Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Hamlin Takes NASCAR Cup Points Lead by One Slim Point as Season Reaches Midpoint
Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings by a single point over Tyler Reddick heading into Sunday's eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, marking the first time in 2026 that Reddick has not held the championship lead. Reddick had been out front all season before his power steering failure at Sonoma cost him a last-place finish. Hamlin holds 719 points to Reddick's 718 with eight races remaining in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Ryan Blaney sits third at 615 points, and Ty Gibbs is fourth at 589. The top 16 drivers advance to the Chase after Race 26.
Sources: NASCAR.com Motorsport.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
In-Season Challenge Round 2 Set for Chicagoland: Bowman Carries Cinderella Story to Chicago
The NASCAR In-Season Challenge heads into Round 2 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 5, where 16 drivers remain in contention for the $1 million prize. The biggest storyline from Round 1: 32nd-seeded Alex Bowman advancing past top-seeded Tyler Reddick after Reddick lost multiple laps to a power steering failure and finished last. Bowman now faces 16th-seeded Austin Cindric. Other notable matchups include Ty Gibbs versus teammate Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Larson against William Byron. Shane van Gisbergen, 14th-seeded entering Round 2, faces Ryan Blaney. The five-race bracket concludes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26.
Sources: Read Motorsport NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Letarte Clears Hocevar of Full Blame in Sonoma Stackup That Sent Championship Leader Hamlin Spinning
Steve Letarte, analyzing Sunday's Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway, concluded that Carson Hocevar was not solely to blame for the Lap 64 Turn 7 restart incident that sent championship leader Denny Hamlin spinning into the dirt. Hamlin was running sixth when contact from Hocevar's No. 77 car looped him around. But Letarte explained that contact from Brad Keselowski pushed Hocevar, while onboard camera footage from Alex Bowman's car showed Bowman-to-Keselowski contact may have initiated the chain reaction. Hamlin himself estimated responsibility at "33, 33, 33 percent" across Hocevar, Keselowski, and Bowman. Hamlin rallied to finish 26th and still took over the points lead.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Alex Bowman Says He Doesn't Feel He's Racing for His Job as Hendrick Contract Nears End
Alex Bowman is in the final season of a three-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports driving the No. 48 Chevrolet, and his 2027 future remains undecided. "I don't feel like I'm racing for my job," Bowman told reporters Tuesday ahead of the Chicagoland weekend. Bowman currently sits 29th in points with two top fives and three top 10s on the season, a stretch that followed a four-race absence this spring due to vertigo. At Chicagoland, Bowman faces Austin Cindric in Round 2 of the In-Season Challenge and is the most recent Cup winner at the track, having claimed his first series victory there in 2019.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Zane Smith Eyes First Cup Win at Historic 100th Start in Chicagoland Debut
Zane Smith will make his 100th NASCAR Cup Series start on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway, and the milestone weekend comes with another distinction: it will be Smith's first career start at the 1.5-mile oval. "Hope to get my first Cup Series win," Smith said ahead of the eero 400. Smith drives the No. 38 Ford and sits 23rd in the current Cup standings with 340 points. Chicagoland returns to the NASCAR schedule for the first time since 2019, offering a fresh opportunity for drivers like Smith who have never competed at the Joliet, Illinois venue.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Goodyear Brings Tested Tire Setup as NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland for First Time Since 2019
Goodyear Racing will bring a tested intermediate-track tire setup to Chicagoland Speedway as the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois for the first time since 2019. Because Chicagoland has been off the schedule for seven years, Goodyear conducted a dedicated test to validate the rubber compound and construction for current Next Gen cars at the track. The tested setup is intended to provide predictable handling characteristics as teams lack recent baseline data. Chicagoland hosts the eero 400 on Sunday, July 5, which also serves as Round 2 of the 2026 In-Season Challenge.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NASCAR's Scott Miller Opens Doors to Remote Race Control Center in Hauler Talk Episode
NASCAR competition strategist Scott Miller gave viewers an inside look at the sport's Remote Race Control center in the 60th episode of "Hauler Talk," released Tuesday on NASCAR's digital platforms. The Remote Race Control facility allows NASCAR officials to monitor races and coordinate officiating decisions from a centralized location rather than relying solely on trackside personnel. Miller, who serves as a key figure in NASCAR's officiating and competition operations, walked through the center's setup and capabilities. The "Hauler Talk" series provides fans access to behind-the-scenes perspectives from NASCAR officials and team personnel.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Power Rankings: Bell Poised to Climb After Sonoma Exhale as Larson Looms at Chicagoland
NASCAR.com's weekly power rankings entering the Chicagoland race show Christopher Bell well positioned after a fifth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway, where Bell scored stage points and demonstrated consistent form. Bell sits 10th in Cup standings with 472 points heading to a 1.5-mile oval where his intermediate-track skills apply. Kyle Larson ranks among the favorites at Chicagoland despite having never won there, holding four top fives, five top 10s, and a 6.2 average finish in six career Chicagoland starts. Championship leader Denny Hamlin won at Chicagoland in 2015 and owns seven top 10s in 14 career starts at the track.
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Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Denny Hamlin — 719 pts
2. Tyler Reddick — 718 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 615 pts
4. Ty Gibbs — 589 pts
5. Kyle Larson — 571 pts
6. Chase Elliott — 554 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 518 pts
8. Carson Hocevar — 509 pts
9. Daniel Suarez — 484 pts
10. Christopher Bell — 472 pts
11. Chase Briscoe — 468 pts
12. William Byron — 446 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 444 pts
14. Shane van Gisbergen — 425 pts
15. Ryan Preece — 402 pts
16. Austin Cindric — 401 pts
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 837 pts
2. Chevrolet — 739 pts
3. Ford — 592 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency