For the first time in nearly seven years, NASCAR stock cars will be back up to speed at Chicagoland Speedway and some top drivers are ready for the big opportunity test Tuesday.
JOLIET, Illinois — For the first time in nearly seven years, NASCAR stock cars will be back up to speed at Chicagoland Speedway.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney and NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones will participate in the two-day Goodyear tire test, set for Tuesday and Wednesday, April 21-22.
As the only former Cup winner at the track, Hamlin seemingly has an advantage. However, he said he is more focused on some of the unknowns going into the test.
"What we have to do is temper our expectations of what happens out there on the test. We're going to be going out there probably blowing dust off the thing for a few days. When we go back for the race weekend, I think that track will be totally different," Hamlin said.
A track once cast aside by the hands of time, circumstance and fans who soured on the track, those same factors have resurrected the 1.5-mile intermediate oval. The current Cup car has improved racing on intermediates, inspiring fans and drivers, like Larson, to keep the track in mind just enough to heed its resurrection.
“Chicagoland was an awesome track back then and I feel like it's going to be a lot of fun with this car. I think this car produces a little bit more exciting racing on the intermediate-style tracks. I’m just curious to get there; see what condition the facility is in at this point, the racing surface and how it's changed," Larson said.
Beyond what they could learn for Chicagoland, the defending Cup champion sees an opportunity for his team to understand where they stack up against some of their closest rivals.
"I think our whole team is excited about this test," Larson said. "Those are the teams that you look at each week, so to go there and have two days to kind of learn what you can about your car, but also you'll see how you stack up against them. They’re probably going to bring their best stuff, as well, so it’ll be good.
"I think there's a lot of opportunity for us to learn there that could benefit us at other racetracks also throughout the year."
In the last 10 Cup Series races on intermediate tracks, nine of them have seen either Larson, Hamlin and Blaney lead the most laps or win.
The test is set for Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday's test will start at 9 a.m.
Tuesday's test is free and open to the public. Gate 1 will open at 10:30 a.m. for seating in sections 107 and 108 and "fun activities" between runs.
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Footnote:
Denny Hamlin led the most laps led in the spring Kansas and Las Vegas races in 2026 and in the fall Kansas race in 2025. He won at Las Vegas in spring of 2026 and fall of 2025.
In 2025, Kyle Larson led the most laps in both Las Vegas races, the spring Kansas race and at Texas – and won the spring Kansas race and Homestead. That same year, Ryan Blaney led the most laps at Homestead before leading the most laps and winning at Nashville Superspeedway.