Alex Bowman returns to Chicago energized after a strong third-place run at EchoPark. With three consecutive top-15s and momentum on his side, he looks ready to defend his 2024 Chicago Street Race win and shake off a tough spring stretch.
Chase Elliott
Elliott ended a long winless streak with a dramatic last-lap pass at EchoPark, finally pairing his series-best average finish (10.3) with a victory. Though his Chicago track record is mixed (3rd in 2023, 21st in 2024), his road-course pedigree makes him a top contender again.
Kyle Larson
By Larson’s lofty standards, the last several races have been a roller coaster. Since his May win, he has struggled with crashes and inconsistency, but his 2023 Chicago debut was solid (4th place). He’ll look to rebound after last year’s rain-related wreck.
William Byron
Byron has hit a rough patch recently with three finishes of 27th or worse in the last four races. However, he’s shown speed leading nearly 100 laps at Michigan and has finished 13th and 8th in his two Chicago starts.
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s hot streak ended abruptly with a crash at EchoPark. Though he has only one career win on road/street circuits, he was the polesitter in Chicago’s debut race. Experience could help him bounce back.
Tyler Reddick
Reddick’s fourth at EchoPark was a much-needed boost. The 2024 Chicago runner-up and 2023 regular-season champ is eyeing another big run as he faces Carson Hocevar in the In-Season Challenge.
Christopher Bell
Bell has been quiet lately but remains a force on road courses, finishing second in Mexico City. With a win at COTA this year and a road-course average finish of 1.5 in 2025, he’ll try to secure his first Chicago top 10.
Chris Buescher
Buescher has been on a tear, scoring more points over the past five races than anyone else. With four straight top 10s and strong road-course form, he’s looking to extend his streak in a bracket battle against Zane Smith.
Ryan Blaney
Blaney has been plagued by bad luck, including a DNF at EchoPark. Despite six DNFs this season, he’s been solid overall and had a top-10 run at Chicago in 2024. He remains a threat, even if the results don’t show it.
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe got caught in the Atlanta crashfest, ending his In-Season Challenge run early. However, his two JGR road-course starts (14th at COTA, 7th in Mexico) suggest a Chicago breakthrough could be brewing.
Ross Chastain
Chastain is in a slump with three straight sub-15 finishes. He’s also posted back-to-back 22nd-place results in Chicago. He’ll need to buck that trend quickly if he wants to stay in the hunt.
Logano
EchoPark was a mess for Logano, who was swept up in the chaos. With just one top-15 in the last six races, he needs a turnaround though Chicago has yielded mixed results for him (8th in 2023, 23rd in 2024).
Bubba Wallace
Wallace had a promising run at Chicago in 2024 until a late incident with Bowman dropped him to 13th. He now meets Bowman again in the Challenge bracket, aiming to reverse the outcome.
Ryan Preece
Preece continues to show consistency with six top-15s in his last seven races. His RFK team has shown speed on street circuits, making a repeat of last year’s 15th-place Chicago run very possible.
Erik Jones
Jones is surging, jumping 13 spots in the standings since May. His 5th-place finish at EchoPark shows momentum, but he’ll need another strong outing to secure a playoff spot.
AJ Allmendinger
Allmendinger is hanging near the playoff bubble, but with two road courses ahead, this is his moment. Known for his road-course prowess, the veteran may find a breakthrough in Chicago.
Austin Cindric
Cindric has been inconsistent since his Talladega win, with four finishes outside the top 25. While he’s locked into the playoffs, he’ll look to build rhythm as road races return.
Josh Berry
Berry is up-and-down of late and hasn’t performed well on road courses. He’ll be tested in Chicago, where a top-15 could help stabilize his playoff hopes.
Kyle Busch
Three straight finishes of 20th or worse have left Busch in a tough spot, well outside the playoff line. But Chicago’s been kind to him (5th and 9th), and a big result could change everything.
Shane van Gisbergen (SVG)
SVG is back where he’s most dangerous: the streets. He stormed to a win in Chicago last year and remains a road-course ace. Watch for the Kiwi to contend again on Sunday.
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