NASCAR Cup Series Returns to the Streets of Chicago

For the second consecutive year, the speed of NASCAR is coming back to the streets of downtown Chicago against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline for the Grant Park 165 on Sunday, July 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and select surrounding thoroughfares will be transformed into a 12-turn, 2.20-mile street course, with the start/finish line and pit road located along South Columbus Drive directly in front of Buckingham Fountain. The course will pass through the famed Grant Park, as well as approach the northern edge of Soldier Field, one of the most notable and recognizable sports venues in the country – and the site of a 1956 Cup Series race.

This season marks the second of a minimum three-year commitment between NASCAR and the City of Chicago. NASCAR returns to the Second City for the second-ever Street Race in Cup Series history. The Chicago Street Race Weekend is a unique two-day sports and entertainment event with a festival-like atmosphere that exemplifies NASCAR’s characteristic fan experience that puts attendees closer to the action than any other sport. Coupled with top-tier musical performances from global headliners, the Chicago Street Race Weekend is a once-in-a-lifetime experiential opportunity for any sports, music, and entertainment fan.

On-track action for the NASCAR Cup Series will get started with a 50-minute practice followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, July 6 at 2 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Grant Park 165

The Place: Chicago Street Course

Track Length: 2.20 Mile Asphalt Street Course

The Date: Sunday, July 7

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $7,978,831

TV: NBC, 4 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 165 miles (75 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 45), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 75)

More Than Racing: Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, The Black Keys, and Lauren Alaina to Headline NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend

In addition to the high-speed NASCAR racing this weekend, there will be some great music on tap as well, Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, The Black Keys, and Lauren Alaina will headline the 2024 Chicago Street Race in Grant Park, July 6-7.

The Chainsmokers – whose Saturday evening set will include a special appearance with NASCAR Cup Series drivers – will make their triumphant return to the Chicago Street Race after weather forced the cancellation of their 2023 set.

“The Chicago Street Race Weekend is the ultimate summer festival, bringing together the best of sports, music, food, and Chicago culture at the can’t-miss event of the year,” said Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese. “This A-list concert lineup truly offers something for everyone, the 2024 Chicago Street Race will deliver new and returning attendees of all ages a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Global rock icons The Black Keys will play a full set on Saturday, July 6 following the conclusion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Loop 110, before The Chainsmokers close out the day alongside NASCAR Cup Series Drivers in a special photo moment.

Sunday’s concerts will feature Country music favorite Lauren Alaina performing prior to a closing set by cross-over mega star Keith Urban in advance of the Cup Series’ Grant Park 165.

Keith Urban has spent the better part of his life harnessing a deep-seated passion for music. This, when combined with his authenticity, talent and driving musical inquisitiveness, helps to understand why he is one of the most successful and well-respected artists in the world. He’s won four GRAMMY© Awards, thirteen CMAs, fifteen ACMs, three AMAs, two People’s Choice Awards and celebrated nine consecutive gold, platinum or multi-platinum albums. For more information on Keith Urban, visit keithurban.com.

The Chainsmokers have consistently elevated popular music by ceaselessly challenging it. The GRAMMY® Award-winning RIAA Diamond-certified duo—Drew Taggart and Alex Pall—have broken boundaries between pop, indie, electronic, alternative, and rock. By doing so, they have set the tempo for culture and proven inescapable, delivering some of the biggest songs in the world, hosting a historic multi-year Las Vegas residency, packing arenas on multiple continents, launching first-of-its-kind games in the metaverse, and selling tens of millions of singles along the way. Thus far, they have scored three Diamond singles, namely the Billboard Hot 100 #1 “Closer” [feat. Halsey], “Something Just Like This” [with Coldplay], and “Don’t Let Me Down” [feat. Daya]. The latter garnered a GRAMMY® Award for “Best Dance Recording.” For more information on The Chainsmokers, visit thechainsmokers.com.

Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, The Black Keys are singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Last year, the duo received two GRAMMY nominations for their eleventh studio album Dropout Boogie. The Black Keys have been called “rock royalty” by the Associated Press and “one of the best rock ‘n’ roll bands on the planet” by Uncut. Cutting their teeth playing small clubs, the band has gone on to sell out arena tours and has released eleven previous studio albums. The band has won six GRAMMY Awards and a BRIT and headlined festivals in North America, South America, Mexico, Australia, and Europe. For more information on The Black Keys, visit theblackkeys.com.

