NASCAR Halts Chicago Street Race
NASCAR has decided to suspend its street race in Chicago, answering one of the main questions about its schedule for next season. Over the last three years, NASCAR held a race on a street circuit in downtown Chicago during the first weekend of July. However, there was a three-year contract with the city, which raised doubts about the future of the event. In a letter addressed to Mayor Brandon Johnson on Friday, race president Julie Giese stated that the plan is to explore the possibility of a new event weekend with his office and other community leaders, while working on a more efficient construction and dismantling of the circuit.Giese also indicated that NASCAR will maintain its Chicago Street Race office and continue its community partnerships. NASCAR will replace the Chicago stop with a street race in San Diego. The NASCAR weekend in Chicago included Xfinity and Cup Series races on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit, with Lake Michigan and Grant Park as the backdrop, as well as a festive atmosphere with music and entertainment options. The goal was an event that would attract both a new audience in one of NASCAR’s most important regions and the most passionate racing fans. NASCAR used to race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, 45 miles from downtown, but it retired after the 2019 season. Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when the three-year contract for the weekend in the city center was finalized. The measure was not exactly popular in Chicago. Local businesses and residents were frustrated by the street closures in an area heavily frequented by tourists in the summer. However, the organizers reduced the construction schedule from 43 days in 2023 to 25 this year, winning over some of the race’s critics. The drivers and their teams had some concerns about the circuit before the first weekend. But the configuration was widely praised when the third year arrived, both the circuit and the possibility of walking to the circuit from their downtown hotel. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson called Chicago “probably my favorite NASCAR event every year.” The races in downtown Chicago have been dominated by Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Xfinity and Cup races this year from the pole. He also won in Chicago in his Cup debut in 2023 and in last year’s Xfinity Series race.Our goal is for the Chicago Street Race to return in 2027 with an event that further enhances the experience for both residents and visitors, as we work together towards a new potential date, a shorter construction schedule, and additional tourist attractions.
Julie Giese
I love the track. It’s a great place to come. You feel a nice atmosphere. You feel a good vibe in the mornings walking towards the track with the fans. It’s quite unique like that.
Shane van Gisbergen
