Denny Hamlin Shines at Chicagoland, Questions Loom for NASCAR’s Future There

Denny Hamlin currently leads the NASCAR Cup Series points standings for the first time this season. As the series returns to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Hamlin has more reasons to celebrate. His past performance at Chicagoland is impressive, including a victory in the Cup Series race in 2015 and five top-10 finishes in his last six races at the track. This successful history boosts his confidence as he starts from the pole position in Sunday’s eero 400. Notably, he also started on the pole in the 2023 street race in downtown Chicago.

“I’m a Chicago master, what can I say?” Hamlin remarked humorously.

During the eero 400 qualifying, Hamlin narrowly took the pole position over Kyle Larson, finishing his lap in 30.296 seconds. Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, and Ty Gibbs followed closely, with other top competitors like Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and William Byron rounding out the top starters. The race is set to begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Hamlin has consistently performed well on 1.5-mile tracks such as Chicagoland, achieving top-five finishes in his last six races on these layouts, winning twice. Reflecting on his qualifying run, Hamlin said,
“Generally, these are great race tracks for us. I thought I ran a conservative but solid run into Turns 1 and 2. Three and four, I didn’t quite hit it great but it looked like I got off of turn four better than the competition. This is very surprising, truthfully.”

While Hamlin aims to maintain his streak, there’s much discussion about the uncertain future of Chicagoland Speedway on the NASCAR roster. With potential plans for a street race in downtown Chicago next year, the question remains if Joliet will have a recurring spot. Chase Briscoe, hailing from Indiana, expressed his hope for the track’s continued inclusion.

“I love coming back home essentially,” Briscoe shared. “It’s in the Midwest. I hope we can continue to come here. I love this track and always have. Hopefully, it’s an amazing race and the fans turn out so we can keep coming back.”

Austin Dillon, who qualified 25th, described the track as having significant character. He expressed his desire to return but also acknowledged the appeal of a Chicago street race. He emphasized the importance of strong attendance and fan satisfaction in influencing NASCAR’s decision.

“We have to make sure everyone shows up and enjoys it,” Dillon stated. “If we put on a good show, ticket sales will always go up.”

Hamlin, keen on promoting the event, joked about taking steps like climbing a tower in downtown Chicago to draw attention to the race. He highlighted the importance of getting things right in Chicago for the broader NASCAR audience.

“I think it’s an important audience for us,” Hamlin commented. “We came here for the test run (in April) and there were three cars with no logos on them and there were probably 500 people out here. There was not much to see, but they’ve been wanting for us to get back in this area.”

Hamlin remains optimistic, believing the race quality will make it difficult for organizers to remove Chicagoland from the schedule.