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Hamlin undeterred by ruling siding with NASCAR in lawsuit filed by Jordan-owned 23XI and Front Row

By LARRY LAGE BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is unfazed that a three-judge federal appellate panel vacated an injunction that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI, which he owns with Michael Jordan, and Front Row as chartered teams as part of an antitrust lawsuit. “That’s just such a small part of the entire litigation,” Hamlin […]

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By LARRY LAGE

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is unfazed that a three-judge federal appellate panel vacated an injunction that required NASCAR to recognize 23XI, which he owns with Michael Jordan, and Front Row as chartered teams as part of an antitrust lawsuit.

“That’s just such a small part of the entire litigation,” Hamlin said Saturday, a day ahead of the FireKeepers Casino 400. “I’m not deterred at all. We’re in good shape.”

Hamlin said Jordan feels the same way.

“He just remains very confident, just like I do,” Hamiln said.

NASCAR has not commented on the latest ruling.

23XI and Front Row sued NASCAR late last year after refusing to sign new agreements on charter renewals. They asked for a temporary injunction that would recognize them as chartered teams for this season, but the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday ruled in NASCAR’s favor.

“We’re looking at all options right now,” Hamlin said.

The teams, each winless this year, said they needed the injunction because the current charter agreement prohibits them from suing NASCAR. 23XI also argued it would be harmed because Tyler Reddick’s contract would have made him a free agent if the team could not guarantee him a charter-protected car.

Hamlin insisted he’s not worried about losing drivers because of the uncertainty.

“I’m not focused on that particularly right this second,” he said.

Reddick, who was last year’s regular-season champion and competed for the Cup title in November, enters the race Sunday at Michigan ranked sixth in the Cup Series standings.

The charter system is similar to franchises in other sports, but the charters are revocable by NASCAR and have expiration dates.

The six teams may have to compete as “open” cars and would have to qualify on speed each week to make the race and would receive a fraction of the money.

Without a charter, Hamlin said it would cost the teams “tens of millions,” to run three cars.

“We’re committed to run this season open if we have to,” he said. “We’re going to race and fulfill all of our commitments no matter what. We’re here to race. Our team is going to be here for the long haul and we’re confident of that.”

The antitrust case isn’t scheduled to be heard until December.

NASCAR has not said what it would do with the six charters held by the two organizations if they are returned to the sanctioning body. There are 36 chartered cars for a 40-car field.

“We feel like facts were on our side,” Hamlin said. “I think if you listen to the judges, even they mentioned that we might be in pretty good shape.”

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing





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Shane van Gisbergen goes elbows out for Chicago Xfinity win

The NASCAR Xfinity race at Chicago ended in a two-lap dash for the win with Connor Zilisch leading teammate Shane van Gisbergen (SVG). As the green flag flew, SVG forced it up the inside of JR Motorsports teammate Zilisch, pushing him wide and taking the race lead. Zilisch tried to fight back, but it was […]

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The NASCAR Xfinity race at Chicago ended in a two-lap dash for the win with Connor Zilisch leading teammate Shane van Gisbergen (SVG). As the green flag flew, SVG forced it up the inside of JR Motorsports teammate Zilisch, pushing him wide and taking the race lead. Zilisch tried to fight back, but it was too late as van Gisbergen captured the checkered flag.

“Thought it was going to be a lost cause when the strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said van Gisbergen. “Thanks to JRM, the car was a rocket.”

Speaking more on the strategy, SVG said: “I knew that was what we were gonna do, but when so many cars didn’t follow us, it was a bit of worry, but then we had tire grip at the end. Really cool battles with everyone. I enjoyed it.”

He also praised Zilisch, calling him “a great young driver … I knew that was my opportunity (to pass him) and took it. It was an awesome 1-2 for the team.”

Zilisch seemed surprised by the move, saying, “I guess I shouldn’t have let him get to my bottom when I was clear there just barely on the front-straight. I just let him get to my inside and took advantage of it. Hate it for my #88 group. I should have just been a little bit more aggressive there. I just thought he was going to race me a little cleaner. I’ll learn from it, move on.”

Watch: Zilisch: ‘Thought he’d race me a little cleaner’ after runner-up finish

This was SVG’s first NASCAR Xfinity start of the year, but his fourth career win. He also won on the streets of Chicago one year ago, but that was with Kaulig Racing. 

