CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s all gear for the start of the second annual NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend.
Drivers took to the 2.2-mile circuit around Grant Park on Saturday, with Shane van Gisbergen winning the XFinity Series race after winning the Cup Series last year in Chicago.
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About 2,000 concrete barriers were installed to shape this crazy urban course, taking drivers on a tour through Chicago’s Loop.
With the iconic skyline as a backdrop, the cars will race along major city streets like Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive, reaching top speeds well over 100 mph on the fast straightaways and taking tight turns around the challenging track.
“Chicago residents came out and tried something different… it was really cool to be a part of,” said resident Zackary Cohen.
Summary of events:
Doors open at 8:45 a.m.
Qualifying for Sunday’s Cup Series race took place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Kyle Larson won the heat.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series race began at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. It was a 50-lap race.
Buddy Guy performed on the DraftKings stage from 1:15pm to 2:00pm on Saturday
The Black Keys will perform on the DraftKings stage from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Chainsmokers took the stage at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The Cup Series, a 75-lap race, will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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“I think it brings together people from all walks of life… both Chicagoans and the rest of the country… we could use that right now,” said Michelle Prifer, who is visiting from Michigan.
Racing experience for fans
With engines purring and tires squeezing, the second year of NASCAR Chicago has begun.
“They have it all,” said NASCAR fan Jake Kern. “They want it to be inclusive. There’s something for everyone here.”
Long-time fans and newbies alike have expressed their excitement.
“This is my first race and I’m really excited,” said NASCAR rookie Kay Lewis.
Saturday’s race, The Loop 110, is a warm-up for Sunday’s main event, the NASCAR Cup Series race. With the sun shining, it’s a perfect day to cruise the downtown streets at top speeds well over 100 mph.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Ryneshia Pauling, a NASCAR fan from South Carolina. “Everybody comes here, and it’s different for me because it’s street racing, not a drag strip.”
The races attracted fans from across the country, as well as an international audience.
“It’s wonderful,” said Sylvain Simard, a Canadian NASCAR fan. “The track is beautiful. NASCAR is first class… The street racing is beautiful, everything is cool… by Lake Michigan… the cars are great… the first turn is the best.”
While the racing is the main attraction, fans will also be able to enjoy plenty of other activities, including freestyle motocross. Riders take to the ramp and perform tricks in the air with the Chicago skyline as a magnificent backdrop.
“It’s awesome, it’s awesome,” said NASCAR fan Jeremy Chung. “I love it. It’s my first NASCAR event. It’s cool to see them on the streets. It’s really amazing.”
Chicago treasure, blues legend Buddy Guy, was the first musician to kick off the weekend. It was a big improvement over last year’s inaugural race weekend, when heavy rains forced the cancellation of concerts and delayed racing.
“It’s a lot better than last year. I love it,” said NASCAR fan Isaiah White. “I didn’t get the experience I wanted, but this year I got it.”
More experiences for fans
Just outside the Grant Park track, fans were able to experience the thrill and excitement of watching a NASCAR race in Chicago.
“The weather is great,” said a fan named Mark. “Everything is great with NASCAR racing here. The economy… everything. I know they weren’t planning on doing it for another two years, but I hope they do. Make it an annual event.”
A special car unveiled in the Fan Zone kept fans busy all day.
“I think it’s really cool. It’s my first time in NASCAR…” said Jayah Morris, a participant.
The race weekend is shaping up to be much drier than last year, when heavy rain impacted many of the weekend’s events.
“There’s a lot to do. And a lot for the kids too,” said Andrew Burns, one of the participants. “We didn’t really have anything to do last year because everything was closed and flooded. So this is a new experience for us too.”
New this year are free fan events at Butler Field in NASCAR Village, featuring interactive exhibits, racing simulators and appearances by NASCAR drivers.
“It’s pretty cool,” said fan Henry Pink. “I tried the racing simulator. I got to sit in the car. I won one of those items from the Spin game, so that’s pretty cool.”
Additional events have been added this year in hopes of making the race weekend more inclusive and representative of Chicago’s communities.
“It’s really cool. It’s actually nice that the event is open this year compared to last year,” said attendee Brian Castongia. “There’s been almost nothing going on, but it’s awesome.”
NASCAR partners with the Chicago Loop Alliance to ensure all 77 Chicago neighborhoods are represented.
“We have 20 vendors that are people we work with on Sundays on State,” said Michael Edwards of the Chicago Loop Alliance. “They come from all over Chicago, they’re small businesses, they’re big businesses.”
Grant Park’s local restaurants and businesses offered ticket holders a taste of Chicago from the Pullman, Chatham and historic Bronzeville neighborhoods. It’s a true reflection of Chicago’s communities and NASCAR’s growing reach.
“For all the people who come here from around the world, it’s an opportunity for them to learn more about Chicago, but also for us to learn more about NASCAR,” Edwards said.
Street closures
Major street closures went into effect Friday.
As of 12:01 a.m., northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Road is now closed between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road.
Southbound Michigan Avenue is closed between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive.
The northbound lane of Indiana Avenue is closed at 13th Street.
Monroe Street is closed between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
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