Subsequent Gen automobiles raced at Chciagoland Speedway for the primary time ever this weekend, and it was a very thrilling race, even because the Toyotas as soon as once more prevailed over the sector.
Hendrick Motorsports confirmed some may, and there was nonstop motion all through the sector. It was additionally the primary of three consecutive Sunday evening races on the 2026 Cup schedule, actually forcing groups to work arduous to maintain up with ever-changing observe situations.
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Drivers have been even shelling out payback across the intermediate oval, prefer it was a Saturday evening brief observe race. On the checkered flag, lower than three tenths separated race winner Chase Briscoe and runner-up finisher Christopher Bell.
Here is a have a look at the most important winners and losers from Chicagoland Speedway:
WINNER: Chase Briscoe and the birthday boy atop the pit field
Watch: Chicagoland celebration! Briscoe talks first victory of season
He can also thank crew chief James Small for boxing him one lap early, permitting him to leap William Byron with the undercut. That clear air was invaluable, particularly as Christopher Bell ran him down within the closing laps as soon as he reached lapped visitors. It was additionally Small’s birthday, so what a present for the chief of the No. 19 JGR Toyota. Briscoe’s win additionally made him the most important mover within the standings, leaping three positions as much as eighth.
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LOSER: A really expensive spin for Kyle LarsonKyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
Whereas working second with a particular shot on the race win, issues went sideways for Larson … actually. He spun on his personal on the exit of Flip 4 and received caught within the muddy grass. With no air jack (which is elective) put in, he misplaced two laps underneath warning and tore up the delicate diffuser. Larson completed thirty fifth, falling all the way down to sixth within the standings and persevering with an uncommon winless streak for the reigning champion.
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WINNER: William Byron leads the Bowties and sweeps the levels
Watch: William Byron left wanting extra after 94 laps led
It wasn’t all unhealthy for Hendrick, as your complete group confirmed nice pace on Sunday. William Byron, who has felt weirdly absent most of this season, was again in correct kind. The No. 24 Chevrolet received each levels and led the way in which for Crew Chevy with a fourth-place end. He was additionally main the race earlier than the ultimate spherical of green-flag stops, however there wasn’t a lot he might do towards the Toyota armada in the long term. He led 94 laps on Sunday, which is over twice as many as he had led within the earlier 18 races mixed. Byron’s end additionally moved him away from the hazard zone within the battle across the cut-line.
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LOSER: Ryan Preece falls again beneath the cut-lineRyan Preece towed from accident scene, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Preece towed from accident scene, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
It looks like one step ahead and two steps again for the No. 60Â RFK Racing Ford. After two robust races at San Diego and Sonoma, Preece was caught up in a Lap 1 melee at Chicagoland. Whereas he misplaced 4 laps because of flat tires stranding him on the backstretch, the staff impressively received all of them again inside the first 100 laps. Sadly, the automobile was wounded and he nonetheless struggled to a thirty second place end. That consequence dropped him again beneath the cut-line, simply 4 factors out. It will be a dogfight for this staff over the subsequent two months to remain in Chase competition.
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Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing
since becoming a member of the Cup Collection virtually twenty years in the past. What makes that much more spectacular is the very fact that there have been solely ten Toyota drivers in your complete subject. Joe Gibbs Racing led the way in which with a 1-2-3 end (and Gibbs eighth), however 23XI Racing additionally put three drivers within the prime ten with Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, and even part-timer Corey Heim. Toyota has now received 12 of the primary 19 races on the schedule, and it looks like nothing can cease them at this level.
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One of many solely Toyota drivers who did not have an excellent day was Reddick. After main the championship for every of the primary 17 races of the 12 months, his as soon as huge 129-point lead is totally gone. Denny Hamlin entered Chicagoland one level forward of Reddick, however a big piece of particles speared by way of the entrance of the No. 45 automobile, punching by way of each the radiator and the oil cooler! It gave the impression to be a diffuser keep in a horrible case of unhealthy luck. He’s immediately 44pts behind Hamlin within the common season standings because the collection strikes on to Atlanta.
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No OEM assist, no downside. We have mentioned this earlier than, however we’ll say it once more. What a quietly spectacular season by AJ Allmendinger, as he led a double prime 20 for Kaulig Racing, and is now simply 16 factors behind the Chase cut-line. He’s tied with three-time collection champion Joey Logano, however he additionally stays forward of a number of better-connected Chevrolet drivers comparable to Ross Chastain (Trackhouse) and Michael McDowell (Spire).
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LOSER: Rookie Connor Zilisch with one other Lap 1 crashConnor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
It simply retains getting worse. After profitable Stage 1 within the NASCARÂ O’Reilly race, Zilisch ran out of gasoline, hit the wall, minimize a tire, and spun. Sadly, that unhealthy luck adopted him into the Cup race on Sunday. The rookie driver desperately wants to simply run some laps, however he did not even make it midway by way of Lap 1 earlier than spinning into the within wall. He was making an attempt to keep away from an incident forward, however that wreck now means he has DNFed in 5 of the final seven races. Additionally, all of these wrecks occurred on Stage 1.
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BONUS LOSER: All 4 of the feuding drivers…for various causes
Chicagoland felt just like the official payback race for a bit of bit, as drivers settled vendettas within the midfield. Zane Smith wrecked himself whereas making an attempt to wreck Carson Hocevar, which is only a unhealthy look throughout and harm each drivers. On the different finish of the spectrum, Shane van Gisbergen wrecked long-time rival Austin Hill after driving into the nook far deeper than regular (per SMT information) after Hill aero-blocked him. SVG not too long ago blamed Hill for wrecking him at each Pocono and San Diego, And whereas he drove away unscathed (not like Smith), Hill just isn’t a driver SVG must be feuding with whereas making an attempt to hold onto a Chase spot. If Hill seeks retribution, it might severely impression SVG’s hopes of constructing the Chase.
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