Hamlin Fastest at Chicagoland Speedway; Larson shares front row for eero 400

By Bob Francis Motorsports Reporter, Managing Editor Go Full Throttle Racing News July 4, 2026

JOLIET, IL — Denny Hamlin won the Busch Light Pole Award for the eero 400 during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying today at Chicagoland Speedway. Hamlin laid down a lap of 30.296 seconds at 178.241 mph to earn his 52nd pole in 740 NASCAR Cup Series races. This is his fourth pole and 11th top-10 start in 2026, and his first pole in 15 races at Chicagoland Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway. (Image Credit: Joe Gibbs Racing)

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Insurance Toyota, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 04, 2026 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Qualifying Fast Facts- eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway

Busch Pole Award Pole Winner: Denny Hamlin Age: 45 Team : №11 — Progressive Insurance Toyota Owner: Joe Gibbs Crew Chief: Chris Gayle

Kyle Larson qualified 2nd, posting his 12th top-10 start of 2026 and his fourth in seven races at Chicagoland Speedway.

Chris Buescher qualified P3 for his first top-10 start at Chicagoland Speedway. It is his 10th in 19 races this season.

Connor Zilisch (21st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

Qualifying Results

Starting Order by Row

“I don’t want to continue to underplay it, but we got very fortunate,” said Hamlin, who leads the series standings by one point over Tyler Reddick. “The last 12 cars had full sun — 100% sun. The last few had 90%, but I think that was the deciding factor.

“We saw that, right after I went, the track definitely got hotter, and it seemed like the corner speeds of those guys started to slow down. I think if there was one more car behind Ty Gibbs (the final qualifier), they definitely would have beaten us, because it went full shade. We got fortunate there, but they (Hamlin’s №11 team) did a real good job overnight with my car (whose balance wasn’t ideal during Friday’s practice).”

Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Progressive Insurance Toyota, signs the Busch Light Pole Award backdrop after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 04, 2026 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)