NASCAR Cup Series team withdraws from Chicagoland – Sports News
Josh Bilicki has been left with out a journey (Image: Getty)
Garage 66, the NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by Carl Long, has introduced its withdrawal from this weekend’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, citing a lack of sponsorship as the explanation for the last-minute choice.
The team, previously often called MBM Motorsports, was set to area the No. 66 Ford for driver Josh Bilicki in what would have been their ninth begin of the 2026 season. However, simply days earlier than the occasion, Long made the tough call to tug out of the race, leaving Bilicki with out a journey for the July 4th weekend.
In a assertion posted on social media, the team expressed its disappointment at having to overlook out on NASCAR‘s return to Chicagoland after a seven-year absence. “We are sad to miss out on NASCAR’s July 4th weekend, but we look forward to the No. 66 returning very soon,” the post learn. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin weighed in on Ty Gibbs’ frustration surrounding his team’s strategy.
The withdrawal comes as a blow to Bilicki, who was set to make his second look of the season for Garage 66.
The 28-year-old driver, who has bounced round numerous groups all through his Cup Series profession, had been hoping to construct on the team’s latest success, which included a career-best Twenty eighth-place end for Chad Finchum at Nashville Superspeedway in late May.
Bilicki was set to make his second look (Image: Getty)
Garage 66’s battle to secure sponsorship highlights the financial challenges confronted by many of NASCAR’s smaller, underfunded groups. Without the backing of main company companions, these organizations usually discover themselves scraping by on a race-by-race foundation, counting on last-minute offers and patchwork funding to keep their vehicles on the observe.
As not too long ago as June thirtieth, the team had been actively in search of a main sponsor for the Chicagoland race, posting messages on social media within the hopes of attracting a late backer. Unfortunately, these efforts seem to have come up short, forcing Long to make the choice to withdraw from the occasion.
The team’s absence reduces the Chicagoland entry record to 38 vehicles, with simply two non-chartered entries remaining within the area.
Corey Heim, driving the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, and J.J. Yeley, piloting the No. 44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team, will now be the one “open” vehicles competing within the eero 400 on Sunday.
For Garage 66, the main focus now shifts to the long run, with the team expressing their dedication to return to the observe as quickly as potential.
The Carl Long-owned outfit has six more races deliberate for the rest of the 2026 season, together with visits to North Wilkesboro Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway.
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