Grand Ole Opry member and Big Loud Records powerhouse Lauren Alaina has earned three chart-topping hits: RIAA platinum-certified “Road Less Traveled,” 7x platinum “What Ifs” with her childhood friend Kane Brown, and 2x platinum “ONE BEER” with labelmate HARDY + Devin Dawson. The Georgia-born force, has performed on some of the highest-profile stages in the world including PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, CBS’ Beyond The Edge, TODAY, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ABC’s CMA Fest specials, CMA and ACM Awards, Nickelodeon’s All That, Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime performance, MLB’s World Series national anthem performance, a performance at the White House for President Obama, and more. For more information on Lauren Alaina, visit laurenalainaofficial.com.

NASCAR and the state of Illinois go way back

NASCAR is no stranger to the state of Illinois, the first NASCAR national series race held in the state was a NASCAR Cup Series event at Santa Fe Speedway in Willow Springs. The event was held on July 10, 1954 and it was won by driver Dick Rathman driving a Hudson for car owner John Ditz. Finishing runner-up in the race was NASCAR Hall of Famer Hershel McGriff also driving a Hudson. Once again, NASCAR returns to Illinois for this weekend’s Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course – just the second ever NASCAR race run on a street course.

NASCAR has competed on six different tracks in the state of Illinois for a total of 102 races.

The first time the NASCAR Cup Series competed in Downtown Chicago was in 1956, the series competed at Soldier Field and the race was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts in a Pete DePaolo Ford.

Kiwi’s Kingdom: Shane Van Gisbergen is back to defend Chicago victory

New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) is back in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend at the Chicago Street Course to defend his last season win. But this time with a new team, the Kaulig Racing No. 16 Chevrolet.

Last year, as part of the Trackhouse Racing Project 91 program, Shane van Gisbergen and several other drivers from high-level racing disciplines were given opportunities to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series at select events. Van Gisbergen just so happened to be the most successful of the group, winning in his first appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series at inaugural Chicago Street Race.

The win was monumental in Van Gisbergen’s racing career as well as statistically. SVG is just the seventh different driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win in their first appearance, and the first to do it since 1963.

Van Gisbergen became the sixth different driver not from the United States to win a NASCAR Cup Series race with his Chicago victory last season, joining Mario Andretti (Italy), Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia), Earl Ross (Canada), Marcos Ambrose (Australia) and Daniel Suarez (Mexico).

Now the road ace from Auckland returns to defend his win in Chicago, and if he were to accomplish the feat, Van Gisbergen would tie Marcos Ambrose (two wins at Watkins Glen), Daniel Suarez (two wins: one at Sonoma and one at Atlanta) and Juan Pablo Montoya (two wins: one at Watkins Glen and one at Sonoma) for the most wins by driver not from the United States with two each.

Race To The Playoffs: Logano the latest to earn a spot in the postseason with a win

Team Penske’s Joey Logano has become the 11th different driver to win this season and earn himself a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. With 11 spots in the 16-driver Playoff field already spoken for, and only seven races left until the postseason, time and space are running out for competitors to earn their postseason position.

Playoff Bound:

Last weekend, two-time series champion Joey Logano took the checkered flag following five overtimes in a performance of preservation at Nashville Superspeedway. Now, with 11 drivers in 2024 with wins, only five spot are still up for grabs in the Playoffs as the series heads to the Chicago Street Course this weekend for the Grant Park 165 (July 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) – the 20th race of the season.

The 11 drivers this season currently holding a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of their regular season wins are Kyle Larson (three wins), Denny Hamlin (three), Christopher Bell (three), William Byron (three), Chase Elliott (one), Tyler Reddick (one), Ryan Blaney (one), Brad Keselowski (one), Daniel Suarez (one), Austin Cindric (one) and Joey Logano (one).

In The Hot Seats:

The five drivers currently in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff transfer spots on points are Martin Truex Jr. (+143 points up on postseason cutoff), Ty Gibbs (+70), Ross Chastain (+66), Chris Buescher (+56) and Alex Bowman (+51).

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman is currently in the most precarious position (16th) of the five drivers inside the Playoff cutoff heading into Chicago this weekend. Though he holds a stout 51 point edge over 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace in 17th, if a driver below Bowman in the standings wins over the next seven races, he could find himself bounced out of the Playoffs.

