Denny Hamlin Leads NASCAR Cup Series
Denny Hamlin stands at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series points for the first time this season. The driver enters the Fourth of July weekend with high spirits, coinciding with NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet for the first time since 2019. Hamlin has a strong history at this track, having won the Cup Series race in 2015 and securing top 10 finishes in five of his last six races in Joliet. Currently, he holds the pole position for the upcoming eero 400, reflecting his consistent performance in the region.
Impressive Qualifying Session
During the eero 400 qualifying, Hamlin narrowly achieved pole position by completing his lap in 30.296 seconds, outpacing Kyle Larson by a mere one-thousandth of a second. Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, and Ty Gibbs followed closely. The top 10 starters include Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and William Byron. The race is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Hamlin’s success on 1.5-mile tracks like Chicagoland has been remarkable, with top five finishes in each of his last six races on these tracks and two victories. Despite this, Hamlin didn’t expect his Saturday run would earn him the pole. “I thought I ran conservatively in Turns 1 and 2,” Hamlin admitted, noting his surprise at winning the pole.
Future of Chicagoland Speedway
The return to Chicagoland prompts discussions about its future in the NASCAR schedule. Speculation about the potential continuation of the Chicago street race leaves the track’s future uncertain. Chase Briscoe, from Indiana, hopes the Midwest venue remains a staple. “I love it here,” Briscoe remarked, expressing his wish to keep racing at Joliet alongside a Chicago street race.
Austin Dillon, qualifying 25th, described Chicagoland Speedway as a track with “a lot of character.” He expressed his appreciation for both the speedway and the street race while emphasizing the importance of fan turnout to influence NASCAR’s scheduling decisions. Dillon stated, “Good shows and high ticket sales go hand in hand.”
Hamlin is committed to promoting the event. He declared he might spread the word in downtown Chicago, humorously suggesting he could climb a tower to catch attention. Nonetheless, Hamlin recognizes Chicago as a key market for NASCAR. Following a test run in April that drew interest despite no logos on the cars, he stated, “This area wants us back.”
Importance of Performance
Hamlin believes a successful weekend at Chicagoland would strengthen its position in future schedules. Highlighting enduring fan support and the competitive nature of the track, he concluded, “A great race will make it challenging to remove it from the schedule.”