CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s full speed ahead for the start of the second weekend of NASCAR Chicago street racing.
Drivers took to the track Saturday on the 2.2-mile circuit around Grant Park, where Shane van Gisbergen won the Cup Series race at Chicago last year and also won the XFinity Series race.
NASCAR Live Blog | 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race: Live Updates
About 2,000 concrete barriers were brought in and a crazy street course was shaped to take drivers on a tour around the entire Chicago Loop.
With the iconic skyline as a backdrop, cars hurtle down big city streets like Michigan Avenue and Dassable Lake Shore Drive, reaching top speeds well over 100 mph on fast straightaways and taking tight turns on challenging courses.
The Chicago Loop Alliance is supporting the expansion of NASCAR Village this year.
Event summary:
Gates open at 8:45am
Qualifying sessions for Sunday’s Cup Series race took place on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race started at 2:30pm on Saturday with 50 laps on the track.
Buddy Guy performed on the DraftKings Stage on Saturday from 1:15 to 2 p.m.
The Black Keys will perform on the DraftKings Stage on Saturday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
The Chainsmokers will take the stage Saturday at 8 p.m.
The Cup Series race will be a 75-lap race, starting at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Read More | 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Races Weekend Schedule, Live Concerts and Festival Information
Fun Race Experience
With the sounds of engines revving and tires squeezing, NASCAR Chicago kicked off its second season.
“They have everything,” said NASCAR fan Jake Kahn. “They want it to be inclusive. There’s something here for everybody.”
Longtime fans and newcomers alike expressed excitement.
“It’s my first race so I’m really excited,” said NASCAR rookie Kay Lewis.
Saturday’s race, Loop 110, is a warm-up for Sunday’s main event, a NASCAR Cup Series race, and with the sun shining, it’s an ideal day for racing through the downtown streets at top speeds well over 100 mph.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Laineshia Poling, a NASCAR fan from South Carolina. “Everybody’s there and it’s special to me because it’s a street race, not a drag strip.”
The race attracted spectators from all over the country, as well as from overseas.
“It’s amazing,” said Canadian NASCAR fan Sylvain Simard. “The layout is great. NASCAR is first class.”
While the racing is the main attraction, there’s plenty of other events for fans to enjoy, including freestyle motocross, where riders race up ramps and perform aerial tricks with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop.
“This is awesome. This is awesome,” said NASCAR fan Jeremy Chang. “It’s really awesome. First NASCAR event. It’s cool to see them racing through the city. It’s really awesome.”
Chicago treasure and blues legend Buddy Guy was fittingly the first musical act to kick off the weekend, a big improvement over last year’s inaugural race weekend, when heavy rain forced the cancellation of concerts and the postponement of the race.
“This year is a lot better than last year. It’s awesome,” said NASCAR fan Isaiah White. “I didn’t get the experience I wanted this year, but this year I did.”
More Fan Experiences
Just outside the track at Grant Park, fans were able to experience the excitement and thrill of a NASCAR race in Chicago.
“The weather is amazing,” said a fan named Mark, “Everything about the NASCAR races here is amazing. The economy…everything. I know they weren’t going to do it for two years, but I want it to happen. I want it to be an annual event.”
The special vehicles unveiled in the fan zone entertained fans throughout the day.
“It’s so amazing. It’s my first time going to a NASCAR…” said attendee Jaya Morris.
The race weekend is expected to be much drier than last year’s, when heavy rain affected many events over the weekend.
“There’s lots to do and it’s fun for the kids,” said participant Andrew Burns. “Last year there was nothing to do because everything was closed and flooded, so it’s a new experience for us too.”
New this year will be a free event for fans at Butler Field in the NASCAR Village, featuring interactive displays, racing simulators, appearances from NASCAR drivers and more.
“It’s super cool,” fan Henry Pink said. “I tried the racing simulator. I got to sit in the car. I won one of these in the spin game, so it’s super cool.”
This year, even more events have been added to make the race weekend more inclusive and representative of the Chicago community.
“It’s really great. It’s really nice that it’s open this year compared to last year,” attendee Brian Castonia said. “There wasn’t really anything special, but this is great.”
NASCAR has partnered with the Chicago Loop Alliance to ensure Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods are represented.
“We have 20 contractors that we work with on Sunday on State,” said Michael Edwards of the Chicago Loop Alliance, “and they come from all over Chicago and range from small businesses to large corporations.”
Locally owned restaurants and businesses in Grant Park offered ticket holders a taste of Chicago from Pullman, Chatham and the historic Bronzeville neighborhoods – a true reflection of the Chicago community and NASCAR’s expanding reach.
“It’s an opportunity for people coming here from all over the world to learn more about Chicago and it’s an opportunity for us to learn more about NASCAR,” Edwards said.
Road closure
Major roads have been closed since Friday.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m., northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will be closed between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road.
Southbound Michigan Avenue is closed between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive.
Northbound lanes of Indiana Avenue are closed at 13th Street.
Monroe Street is closed between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Read more | Chicago NASCAR Race Course route map, road closures and parking restrictions
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