--- title: "Bilicki's No. 66 Out of Chicagoland Cup Return" description: "The Garage 66 Ford exits, shrinking the grid to 38 cars for the track's first race since 2019." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/josh-bilicki-and-no-66-team-withdraw-from-nascar-cup-race-a-54d2e8b5 published: 2026-07-02T20:08:54.029+00:00 updated: 2026-07-02T20:08:54.029+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["nascar"] --- # Bilicki's No. 66 Out of Chicagoland Cup Return > The Garage 66 Ford exits, shrinking the grid to 38 cars for the track's first race since 2019. Josh Bilicki and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford team have officially withdrawn from the NASCAR Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, reducing the starting field to 38 cars for the track's highly anticipated return. The decision removes the Garage 66 entry from the grid just as the series prepares to race at the 1.5-mile oval for the first time since 2019. This departure shrinks the competitive landscape significantly, trimming the entry list and leaving a tighter pack for the remaining drivers. Chicagoland Speedway has sat dormant on the Cup calendar for seven years, and this event marks a major comeback for the venue. The loss of the No. 66 Ford means the field will not be at full capacity, altering the on-track dynamics and potentially reducing traffic for the leaders. The Garage 66 team's absence consolidates the grid, ensuring that every position on the track will be fiercely contested by a smaller group of elite competitors. The seven-year absence from the schedule means current tire data is effectively ancient history, making every single lap of practice critical for the remaining teams. Losing the No. 66 entry eliminates one data point for engineers scrambling to understand how the 1.5-mile oval has weathered the downtime. With limited practice reps typically on the schedule, teams will have to rely more heavily on simulation tools, making the on-track information gathered by the 38 survivors even more valuable for setup adjustments. For a venue like Chicagoland, where aero balance and long-run handling usually dictate the outcome, a thinner field forces drivers to be aggressive early rather than waiting for the pack to naturally separate. The absence of the Garage 66 Ford removes a potential backmarker that could have been used as a pick or a buffer during pit cycles, fundamentally altering race strategy for the leaders. This consolidation ensures that the competition level remains dense throughout the running order, as there are fewer slower cars to navigate around when battling for position. The reduction to 38 cars eliminates the need for a provisional entry or the drama of a non-qualifier, streamlining the weekend format but also removing the pressure cooker of qualifying for the bubble spots. For the playoff bubble drivers, the absence of a slow car like the No. 66 is a double-edged sword; it removes a hazard but also eliminates a potential lap-down car that could be used to gain a lucky dog or manipulate the caution clock. Every car remaining on the grid is a legitimate contender, meaning there is no easy passing to be found and the mental tax on the drivers remains at maximum intensity from drop of the green to the checkered flag. Garage 66’s withdrawal highlights the fragility of the open and charter team ecosystem, where mechanical failures or sponsorship shortfalls can instantly reshape the grid. While the focus is on the racing product, the loss of a team impacts the broader ecosystem of spotters, pit crews, and engineers who rely on track time for development. The remaining teams must now absorb the void left by the No. 66, adjusting their pit stall selections and garage logistics to account for the empty space, a subtle but tangible shift in the pre-race routine that can disrupt established rhythms. What's next: The green flag will drop on a 38-car field, with the spotlight on Chicagoland's re-entry into the NASCAR Cup Series rotation. The race will proceed as scheduled, with the remaining teams navigating the implications of a condensed grid on the historic track surface. ## Why this matters The withdrawal shrinks the Cup field to 38 cars for Chicagoland's first Cup race since 2019, adding uncertainty to the field composition for the inaugural event. A smaller grid at a track returning after a long hiatus changes the racing dynamics, potentially reducing traffic but increasing the pressure on every remaining entry to perform. ## Frequently asked ### Why did Josh Bilicki withdraw? The specific reason for the withdrawal of the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford was not detailed in the report, but the team is officially off the entry list for the weekend. ### How many cars are in the Chicagoland race? The field has been reduced to 38 cars following the withdrawal of Josh Bilicki and the No. 66 Garage 66 team. ### When was the last Cup race at Chicagoland? The NASCAR Cup Series last raced at Chicagoland Speedway in 2019, making this return occur after a seven-year hiatus from the schedule. ### What team was Josh Bilicki driving for? Josh Bilicki was set to drive the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford before the team withdrew from the event at Chicagoland Speedway. ## Sources & Citations - [Josh Bilicki and No. 66 team withdraw from NASCAR Cup race at Chicagoland](https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/josh-bilicki-and-no-66-team-withdraw-from-nascar-cup-race-at-chicagoland/10835635/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RSS-ALL&utm_term=News&utm_content=www) — Motorsport.com (2026-07-02) --- Cite: Bilicki's No. 66 Out of Chicagoland Cup Return. Sportopod, 2026-07-02. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/josh-bilicki-and-no-66-team-withdraw-from-nascar-cup-race-a-54d2e8b5