Sheldon Creed finished third, Austin Hill fourth, and Nick Sanchez fifth. Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Austin Green, and Brennan Poole filled out the remainder of the top ten.

SVG fights through the field

Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

There were no track-blocking wrecks during the race, but plenty of incidents. Van Gisbergen dominated from the start, but opted to go an alternate strategy that nearly cost him, staying out at the end of Stage 1. However, before he could make his scheduled stop later on, a debris caution with a few laps to go in Stage 2 forced his hand.

Van Gisbergen gave up the lead and came down pit road for his lone stop of the race, falling back to 19th for the restart. While Sheldon Creed claimed the Stage 2 win, SVG quickly drove up to 13th place.

As the final stage got underway, Creed remained in control while van Gisbergen rocketed up to seventh. The caution flew once more when Thomas Annunziata crashed in Turn 2. Taylor Gray tried to avoid the wreck, but got pushed into it.

On the following restart, van Gisbergen continued his forward push as Zilisch moved into the race lead. With some help from Creed, who pulled over for him, SVG moved into second with nine laps to go. He was over 3.5 seconds behind Zilisch, and while he began to chip away at it, another caution would bring the teammates together for a final showdown.

Andre Castro stuffed it into the tires, setting up the final restart of the race, where SVG forced his way by Zilisch. Van Gisbergen also earned pole position for the Cup race in Chicago, so he will attempt to complete the weekend sweep on Sunday.

Photos from Chicago – Race

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Nick DeGroot

NASCAR XFINITY

Shane van Gisbergen

Connor Zilisch

JR Motorsports

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A look at NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend

As NASCAR fans from across the globe gathered for the 2025 Chicago Street Race on Saturday, some spectators reveled in the moment more than usual, knowing it may be the last time the city hosts the event. This is the third and final year of NASCAR’s contract with the city for the Fourth of July […]

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As NASCAR fans from across the globe gathered for the 2025 Chicago Street Race on Saturday, some spectators reveled in the moment more than usual, knowing it may be the last time the city hosts the event.

This is the third and final year of NASCAR’s contract with the city for the Fourth of July weekend event. Racing officials have not released a full schedule for 2026, and Mayor Brandon Johnson has so far not committed to bringing NASCAR back.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese has been tight-lipped about NASCAR’s future in the city, as well. A two-year extension for the course to stay in Chicago remains possible, but far from certain. Races in the previous two years have been met with rainy weather, leading to lengthy delays.

Some residents have been lukewarm about the event, as it comes with street closures that make 10 commonly used intersections inaccessible. And after days of snarled traffic and rerouted buses, it takes awhile for the Loop to return to normal.

Amid the uncertainty, thousands of dedicated racing fans streamed into Chicago’s Grant Park early Saturday morning, braving the hot weather but enjoying clear blue skies as drivers completed their initial practice runs.

“I am out here because this will probably be the last year,” said John Drexler, a 66-year-old truck driver from Schaumburg and self-described “gearhead.”

Fans enjoy the atmosphere in Grant Park during the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Fans enjoy the atmosphere in Grant Park during the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series on July 5, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Drexler said it would be a shame to lose a spectacle, which showcases Chicago’s skyline for an international audience.

“I’ve been a racing fan for more than 50 years, so I hope they bring it back,” he said. “Monaco and Long Beach are the only cities that are even comparable to this.”

Many spectators watched the race — and visited Chicago — for the first time. The street course rookies seemed in awe of the atmosphere.

“So far it’s been awesome. I’m over the moon,” said Scott Russell, 52, who traveled from Melbourne, Australia. “I paid a fortune for tickets (because) I thought if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this properly. I would definitely come back to Chicago without a doubt.”

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NASCAR racers line the pit stop area in Grant Park ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

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Fans filled the grandstands east of the pit stops on Columbus Drive and lined the fences along the rest of the 2.2-mile lakefront course, many wincing as drivers roared past at more than 100 mph. Drivers maneuvered through Grant Park and skirted Lake Michigan, sped past the Museum Campus down to Roosevelt Road, taking several 90-degree turns at about 50 mph, eventually heading north on Michigan Avenue and then east past the Art Institute of Chicago on Jackson Drive.

“I’ve been to all three of these because I felt like this was maybe not going to be around forever,” said Mike Piotrowski, who grew up watching racing on television.

Piotrowski is not like some of the NASCAR fans who have been to races all over the country. David Cox, 52, said he has made trips to Talladega in Lincoln, Alabama, and Bristol, in Tennessee, as well as watched races in Michigan.

