Updated

Updated · Tennessean · Jul 4

NASCAR Cuervo 300 Start Delayed by Rain as Chicagoland Targets Post-8:30 p.m. CT Green Flag

Updated

Updated · Tennessean · Jul 4

NASCAR Cuervo 300 Start Delayed by Rain as Chicagoland Targets Post-8:30 p.m. CT Green Flag

Q: How did the four-hour delay affect the outcome for pole-sitter Connor Zilisch and fan-favorite Chase Elliott?

The four-hour weather delay did not change the official starting spots for Connor Zilisch or Chase Elliott, but it did reshape how they got there: both were placed by NASCAR’s lineup formula after qualifying was canceled, rather than earning positions on track. Zilisch still started from pole in the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, but that pole came by formula after rain wiped out qualifying. In that sense, the delay and broader weather disruption helped preserve his front-row advantage without requiring a lap. The available reporting tied to this event does not show that the delay directly hurt his race result; it mainly affected the pre-race schedule and how the field was set. Elliott, the fan favorite in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, was likewise affected procedurally rather than competitively in any clearly documented way. With qualifying canceled, he started 11th by formula instead of having a chance to improve his position through a qualifying run. The reporting provided does not indicate any specific race-outcome consequence for Elliott beyond that lost opportunity. So the clearest effect of the delay was on lineup formation, not a documented swing in finishing result: Zilisch kept the pole by formula, while Elliott was locked into 11th without a chance to qualify.

Q: Did Chevrolet’s nine-race winning streak survive the storm, or did a Toyota underdog triumph under the Chicagoland lights?

It cannot be determined from the provided material whether Chevrolet’s nine-race winning streak held up or whether a Toyota driver won at Chicagoland. The reporting and supplemental context stop at the pre-race stage. They confirm the Cuervo 300 was heavily delayed by storms, that Connor Zilisch’s Chevrolet was awarded the pole after qualifying was rained out, and that Chevrolet entered the night on a nine-race series winning streak. They also note Toyota had several contenders, including Brent Crews and other bubble drivers, looking to capitalize. What is missing is the race result itself. None of the supplied information identifies the winner, finishing order, or whether the event was completed under the lights after the delay. Without that, there is no factual basis to say if Chevrolet extended its streak to 10 or if Toyota broke through. So the most accurate answer is that the outcome is not available in the provided news and search content.

Q: With its new title sponsor, did NASCAR's delayed return to Chicagoland continue The CW's impressive viewership growth?

There is not enough published audience data yet to say that Chicagoland’s delayed return extended The CW’s viewership surge. What is clear is that the broader trend has been strong. The CW’s first 10 races of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series all topped 1 million viewers, up 22% from last year’s season average. Recent races have also posted notable gains, including Nashville at 1.123 million viewers and Kansas at 1.180 million, with Kansas up 12% year over year and becoming that event’s best audience in three years. The Chicagoland race carried added interest because it was the series’ first trip back to the 1.5-mile oval since 2019 and came under the series’ new O’Reilly Auto Parts title sponsorship. It also featured Chase Elliott in the field, which can help attract casual viewers. But the race-day weather delay, which pushed the expected start from late afternoon to after 8:30 p.m. Central, complicates any assumption about audience momentum. Delays can either hurt viewership by disrupting schedules or help if they move a race into a stronger prime-time window. So the evidence supports that The CW has been on an impressive growth run with the newly renamed series, but whether Chicagoland specifically continued that trend cannot be confirmed until Nielsen or network viewership figures are released.

3 articles · Updated · Tennessean · Jul 4

Track drying began at Chicagoland Speedway after rain delayed Saturday’s Cuervo 300, with the race now expected to start sometime after 8:30 p.m. Central.
A storm moved over the Joliet, Illinois, oval around the scheduled 4:30 p.m. local start, and officials said the weather system was not clearing quickly enough for an on-time green flag.
Connor Zilisch will lead the field from pole after July 3 qualifying was canceled by rain, leaving teams with only a condensed practice session before the 300-mile race.
The event marks the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series' first race at Chicagoland since 2019, with five regular-season races left and several drivers still near the Chase bubble.