Racing Insights: Will experience be key to Chicagoland success?

After spending the last three years racing on the streets of downtown Chicago, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Chicagoland Speedway in nearby Joliet for the first time since 2019.

With this serving as the first race for the Next Gen car at Chicagoland, expect drivers to face challenges from the track’s aged and bumpy nature while navigating multiple grooves from the bottom to ripping the fence. Several drivers need a strong showing at a crucial point in Sunday’s eero 400 (6 p.m. ET, TNT Sports, truTV, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), as just eight regular-season races remain.

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With no on-track action at Chicagoland in the last seven years, could experience at the 1.5-mile Illinois track be key to reaching Victory Lane? Here’s a look at other drivers to keep an eye on, as well as the full projected results for Sunday’s Cup Series race.

DRIVERS TO WATCH

KYLE LARSON: With his winless streak reaching 42 races entering Chicagoland, this feels like the perfect opportunity for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to return to Victory Lane. The defending Cup Series champion has led laps in the last 12 of 13 races on 1.5-mile tracks. Larson is also riding some momentum lately, with five top-five finishes in the last six Cup Series races. After qualifying second for Sunday’s race, look for Larson to contend for the win.

TYLER REDDICK: Only 21 Cup Series drivers have made a start at the premier level at Chicagoland. Reddick, however, is not one of them. The 23XI Racing driver last competed at the 1.5-mile Illinois track in 2019 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, finishing ninth. Despite not having Chicagoland Cup Series experience, don’t expect that to slow Reddick down. The driver of the No. 45 Toyota has five top 10s in the last six races on 1.5-mile tracks. He also has an average running position of 5.16 on these tracks this year, ranking second behind polesitter and bossman Denny Hamlin. Reddick qualified 13th for the eero 400, but paced 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-lap averages in practice. Expect the No. 45 Toyota to be a factor on Sunday.

RYAN BLANEY: After six consecutive top 10s, Blaney comes to Joliet on a summer heater. The Team Penske driver very well could pick up his seventh straight top-10 finish on Sunday. He has two top 10s at Chicagoland in four career Cup Series starts, and his average finish of 9.8 here is his best among all 1.5-mile tracks. Rolling off the grid in 14th, the No. 12 Ford should lead the charge again for the Captain’s organization.

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FULL PROJECTED RESULTS FOR EERO 400 (6 p.m. ET, TNT Sports)