Outside Looking In:

There are currently 18 drivers still eligible to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs that are without a win and below the postseason cut line in points following Nashville.

23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace (-51 points), is one of seven drivers currently below the Playoff cutline that has made the Cup Series Playoffs previously, along with Chase Briscoe (-78 points), two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch (-104 points), Michael McDowell (-166), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-194), Erik Jones (-217) and Austin Dillon (-261).

Road Course Aces: NASCAR’s best in road racing

Though this weekend’s race is technically on a ‘street course’ and not a ‘road course’ a similar approach to being successful this Sunday will apply. Here is a list of the active road and street course NASCAR winners entered this weekend.

The NASCAR Cup Series has competed on two road courses this season so far, with Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron winning at Austin (COTA) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson winning at Sonoma Raceway.

Following the Chicago Street Course, the NASCAR Cup Series has just two more road courses on the schedule this season – Watkins Glen International (9/15/24) and the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (10/13/24).

NASCAR Cup Series Etc.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race Names NBC’s “One Chicago” Stars Joe Miñoso, Patrick John Flueger, and Jessy Schram as Honorary Event Officials – NASCAR has announced that Joe Miñoso of “Chicago Fire,” Patrick John Flueger of “Chicago P.D.,” and Jessy Schram of “Chicago Med” – part of NBC’s “One Chicago” dramas produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment – are the Honorary Event Officials for the Chicago Street Race. As part of their race weekend roles, they will take part in pre-race ceremonies ahead of the Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series street race on Sunday, July 7.

To download images of Joe Miñoso, Patrick John Flueger, and Jessy Schram click here.

Flueger plays the lead role of officer Adam Ruzek on “Chicago P.D.” He has played feature film roles in the remake of “Footloose” as well as “Brothers,” “The World’s Fastest Indian,” and other films. He also co-starred in USA Network’s “The 4400” for four seasons with additional television credits in “Chicago Fire,” “Criminal Minds,” Law & Order: SVU,” and more.

Miñoso is best known for his role as Joe Cruz on “Chicago Fire,” the first installment of Dick Wolf’s “Chicago” franchise that is now in its thirteenth season. He has additional television and film credits in “Get Shorty,” “Man of Steel,” “Shameless,” “Prison Break,” and more. Miñoso recently launched Mass Epiphany Studios and The Epiphany Project, which is a film and vocational arts academy and studio system to support America’s marginalized artists of tomorrow.

Schram portrays Dr. Hannah Asher on “Chicago Med.” She has credits in numerous projects for the Hallmark Channel as well as television projecting including “Falling Skies,” “Nashville,” “Mad Men,” and more. Schram has several films on her resume such as “Unstoppable,” “Shot Caller,” “The Submarine Kid,” and “I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With.” She is also a singer/songwriter that has toured with Joan Baby’s soul band.

NASCAR Brings Back Bubba’s Block Party to Chicago; First Time on the West Side at Douglass Park – NASCAR has announced plans to bring back Bubba’s Block Party, a nationwide community initiative hosted by 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace and Blavity, to Douglass Park on Friday, July 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The community event will bring together local Black-owned food vendors, businesses, and musicians for a family-friendly celebration on the West Side of Chicago, featuring a headlining set from Chicago hip-hop legend Twista.

Bubba’s Block Party is a national community-focused NASCAR initiative that aims to drive awareness, access and engagement to the sport among the Black community while generating excitement around the race weekend. This year for the first time, NASCAR is joining forces with Blavity, the world’s leading destination for premium content and Black-owned network for youth, Black culture, and technology, to increase the global impact of the Bubba’s Block Party program.

“I’m excited to host another block party in Chicago,” Wallace said. “I was impressed by how the community showed up last year, eager and willing to learn more about our sport. Let’s run it back. I’m also excited to again have the support of 23XI and our partners at McDonald’s, Air Force, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, and Walmart. It’s great to have so many groups committed to the mission of growing the sport to new audiences.”

The free, ticketed event will be hosted by Blavity’s General Manager of Community, Charles Kuykendoll, including some of the best sets by DJ Commando and DJ NP3. To close out the night, Chicago’s very own Twista will hit the stage. Born Carl Terrell Mitchell, Twista rose to fame in the early 1990s and was recognized by the Guiness World Records as the “fastest rapper in the world.” Twista’s impact on the rap industry extends beyond his music, as he has also been a mentor and influencer for aspiring artists in Chicago and beyond. His dedication to his craft and perseverance in the face of challenges have made him a respected figure in the hip-hop community.

