Newsletter Subscribe
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
Chase Briscoe takes EERO 400 for first win of 2026 season
Share your love
NASCAR returned to the Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019 and while rain was a problem on Saturday, it was rain-free race on Sunday.
Chase Briscoe took the checkered flag on Sunday in Joliet, winning his first race of the 2026 season. Briscoe held off Christopher Bell over the final few laps to take home the win, celebrating in victory lane and closing out a fun weekend in Joliet. The Indiana native got his sixth career win, doing so in front of the sell out crowd.
With Bell finishing second, he was followed by Denny Hamlin who was third, William Byron who was fourth and Alex Bowman who rounded out the top five.
NASCAR’s return gets off to a wild start
In its return to Chicagoland, it didn’t take long for the fireworks to start. John Hunter Nemechek pushed into Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the first lap, causing a crash and a caution right away. Ryan Preece and Connor Zillisch were also involved in the crash.
Then on lap 33, Zane Smith ran into the back of Carson Hocevar as both cars wrecked but were able to still continue. Then just a few laps later, Shane Van Gisbergen pushed into the back of Austin Hill as frustrations started to mount.
ANOTHER collision at @ChicagolndSpdwy
SVG wrecks Austin Hill in the 33
pic.twitter.com/aGRYpec6MJ
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) July 5, 2026
As for 23XI Racing, Bubba Wallace went into the lead in stage two and looked as if he had a shot to win the race. However, teammate Tyler Reddick suffered a setback with a radiator issue, causing oil to leak. Reddick remains second in the points in the Cup Series but has had a tough run of luck that spilled into this race as well.
Reddick ended up finishing 36th but is now 44 points behind Denny Hamlin for the points lead. Wallace, driving a special Space Jam inspired paint scheme finished sixth in the race.
For Chicagoland fans, the return to the track was a successful one despite some long lines to get in. There looks to be a future at the track which is great news for race fans in the area.
The post Chase Briscoe takes EERO 400 for first win of 2026 season appeared first on ChiCitySports.
