What’s Happening?

NASCAR hits the streets of Chicago for the second time this weekend. Here is everything you need to know as the stars of NASCAR take on the “Windy City.”

• The Chicago Street Race is the first race NASCAR has hosted on city streets since the Daytona Beach/Road Course in the 1940s and 1950s. However, it is the first race NASCAR has ever contested fully on city streets. NASCAR is no stranger to Chicago, holding races at Soldier Field in the 1950s and at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, from 2001 through 2019.
• The Xfinity Series joins alongside the Cup Series this weekend for the second year. Originally, NASCAR intended to have an IMSA Series compete alongside the Cup Series when the Street Race was announced, but things changed.
• The Chicago Street Race was one of the most highly anticipated races of 2023, and it delivered despite the rain delay. Fans are interested in seeing if this year’s event will be delivered once again.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET)

Saturday, July 6th – Xfinity Series RACE

• 10:00 AM-12:00 PM – Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying on USA
• 12:00-12:30 PM – Cup Series Victory Lane Review on USA
• 12:30-2:30 PM – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying on USA
• 3:00-3:30 PM – Xfinity Series Countdown to Green on NBC
• 3:30 PM – Xfinity Series The Loop 110 on NBC

Sunday, July 7th – Cup Series RACE

• 4:00-4:30 PM – Cup Series Countdown to Green on NBC
• 4:30 PM – Cup Series Grant Park 220 on NBC

Race Facts

Chicago Street Circuit

• Year Built: 2023 (Temporary Circuit)
• Length: 2.2 Miles
• Shape: Street Circuit
• Banking: None
• Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
• Lights?: No
• Rain Tires?: Yes

Xfinity Series

• Race Length: 50 Laps (110.0 Miles)
• Stages: 15 Laps (Stages 1 and 2), 20 Laps (Stage 3)
• 2023 Winner: Cole Custer
• 2024 Road Course Winners: Shane Van Gisbergen (Sonoma and Portland) and Kyle Larson (Circuit of the Americas)

Cup Series

• Race Length: 75 Laps (165.0 Miles)
• Stages: 20 Laps (Stage 1), 25 Laps (Stage 2), 30 Laps (Stage 3)
• 2023 Winner: Shane Van Gisbergen
• 2024 Road Course Winners: William Byron (Circuit of the Americas) and Kyle Larson (Sonoma)

Entry Lists

Xfinity Series

There are 43 cars on the entry list for 38 spots, meaning five drivers will go home. Notable entrants include Ty Dillon (No. 4), Andre Castro (No. 14), Joey Logano (No. 15), Kyle Larson (No. 17), Ty Gibbs (No. 19), J.H. Nemechek (No. 20), Sage Karam (No. 26), Austin Green (No. 32), Daniel Suarez (No. 36), and Conner Mosack (No. 88)*. Two cars with no driver yet include the Alpha Prime Racing No. 45 car and the Joey gase Motorsports No. 53 car.

*The entry list incorrectly has Carson Kvapil listed as the driver of the No. 88 car.

Cup Series

The Cup Series entry list features 40 cars, meaning this is the season’s third race with a full field. “All-Star Car” entrants include Kaz Grala (No. 15) and Shane van Gisbergen (No. 16). Open entries include A.J. Allmendinger (No. 13), Austin Hill (No. 33), Joey Hand (No. 60), and Josh Bilicki (No. 66).

What to Watch For

Xfinity Series

With only 25 laps in the first Chicago Street Race and a jumbled-up finishing order thanks to the premature finish, the 2023 race may not be the best barometer for who will have success this weekend. What we can judge based on is the road course races this season, which have been dominated by Kaulig Racing. SVG won at Portland and Sonoma, and he and A.J. Allmendinger combined to lead 40 out of 50 laps at COTA despite Kyle Larson taking the win.

Cup Series

The first street race in Cup Series history is known for SVG’s win, but Christopher Bell dominated, leading 37 of the first 47 laps before the shortening of the race jumbled the strategy. Bell finished second this past March at Circuit of the Americas. Hendrick Motorsports has dominated his year’s road course races, with Kyle Larson winning at Sonoma and William Byron at COTA.

This story will be updated as the week goes on and more information about the weekend becomes available.