“Bubba’s Block Party and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race is focused on introducing our sport to new fans in a fun, dynamic, family-friendly way,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “Last year’s Block Party at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center was a tremendous success, and we can’t wait to bring that same level of excitement to Chicago’s West Side in Douglass Park for the first time.”

Attendees will enjoy a Family Zone bringing activities for all ages including free haircuts, coloring stations, race car courses for kids, and giveaways. Guests will also take laps on racing simulators and enjoy live pit stop demonstrations by Wallace’s No. 23 pit crew. Wallace will visit with the audience as part of a fireside chat which will focus on his career journey and NASCAR’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion across the sport.

In keeping with NASCAR Chicago’s mission to drive local economic opportunity, there will be a food truck village at the event serving up local bites from Black-owned restaurants from across Chicago. Featured businesses include Uncle Remus, Bill Grill Truck, Can’t Believe it’s not Meat, Haire’s Gulf Shrimp, Beggers Pizza, Uncle Dave’s Fish Joint, Whadda Jerk, Ida’s Artisan and Decadent Flavor.

Bubba’s Block Party, fueled by Blavity, is open to the public and is a family friendly event suited for children ages 4 and up. For more information and to RSVP visit bubbasblockparty.com.

NASCAR and Daniel Suárez to Bring National Program “Daniel’s Amigos” to Chicago for the First Time – NASCAR has announced plans to bring Daniel’s Amigos, a nationwide community initiative hosted by Trackhouse Racing driver Daniel Suárez, to Chicago’s Harrison Park on Thursday, June 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Suárez, who made history in 2022 as the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race, will bring together local Hispanic food vendors, businesses, and musicians for a family-friendly celebration in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

Daniel’s Amigos aims to drive awareness, access and engagement to the sport among the Hispanic community while generating excitement around race weekends. The program began in 2019 with events at various racetracks around the country in California, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and Texas.

“This will be the biggest Daniel’s Amigos ever,” said Suárez. “I am so excited to take Amigos to Chicago and see so many people come out and have fun with us. The Chicago Street Race was a fantastic event last year and I expect it will be even bigger this year and I can’t think of a better way to kickoff everything with a Daniel’s Amigo event a few weeks before we race there.”

The free-ticketed event will offer entertainment by Rosalba Valdez y Los Valientes. Valdez is a Chicago-born Mexican-American singer and songwriter, who uses her voice to highlight the journey of immigrant families in the United States. The event hosted by B96 Morning Show Host Karla Hernandez will also feature Mariachi Tesoro de México and DJ Momami.

Attendees will enjoy a Kids Zone and can take laps on racing simulators. Suárez will visit with the audience as part of a fireside chat which will focus on his career journey and NASCAR’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion across the sport.

The event will feature a food village serving up local bites from Hispanic-owned businesses such as La Calaca Food Truck, Casera’s Sabor, Delicias, 5411 Empanadas and Paleta Factory. In keeping with the local connection, NASCAR will join forces with local businesses to drive awareness, support and economic impact. The National Museum of Mexican Art will be present along with featured businesses from the city including Mestiza Shop and The Resurrection Project.

Daniel’s Amigos is open to the public and is family friendly suited for children ages four and up. For more information on the day’s schedule and to RSVP visit www.danielsamigos.com.

Milestone Watch: Chicago Street Course – Below are the possible milestones that can be achieved this weekend at the Chicago Street Course or in coming weeks in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Starts

Kyle Larson will make his 350th NASCAR Cup Series career start at the Chicago Street Course this weekend. Larson ranks 80th on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series starts list. In Larson’s previous 349 starts, he has accumulated one Cup Series title (2021), one Regular Season championship (2021), seven Playoff appearances, 26 wins, 112 top fives, 174 top 10s and 20 poles.

Austin Cindric is expected to make his 100th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Pocono Raceway

Kyle Busch is expected to make his 700th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wins

Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.

Joey Logano currently has 33 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. for 25th on the all-time wins list with 34 victories each.

Crew Member Spotlight: Chicago Street Race Weekend – This weekend at the Chicago Street Race we wanted to highlight several of the team’s crew members that are from the surrounding areas of the track in Illinois.