falling through the field and is back in tenth after getting loose.
Denny Hamlin passes Chase Elliott for third.
Erik Jones is reporting some mechanical issues in his car.
Lap 151, William Byron has a half second lead on Chase Briscoe; Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
Lap 153, Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs battle for fourth.
Lap 157, William Byron has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Chase Briscoe; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Five laps remain in stage two with William Byron less than half a second out in front of Chase Briscoe.
Tyler Reddick returns to the track 29 laps down.
Ryan Blaney passes Chase Elliott for fifth.
William Byron wins stage two for the stage sweep.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
William Byron
Chase Briscoe
Denny Hamlin
Ty Gibbs
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Alex Bowman
Austin Cindric
John Hunter Nemechek
Kyle Larson is the “lucky dog” and is now just one lap down.
Drivers come down pit road for service with William Byron edging out Chase Briscoe to win the race off of pit road. Byron took four tires, but Briscoe took only two tires.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Chase Briscoe alongside on lap 173 with Byron holding on to the lead.
The top five are William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin.
Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin battle for fourth.
William Byron leads the race with all four of the Joe Gibbs Racing cars filling out the rest of the top five.
Lap 179, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on Chase Briscoe; Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Starting 26th, Daniel Suarez is having what the team calls a “blue collar day” and has worked their way up to 12th.
Lap 184, William Byron holds a lead of nearly a second on Chase Briscoe; Ty Gibbs, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 189, Denny Hamlin passes teammate Ty Gibbs for third.
With 72 laps remaining in the race, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on Chase Briscoe; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
As the sun goes down, so does the air temperatures.
Lap 200, there are 33 cars on the lead lap with just two drivers out of the race.
Lap 201, Denny Hamlin passes Christopher Bell for third.
Corey Heim passes Austin Cindric for eleventh.
Chase Briscoe gets into the wall a bit but the track stays green.
Christopher Bell has passes Denny Hamlin for third.
Lap 210, the top five are William Byron, Chase Briscoe, Christoher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs.
JJ Yeley was caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Lap 213, Willaim Byron has a lead of over a second on Chase Briscoe.
Lap 216, green flag pit stops begin including leader William Byron.
Several drivers are reporting that the track has gotten “free”.
Lap 222, Chase Briscoe is the new leader with William Byron in second.
With 44 laps to go, green flag pit stops have cycled through with Chase Briscoe leading the race; William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
Denny Hamlin passes Ty Gibbs for fifth.
Lap 230, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney for fourth but is still nearly 10 seconds behind leader Chase Briscoe.
With 35 laps to go, Chase Briscoe has a lead of over a second on William Byron; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick was charged with an uncontrolled tire and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Just 29 laps remaining in the race; Chase Briscoe has a second and a half lead on William Byron; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney battle for sixth.
Ty Gibbs team reports that the last set of tires on the car were cording.
Just 22 laps remaining in the race; Chase Briscoe has a lead of over a second on William Byron; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Just 14 laps to go, Chase Briscoe has a near one second lead on William Byron; Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Ten to go, Chase Briscoe has pulled out to a lead.
Christopher Bell passes William Bryon for second.
With eight laps to go, leader Chase Briscoe has encountered slower traffic.
Denny Hamlin has made contact with the wall and has lost some time on the track.
Six to go, Chase Briscoe’s lead is down to just half a second on Christopher Bell.
Four to go, Christopher Bell has caught leader Chase Briscoe.
Two laps remain with teammates Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell in a battle for the lead.
Just 17 cars on the lead lap.
Chase Briscoe takes the white flag.
Chase Briscoe edges out Christopher Bell for the win – his first of the season.
The unofficial results of the eero 400:
Chase Briscoe
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Alex Bowman
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney
Ty Gibbs
Corey Heim
Riley Herbst
Chase Elliott
Joey Logano
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez
Erik JonesTodd Gilliland
AJ Allmendinger
Ross Chastain
Chris Buescher
Ty Dillon
Brad Keselowski
Carson Hocevar
John Hunter Nemechek
Austin Dillon
Shane van Gisbergen
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Noah Gragson
Zane Smith
Michael McDowell
Cody ware
Cole Custer
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Kyle Larson
JJ Yeley
Tyler Reddick
Austin Hill
Connor Zilisch