“A NASCAR race is like a marriage, everyone should try it at least once,” Cox said. “If you don’t like it, don’t go back.”

John Tucker, a Lutheran minister from Salisbury, N.C., has been to four races this year. His daughter is married to an engineer from RCR Racing, which is why he became a traveling NASCAR fan eight years ago. He thinks the racing itself is interesting, but he said he became a true fan when he saw the “camaraderie of the pit crews.”

“They really look after each other,” Tucker said. “Family care is important to me, and to see that with a team … I didn’t expect that.”

Before Saturday, Tammy Southern had not been to a NASCAR race since 1997. This weekend was the first time she and her husband, Bradley, were able to take a vacation alone since they had children. They came to Chicago from South Bend, Indiana, to soak up “the stuff that you don’t normally see when you’re at home watching it.”

“There’s so many different experiences here that we get to see,” Southern said. “It’s sad that this might be the last one here.”

From left, Quinn McRae, 12, Emma McRae, 10 and Melissa McRae watch the Nascar Infinity Series Practice & Qualifying ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Audrey RIchardson/Chicago Tribune)
Quinn McRae, 12, from left; Emma McRae, 10; and Melissa McRae watch the NASCAR Infinity Series practice and qualifying races ahead of the Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on July 5, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

The weekend featured one of its first nonrainy days, as fans treated themselves to mock races, a trip down pit lane during qualifying and a look at each racer’s RV. Workers repaired cars while others kept the crew hydrated in the high-80s degree weather.

Thirty-eight drivers qualified for Saturday’s Xfinity Series The Loop 110 race, and many said Chicago’s heat wave made the course hotter and slicker than the past two years, making it more difficult to avoid scraping the walls.

“When the track is that hot and slick, there is no margin for error,” said 36-year-old New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen, just after completing the fastest time during the Loop 110 qualifying round.

Gisbergen, the winner of the inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023, said he also hopes the Chicago Street Race returns for another year.

“You walk to the track with all the fans and it’s really cool,” he said. “This is a place that is really special to me.”

Helena Berry watches the Nascar Infinity Series Practice & Qualifying ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Audrey RIchardson/Chicago Tribune)
Helena Berry watches the NASCAR Infinity Series practice and qualifying races ahead of the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 110 on July 5, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Many fans said they would love to see the race remain in Chicago, as well. They rave about how close spectators are to the track, as well as the “smell of the tires and asphalt” as racers drove by.

“I’m really happy to be here because it’s my first time I’ve ever been to Chicago and the city has amazed me (because of) how clean it is and the amount of people I’ve met and how friendly they are,” Russell said. “If someone said to me, ‘You want to go to Chicago (for the race)?’, I’ll be like ‘Yup, let’s go.’”



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NASCAR Saturday schedule at Chicago

Cup and Xfinity cars will have the right of way Saturday on the streets of downtown Chicago. The action will begin on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit with more than four hours of practice and qualifying for both series. The green flag will drop on the 50-lap Xfinity race at 4:40 p.m. ET. Advertisement Kyle Larson […]

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Cup and Xfinity cars will have the right of way Saturday on the streets of downtown Chicago.

The action will begin on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit with more than four hours of practice and qualifying for both series. The green flag will drop on the 50-lap Xfinity race at 4:40 p.m. ET.

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Kyle Larson won the pole position for last year’s Cup Series race and finished third in the 2024 Xfinity race behind Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen, who won from the pole.

NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500

NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500

New crew chief, same winning ways for Denny Hamlin

In his first year with crew chief Chris Gayle, Denny Hamlin’s performance is nearly identical to this point last year with crew chief Chris Gabehart.

Chicago schedule

(All Times Eastern)

Saturday, July 5

Garage open

  • 8:30 a.m. – midnight — Xfinity Series

  • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

  • 10:30 – 11:20 a.m. — Xfinity practice (CW App)

  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Xfinity qualifying (CW App)

  • 1 – 1:50 p.m. — Cup practice (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

  • 2 – 3 p.m. — Cup qualifying (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

  • 4:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (50 laps, 110 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 15, Stage 2 at Lap 30; CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weather

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a high of 94 degrees, winds from the southwest at 10-20 mph. It’s expected to be 92 degrees with no chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity race.



