Denny Hamlin claimed the pole position at Chicagoland Speedway on July 4, 2026, with a speed of 178.241 mph. He edged Kyle Larson by 0.001 seconds to secure his fourth pole of the season and 52nd of his career.
What happened?
Hamlin's No. 11 team did a great job overnight to improve his car's balance, which wasn't ideal during Friday's practice. He got fortunate with favorable cloud conditions, which helped him set the fastest time.
Why it matters for Denny Hamlin
The pole position is Hamlin's first at Chicagoland Speedway, which hasn't hosted a NASCAR national series race since 2019. He is the only driver to win poles at both Chicagoland Speedway and the Chicago Street Course.
What comes next?
Hamlin will face Erik Jones in Sunday's second round of the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge. He will also have to contend with Kyle Larson, who he considers the best driver at Chicagoland Speedway.
Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, and Chase Briscoe claimed the respective fifth through seventh starting positions. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford drivers Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski qualified third and fourth, respectively.
The eero 400 will take place on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. on TNT, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Hamlin leads the series standings by one point over Tyler Reddick.
Michael McDowell's No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet failed inspection three times and must start from the rear of the field under penalty. McDowell will have to serve a pass-through on the opening lap.
Hamlin's victory at Michigan International Speedway on June 7, 2026, was his most recent win. He is looking to continue his momentum at Chicagoland Speedway.
The top 10 qualifiers for the eero 400 include four JGR Toyotas, three Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, two RFK Fords, and one 23XI Racing Toyota. Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, and William Byron completed the top 10.
Hamlin's experience at Chicagoland Speedway will be an advantage on Sunday. He won the race at Chicagoland in 2015 and is looking to repeat that success.
The NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge is heating up, and Hamlin is in a good position to advance to the next round. He will have to perform well on Sunday to maintain his lead in the series standings.
Hamlin's speed of 178.241 mph was the fastest of the day, and he is confident about his chances on Sunday. He will have to contend with a strong field of drivers, but he is ready for the challenge.
The eero 400 will be an exciting race, with many talented drivers competing for the win. Hamlin is one of the favorites, but he will have to perform well to come out on top.
Hamlin's pole position at Chicagoland Speedway is a significant achievement, and he is looking to build on that success on Sunday. He is focused on winning the race and maintaining his lead in the series standings.
The NASCAR Cup Series is one of the most competitive racing series in the world, and Hamlin is one of the top drivers. He has a strong team behind him, and he is confident about his chances of winning the championship.
The eero 400 will be broadcast live on TNT, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and fans can tune in to watch the exciting race. Hamlin is looking to put on a show and come out on top