Future of NASCAR's downtown Chicago
weekend is unclear going into the third year of contract
[July 01, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — When it comes to NASCAR's upcoming return to downtown
Chicago, Julie Giese has a long list of responsibilities. The track
president is monitoring an ambitious construction schedule for the
street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the
busy weekend.
What happens next is going to have to wait.
The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third
edition on the first weekend in July. The three-year contract
between the motorsports organization and the city that was announced
in 2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear.
Giese said there have been “good conversations” between NASCAR and
the city, and there is time to work on the possibilities beyond the
event.
“So really right now the focus is on let’s execute a really great
2025,” Giese said. “We’ll continue to have the conversations with
the city. But right now, honestly, the more consistent conversations
are the planning conversations.”
Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson, praised NASCAR
for its involvement in the community and its improvements with the
event. He described almost parallel discussions going on inside of
the organization and the city when it comes to the future of the
partnership.
Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when the
original agreement for the weekend was finalized.
“We remain available to have any conversations about the future,”
Lee said Monday. “I know they’ve been laser focused on executing
this year’s event because there are lessons they’ve learned that
they want to apply. And I think some of that, whether you
successfully do that, will play a role in how they want to proceed.”
One possible change that could interest the city is moving to a
different weekend, something it has discussed with NASCAR in the
past.
“It may make more sense to move that event to a different weekend
where we don’t have as many demands on our law enforcement and other
emergency personnel,” Lee told the AP. “And so that’s definitely
something that we’ve contemplated, but there is also some
constraints in terms of other events in the city of Chicago and the
NASCAR schedule.”
The Athletic reported on June 18 that NASCAR was nearing an
agreement to put a street race in the San Diego area next year. An
announcement could come as soon as July.
Asked if she had spoken with NASCAR or anyone in the San Diego area
about a Southern California street race, Giese said her focus is on
Chicago. She also said she feels there is room for multiple street
courses on NASCAR's calendar.
“We have multiple road course races on the schedule,” she said. “So
I mean ... I’ve not ever heard where it has to be one or the other.
I mean there is room. This event, we went into it that first year
knowing full well it was a proof of concept. And we showed that it
is possible.”
The Xfinity and Cup Series races in Chicago — held on a 12-turn,
2.2-mile course against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park
— are the main events in a festival-like weekend that also includes
music and entertainment options.
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Construction of the street course continues ahead of the NASCAR auto
racs, Friday, June 27, 2025, in downtown Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin
Hooley)
It is geared as much to a new audience in one of NASCAR’s most
important regions as it is to the most ardent racing fans. NASCAR
used to race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from
downtown, but it pulled out after the 2019 season.
“This is a top-three market for us, worldwide frankly, for NASCAR
fans,” NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy said when the Chicago event was
announced in 2022.
There was some concern for drivers and their teams about the course
ahead of the first weekend, and it wasn't exactly warmly received by
local businesses and residents because of the street closures in a
heavily trafficked area for tourists in the summer.
But organizers have shrunk the construction schedule from 43 days in
2023 to 25 this year. Based on input from fans, they also have made
adjustments to the race viewing areas and moved the concert stage to
the start-finish line. Admission is free for kids 12 and under on
Saturday and Sunday this year.
The weekend also has won over at least some people inside of NASCAR.
“This was very different. But now it’s fun to see and hear from
people in the industry that are coming in early, and they’re going
to just enjoy the city for a few days,” Giese said. “The one piece
that I hear from our drivers, especially, is they love just staying
right at a hotel right across the street. They’re walking across
Michigan Avenue and they’re at the course.”
Quite often with an umbrella. Wet weather had a major effect on each
of the first two editions. Heavy rain nearly scuttled the inaugural
weekend, and last year's Cup Series race was shortened because of a
rain delay and fading sunlight.
When the drivers were on the course, the racing was compelling.
Shane van Gisbergen outdueled Justin Haley and Chase Elliott on his
way to a Cup victory in 2023, and Alex Bowman stopped an 80-race
drought with his win last year.
“I think they’ve been up against it as far as conditions are
concerned,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said. "The track
has been good, it’s been racy and has passing zones and the scenery
is fantastic as far as the backdrop we are racing in. There’s a lot
of positives for the Chicago Street Race.
"It will probably move around in the future, but it’s in the mold in
which I would like to see any street race they continue to implement
in the future.”
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