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Suarez says there ‘wasn’t love anymore,’ but no hard feelings at Trackhouse

Daniel Suarez was not required to attend the NASCAR media bullpen in Chicago on Saturday, but not only did he show up, he spoke candidly about his future beyond Trackhouse Racing. The two sides announced earlier this week that they’ve agreed to mutually part ways at the end of the season. Suarez has driven the […]

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Daniel Suarez was not required to attend the NASCAR media bullpen in Chicago on Saturday, but not only did he show up, he spoke candidly about his future beyond Trackhouse Racing.

The two sides announced earlier this week that they’ve agreed to mutually part ways at the end of the season. Suarez has driven the No. 99 Chevrolet since 2021 and has two wins with the team. Justin Marks hired Suarez as his flagship driver when founding Trackhouse Racing.

“I have known for several months it was going to happen,” Suarez said. “It’s like everything in life – things change, people change, the company changes, and that’s OK. There is nothing wrong with that. There just wasn’t love anymore, but there are no hard feelings. I really want to stick to the amazing years that we had together early in the process of Trackhouse, and it was just time for a change.”

Suarez appeared on the June 25 episode of “The Dale Jr. Download” and mentioned that there were things he was uncomfortable with this season. He then used the same word in another interview after the news of his impending separation from Trackhouse Racing was announced. However, he never provided details about what those things were.

Saturday, Suarez admitted it was “a very difficult question” when asked for those details, and he didn’t want to offer anything specific.

However, he did say, “There have been several situations in the last eight months, 10 months, that I haven’t felt like I used to for different situations. Sometimes when you don’t have that feel, there is no chemistry anymore. It’s like being in a relationship and living together because you bought a house together. It just didn’t feel good anymore, and this is both ways. I’m pretty sure it was both ways.

“It was just a matter of time. Sometimes when you don’t have that, when you’re fighting with the best of the best, you need to have everything clicking in the right direction, and unfortunately, I have felt a few things are missing for the last several months.”

Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen have both won in the regular season and are likely to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Suarez is winless and will need to win his way in as well. He is 29th in the standings.

Because he is a rookie, there is leeway with van Gisbergen’s performance. However, Chastain is eighth in the standings, and there is a clear gap between Chastain’s and Suarez’s teams in top-10 finishes and stage points.

Suarez praised the talent of his teammate, but then he paused for almost 10 seconds before expanding further on trying to pinpoint why there is a difference in the teams.

“Since my new crew chief came to Trackhouse, he told me a lot of things that he didn’t think were right within the organization and a lot of things that needed to be changed,” Suarez said of Matt Swiderski. “I’ve been very vocal with the team, ‘Hey, we need to adjust this; we need to adjust that.’ I’m not the only one seeing it. There are more people seeing it.’ And not a lot of things happen; everything happens so slow.

“I don’t think that’s the only reason. I think there are more things, but I just think that lately there have been things that have made me feel that I’m not as important. I believe we can run good. In Pocono, we were the fastest Trackhouse car in qualifying and the race. But we’re extremely inconsistent … and that’s something we have to work on, and I feel like there are a good amount of people that feel like there is still things to work on as an organization. I just feel like my voice was [not] really heard anymore, and when that happens, in my opinion, that could be the beginning of the end.”

Although things are coming to an end, Suarez has also spoken highly of Trackhouse Racing and his love for the organization and team. In fact, he said the No. 99 team is one of the best he’s ever had, and they are special to him and will be missed.

Trackhouse Racing was a place he hoped to finish his Cup Series career. Now he’s looking for somewhere else that will feel like home with its support while allowing Suarez to be himself.

He is confident that he’ll be in a Cup Series car next year. Contractually, Suarez was unable to start speaking to others until this week, and he promptly began exploring options. But, he acknowledged, it is still early in the silly season cycle.

“I’m confident things are going to work out,” Suarez said. “Good things happen to good people, and I’m 100 percent sure I’m going to be fine.”



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William Byron: “I’m just an idiot” for wrecking out of Chicago Cup practice

In NASCAR Cup Series practice at Chicago, things were looking promising for William Byron. He was faster than Shane van Gisbergen, setting the pace in the first practice group. He lapped the street circuit in 1:31.008s, over three tenths quicker than SVG. However, after completing eight laps, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet returned to the […]

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In NASCAR Cup Series practice at Chicago, things were looking promising for William Byron. He was faster than Shane van Gisbergen, setting the pace in the first practice group. He lapped the street circuit in 1:31.008s, over three tenths quicker than SVG.

