What’s Happening?

NASCAR heads back to the “Windy City” this weekend for the second Chicago Street Race. The 2023 race was marred by a monsoon and a thunderstorm, which forced both races to be shortened. Will the same happen this year?

• The Chicago Street Race is NASCAR’s first race to be contested at least partially on City Streets since the Daytona Beach/Road races in the 1940s and 1950s. NASCAR has been in the city off and on throughout history, racing at Soldier Field in the 1950s and at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, from 2001 through 2019.
• Weather can go about 40 different directions in Chicago during the summer. Maybe it will be 100 degrees, but it could be 75 with a nice breeze. It might be dry as a bone, or there could be lightning, thunder, and driving rain.
• Fans are looking forward to the Chicago Street Race, even if there is skepticism about its long-term stability. Everyone wants to see a Chicago Street Race without weather issues.

Weekend Weather Forecast via National Weather Service

Saturday, July 6th: Xfinity Series The Loop 110 (3:30 PM ET/2:30 PM Local)

• Forecast: Mostly Sunny
• Temperature: High 81°F, Head Index 82°F
• Rain: 6-17%
• Wind: WNW 9-10 MPH, Gusting to 14-15 MPH

Sunday, July 7th: Cup Series Grant Park 220 (4:30 PM ET/3:30 PM Local)

• Forecast: Chance of Showers and Thunderstorms
• Temperature: High 87°F, Heat Index 89°F
• Rain: 30-37%
• Wind: SW 13-17 MPH

Chicago NASCAR Weather History

The 2023 Chicago Street Race was one of the wildest weather stories in NASCAR history. A monsoon pushed the start of the Cup Series race back, eventually forcing the race to start on wet weather tires. The race was eventually shortened to 75 laps due to darkness after the delay.

The Xfinity Series race was even more truncated. Lightning stopped the race 25 laps into the 55-lap scheduled distance. The race was eventually postponed to Sunday, but the all-day rain combined with the inability to come back on Monday forced NASCAR to end the race after 25 laps, with Cole Custer taking home the win.

This article will be updated as the week goes on and the forecast changes.