ABOUT CHICAGO STREET COURSE

The Chicago Street Course is a temporary racing circuit built on public roads in the heart of downtown Chicago, Illinois. It made history in 2023 as the first-ever street race in the NASCAR Cup Series. The course winds through and around Grant Park, one of the city's most famous urban parks, using streets like Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Jackson Drive, and Balbo Drive. The start/finish line is located right next to the iconic Buckingham Fountain, offering a dramatic and scenic setting for both drivers and fans.

The track is 2.2 miles (3.54 kilometers) long and includes 12 turns. Two of its most unique features are the bridge crossings over the Metra Electric District rail lines, which add an extra challenge. Unlike most NASCAR tracks, which are either ovals or purpose-built road courses, this one features tight corners, narrow streets, and changing pavement – all typical of a street course. That makes it a technical and unforgiving circuit where precision is critical and the margin for error is slim.

This layout originally started as a virtual concept designed by iRacing in 2021 for an eNASCAR event. Because of its popularity and the attention it generated, NASCAR decided to bring it to life in the real world. The idea became official in July 2022, and the first race took place on July 2, 2023. That inaugural event, the Grant Park 220, was won by Shane van Gisbergen, a Supercars champion from New Zealand, making his NASCAR debut. His win was historic, as it was the first time in over 60 years that a driver won a Cup race in their first start. The race itself was cut short due to rain and lightning, but the dramatic conditions only added to the spectacle.

The second edition of the race in 2024 was also affected by weather, but this time it ran to completion. Alex Bowman took the win in the newly named Grant Park 165. The wet conditions once again played a role in the strategy and outcome of the race, proving that the Chicago Street Course continues to be one of the most unpredictable and entertaining stops on the NASCAR schedule.

Beyond the racing, the event is designed as a full weekend experience. It includes concerts with major artists, local food vendors, fan zones, and multiple hospitality options. With its backdrop of Chicago’s skyline and Lake Michigan, it brings a big-city, festival-like vibe to stock car racing. The goal is to attract new fans and bring NASCAR to a more urban audience, while still offering hardcore fans something totally different from the usual.