*This article was a collaboration between Nick Roth and Jackson Fryburger of our Lead Lap Racing team*
NASCAR is back at Chicagoland Speedway for the first time since 2019 this weekend. There will be three races at the 1.5 mile oval with the ARCA Menards Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Cup Series.
Which means it’s time to pick some winners to kick the weekend off!
ARCA Menards Series – Ashley Furniture 150
Prediction: William Sawalich
Sawalich is the most experienced driver in the field for Friday’s race, having already competed in the ARCA Menards Series and is a full time driver in the O’Reilly Series. Sawalich totaled 13 career wins across the national ARCA Menards Series, as well as winning back-to-back ARCA Series East Championships in 2023 and 2024.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – Cuervo 300
Prediction: Chase Elliott
It would be very easy to pick Elliott just based off of his Cup Series accomplishments alone, but we’ll dig deeper. Chase Elliott has a win at Chicagoland in the O’Reilly Series back in 2014 when it was called the Nationwide series. During that race, Chase qualified 3rd and led 85 laps. It will not be an easy task for the former Cup Series Champion on Saturday with Connor Zilisch also being in the field.
Cup Series – Eero 400
Prediction: Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson has not visited victory lane since May 11, 2025, which is 418 days ago. I feel like that changes at Chicagoland after coming off a very consistent month of June. Larson had the best average finish in June for the Cup Series with an average finish of 4.0. He has been inching closer and closer to a victory this season and it seems Chevrolet is finally figuring things out. With eight top-five finishes and 11 top-10s, Kyle Larson is overdue for a win. I think this is the weekend he ends his year-long drought and returns to Victory Lane.
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