However, after completing eight laps, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet returned to the track for the closing moments of the session. That ended up being a mistake, as Byron lost it on entry into Turn 10. The car slid out and hit the wall, breaking the left-rear toe-link and damaging the side of the car. He crab-walked the car back to the pits, but the damage was done.

Byron will have to start from the rear of the field as a result of the costly mistake. He will join Denny Hamlin on the back row, who lost an engine at the very beginning of the practice session.

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“I’m an idiot,” Byron told TNT Sports. “I just took a lot through there and (had) a lot of speed. I was just getting my tires cleaned back off from leaving pit road.”

He continued: “I had just pitted, so my tires were probably just coming up to temp again. I took it easy the first half of the lap and I was starting to push, being close to the alternate start/finish (line) and just lost traction.”

As for the battle ahead of him, Byron was confident in his ability to get the No. 24 back through the field, but admitted: “Just sucks starting from the back … just don’t like crashing.”

Byron ended up second overall in practice. Unfortunately, his Hendrick Motorsports teammates also found the wall, just not as severely. Chase Elliott pancaked the wall at Turn 4 and Alex Bowman was forced to replace a bent toe-link. Like Byron, Elliott won’t make a qualifying attempt either. In the end, repairs meant that all four Hendrick drivers — including Kyle Larson — will start from the rear of the field.

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Denny Hamlin “couldn’t even make a pace lap” before Chicago engine failure

Trackhouse owner Justin Marks to drive NASCAR Cup car at Goodwood

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Shane van Gisbergen completes sweep of Chicago streets with NASCAR Cup pole – Speedway Digest

Road course superstar Shane van Gisbergen pulled of the second qualifying double of his fledgling NASCAR career during Saturday’s time trials on the Chicago Street Course. After securing the pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Van Gisbergen blitzed the rest of the field on his final run for the top starting position in […]

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Road course superstar Shane van Gisbergen pulled of the second qualifying double of his fledgling NASCAR career during Saturday’s time trials on the Chicago Street Course.

After securing the pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Van Gisbergen blitzed the rest of the field on his final run for the top starting position in Sunday’s Grant Park 165 on the 2.2-mile, 12-turn street circuit (2 p.m. ET on TNT, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Van Gisbergen posted a respectable lap on his second run, only to see it surpassed by recent Pocono winner Chase Briscoe. But Van Gisbergen responded with a lap at 88.338 mph (89.656 seconds) to beat eventual second-place qualifier Michael McDowell (87.879 mph) by 0.468 seconds, a huge margin in the competitive Gen-7 environment.

The Busch Light Pole Award was Van Gisbergen’s first on the Chicago Street Course, his second this season and the third of his career. Last fall, he swept the Cup and Xfinity poles at the Charlotte Roval.

“I’m a lucky boy—I got some great cars today,” said the three-time Australian Supercars champion. “Xfinity pole, Cup pole—pretty special. Hopeful for the race tomorrow.

“Practice wasn’t that great, and I went out in qualifying, and the car felt really good … I learned a lot in the Xfinity car this morning, and that just gives you a great leg up for the Cup car.”

Carson Hocevar, McDowell’s Spire Motorsports teammate, will start third after a lap at 87.824 mph. Tyler Reddick claimed the fourth spot on the grid, followed by Briscoe, who was second fastest behind Van Gisbergen in the first of two qualifying groups.

Hocevar and Reddick are head-to-head opponents in the In-Season Challenge, with the second round to be contested in Sunday’s race.

Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs and Austin Dillon claimed the sixth through 10th starting positions respectively. Defending race winner Alex Bowman will start 11th.

There will be plenty of speed at both ends of the field. Denny Hamlin blew the engine in his No. 11 Toyota on his first practice lap and did not make a qualifying run. Neither did William Byron, who slammed the outside wall with less than a minute left in practice—after setting the fastest time in the session.

Chase Elliott also sustained damage to his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and did not qualify. Byron, Elliott and Hamlin will start 38th, 39th and 40th respectively on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace, facing an In-Season Challenge matchup against Bowman, spun twice and backed into a Turn 2 tire barrier during time trials and will start 37th.

Katherine Legge will be the first female driver to compete in the Chicago Street Race after knocking the unchartered car of Corey Heim out of the field late in the Group B session. Legge earned the 33rd spot on the grid with a lap at 85.744 mph.



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