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Commercial Breakdown: 2024 Grant Park 165

by MikeJuly 9, 2024

Sunday’s Cup race on the streets of Chicago was hectic and interrupted with weather, but exciting nonetheless. There were red flags for rain and even rain puddles; apprehension about which tires to use; several slams into banks of old tires; predicted winners finishing at the back of the pack; and a joyful surprise winner. Yes, there were commercials, too. For those folks who like to know precisely how many ads there were, and how much time they took during the broadcast, here is this week’s breakdown. (more…)

Alex Bowman Wins In Rainy Chicago Street Race

by Chuck AbramsJuly 9, 2024

Alex Bowman won the rain shortened Grant Park 165 street race to take his official spot in the Cup playoffs. Bowman broke an 80-race drought that included him sidelined for a spell and wondering when he would ever see Victory Lane again.

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Alex Bowman Earns NASCAR Cup Playoff Berth With Strategic Chicago Win

by MikeJuly 8, 2024July 8, 2024

CHICAGO—On a wet-and-dry day on the streets of Chicago, crew chief Blake Harris made the right call, and driver Alex Bowman promised to wet his whistle after ending an 80-race drought.

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NASCAR Cup Series Returns to the Streets of Chicago

by MikeJuly 5, 2024

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.

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Returns to the Windy City

by MikeJuly 5, 2024

From the Music City to the Windy City, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to the Chicago Street Course for The Loop 110 on Saturday, July 6 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, the NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This marks the second time the Xfinity Series visits the 12-turn, 2.20-mille street course. Last year’s inaugural race saw Cole Custer claim the victory from the pole position, leading all 25 laps of the rain-shorted race.

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NASCAR Cup & Xfinity Series Chicago Street Races Presented This Saturday And Sunday On NBC And Peacock

by MikeJuly 5, 2024

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 3, 2024 – The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series return to the streets of Chicago for the second consecutive year, as NBC Sports presents live coverage of the Cup Series Grant Park 165 on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET and the Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, both on the NBC broadcast network and Peacock.

This week’s motorsports coverage also includes the NTT INDYCAR Series at Mid-Ohio on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and the Pro Motocross RedBud National on Saturday on NBC and Peacock.

NASCAR CUP AND XFINITY SERIES – CHICAGO STREET RACES

This marks the second year that the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series will compete on the streets of Chicago, as drivers will attempt to navigate the 2.2-mile course that weaves in and around some of the Windy City’s most iconic landmarks and thoroughfares.

Both races will be presented “Radio Style,” NBC Sports’ fan-favorite broadcast style with announcers positioned at the following vantage points around the track featuring high-paced, around-the-horn commentary.

Main broadcast booth on S. Columbus Drive: lead NASCAR race announcer Rick Allen and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte

Turns 1 and 6 on S. Columbus Drive and E. Balbo Drive: veteran MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio announcer Mike Bagley

Turn 4 on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Roosevelt Road: NBC Sports pit reporter and MRN turn announcer Dillon Welch

Turn 11 on S. Michigan Avenue and E. Jackson Drive: 21-time Cup Series race winner and “The Mayor” of NASCAR Jeff Burton

NBC Sports’ coverage will feature roughly 90 cameras to showcase this weekend’s races on the streets of Chicago, which will include 10 in-car systems, handheld cameras on pit road, cameras for the Stage Two embed, a fixed-wing airplane and a drone. Coverage throughout the weekend will also highlight performances from award-winning artists at the festival surrounding this weekend’s races, including Buddy Guy, The Black Keys, The Chainsmokers, Lauren Alaina, and Keith Urban.

NBC Sports’ presentation from Chicago will include pit reporter and pre-race host Marty Snider embedded with Tyler Reddick’s 23XI race team during Stage Two of Sunday’s Cup Series race on NBC. The Stage Two embeds feature an in-depth look on select drivers and their teams, highlighting the teamwork and contributions at every level that are required to create a successful day at the racetrack.

Joey Logano won last week’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, surviving a record five overtimes which provided the backdrop for the latest chapter in the budding rivalry between two of NASCAR’s top drivers, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. Shane van Gisbergen, who won in his Cup Series debut in last year’s inaugural Chicago Street Race, will aim to repeat and has won two road course races this year in the Xfinity Series in Portland and Sonoma. Cole Custer won last year’s Xfinity Series race which was shortened due to rain.

Coverage from Chicago begins Saturday on USA Network with Xfinity Series practice and qualifying at 10 a.m. ET, followed by Cup Series practice and qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET. NBC and Peacock’s coverage begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, leading into the Xfinity Series race at 3:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s coverage on NBC and Peacock begins at 4 p.m. ET with Cup Series Countdown to Green, leading into the Cup Series race on at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Dave Burns and will serve as pit reporters for both races, and Xfinity Series driver Parker Kligerman will serve as pit reporter and provide commentary from unique locations in and around Grant Park during Sunday’s Cup Series coverage. Snider will anchor pre- and post-race coverage with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett and JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Brad Daugherty.

The official home of the NASCAR Championship and Playoffs, NBC Sports will present the final 20 NASCAR Cup Series races as well as 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2024 across NBC, USA Network and Peacock, culminating with the Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 9-10. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ 2024 NASCAR coverage.

BROADCAST TEAM

Main Booth: Rick Allen (play-by-play), Steve Letarte (analyst)
Turns 1 and 6: Mike Bagley
Turn 4: Dillon Welch
Turn 11: Jeff Burton
Pit Reporters: Marty Snider, Kim Coon, Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman (Sunday)

HOW TO WATCH

TV – NBC, USA Network
Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

2024 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule

by Lou ModestinoDecember 29, 2023

It’s never too early to start mapping out the 2024 racing season. Here’s a look at the NASCAR Cup Series for 2024. Note that the Cup Series Playoffs begin with the Round of 12 at Kansas Speedway on Sept. 29. (more…)

The Art of NASCAR Racing in the Rain: Chicago-Style

by Chuck AbramsJuly 5, 2023July 7, 2023

I wasn’t sure how this street race in Chicago would turn out. While hoping for the best, I was on the fence not only about the drivers’ ability to not turn this into a crashfest into Turn 1, but also thought this much-hyped event was nothing more than another NASCAR gimmick to drive eyes onto the sport even for a brief period of time.

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New England-Connected Drivers On The Streets of Chicago

by MikeJuly 5, 2023

Cole Custer won the Xfinity street race in Chicago …

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Chicago Cup Series Street Race Is NBC Sports’ Most-Watched NASCAR Race In Six Years

by MikeJuly 4, 2023

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 3, 2023 – NBC Sports’ coverage of the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series city street race from Chicago averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 4.795 million viewers (6:32-9:45 p.m. ET) on NBC and Peacock, resulting in numerous viewership milestones, according to Fast National data provided by Nielsen: (more…)