Latest news with #ChicagoStreetRace
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
NASCAR Chicago Street Race course ‘puts on a great show,' Jeff Gordon says
Could the rain delays that dogged NASCAR's Chicago Street Race in its first two years have inadvertently become its superpower? 'Wet-weather road racing is really exciting,' four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon told Chicago's City Club on Thursday night. 'The most exciting type of racing is not only slick (conditions) but drying pavement.' Drying pavement is something the Grant Park 165, the premier event of the Chicago Street Race weekend, has seen plenty of. Rainy conditions forced NASCAR to shorten the race in both 2023 and 2024, but both events also produced dramatic racing that gave pundits plenty to talk about. The race weekend, which has drawn mixed reaction from locals because of the road closures it causes, returns to downtown Chicago for a third year on July 5 and 6. Last year Alex Bowman won the rain-delayed Grant Park 165 after staying on wet-weather tires, even as other race leaders swapped their tires for slicker ones better suited for the drying conditions. The victory snapped an 80-race winless streak for Bowman, who drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, of which Gordon serves as vice chairman. New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen won the rain-shortened Grant Park race in 2023, becoming the first driver in 60 years to win in his NASCAR Cup Series debut. Gordon, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, called the win 'probably one of the most shocking things that's happened in NASCAR in the last 30 years.' Gordon said that when he first saw the course map for the inaugural street race two years ago, he wondered about some of the narrow stretches on the route. Some of the participating race teams were also initially nervous about the course, he said. But drivers now love the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course, which offers high- and low-speed areas, narrow passes, and roomier stretches. The pop-up course runs through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. 'It's a very fun and flowy' course, Gordon said. 'It puts on a great show, and the drivers really love it.' 'They absolutely can't wait to get here' next month, added Gordon, who was in Chicago for the 2023 and 2024 races and plans to return this year. 'It's such a cool event,' he said. 'To see our race cars screaming around the streets of Chicago, and all the city has to offer, it's so special for all of us competitors to be a part of.' The launch of a street course was made possible in part by the Next Generation car, which NASCAR began using in the 2022 season. The Next Generation car was designed with several improvements, including better brakes, that opened the door to racing on different types of tracks, Gordon said. Could the success of the Next Generation car in downtown Chicago pave the way for future NASCAR street races in other locations? 'I certainly think so,' Gordon said in an interview Thursday afternoon. 'It opens up a whole new window of opportunity. (But) I'd like to see it stay here for a long time because it's the perfect city for us to be in.' Gordon said the televised race puts a spotlight on Chicago. The event also has helped expand NASCAR's fan base, which has declined partly because iconic drivers such as Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin have retired. 'When you have that many key figures in a sport step out, you lose fans,' Gordon said. 'We've got to make drivers household names and faces again.' With hotels, restaurants and entertainment footsteps away from the downtown course, he said the Chicago Street Race offers an enhanced experience for fans, partners and sponsors. Next month's race weekend also will feature a Saturday night concert by Zac Brown Band. 'It's just a fun and exciting atmosphere that we see a lot of interest in,' Gordon said.
NBC Sports
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
NASCAR Cup playoff standings after 12 races shows who has work to do
The NASCAR Cup All-Star Race takes place just before the halfway point of the regular season — 14 races remain until the playoffs begin — but this weekend's event provides a good point to asses what has taken place this year. Kyle Larson leads the points, has scored the most playoff points, and led the most laps in the 12 races before Sunday night's exhibition event at North Wilkesboro, but is that enough? Maybe not. Dominance early in a season isn't always rewarded with a Cup title. Consider: Larson took the points lead from teammate William Byron after winning last weekend's race at Kansas Speedway, the third victory of the season for Larson. No driver leading the Cup points after 12 races has gone on to win the championship that season since Martin Truex Jr. in 2017. Dustin Long, Larson has scored a series-best 23 playoff points (15 points via his three wins and eight points via his eight stage victories). No driver with the most playoff points after 12 races has gone on to win the Cup title that season since Kyle Busch in 2019. Take a look at the other end of the playoff picture. Seven drivers have claimed playoff spots with a win, leaving nine spots remaining. Drivers that made it on points in the Next Gen era (since 2022) had an average of 349.3 points after 12 races. Chase Elliott (378), Ryan Blaney (362) and Tyler Reddick (357) are the only drivers above that point through 12 races this year. Of the six drivers who made the playoffs on points since 2022, three of them were in the top five in points after 12 races (Martin Truex Jr. was second in 2024, Kevin Harvick was fifth in 2023 and Blaney was third in 2022). Elliott is fourth in the season standings and Blaney is fifth ahead ahead of the All-Star Race. Only one of the six drivers who made the playoffs on points since 2022 were outside the top 10 after 12 races. Bubba Wallace was 18th in points after 12 races. He averaged 21.0 points per race in the first 12 races. His performance picked up afterward. He averaged 26.2 points per race in the final 14 races of the regular season that year to earn the final playoff spot. Among those outside the top 10 in the points and winless this year are: Ross Chastain (11th in the standings), Chris Buescher (12th), Chase Briscoe (13th), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (15th), Ryan Preece (16th), Kyle Busch (18th), John Hunter Nemechek (19th) and Carson Hocevar (20th). When looking ahead, also consider the schedule. Six of the remaining 14 races in the regular season will be held at either a road course or a drafting track. The road courses are Mexico City (June 15), Chicago Street Race (July 6), Sonoma (July 13) and Watkins Glen (Aug. 10). The drafting tracks are Atlanta (June 28) and the regular-season finale at Daytona (Aug. 23). Here is a look at the playoff standings after 12 of 26 races in the regular season (those highlighted in yellow are in a playoff spot via a win):
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Corey Heim's Kansas return fuels Cup Series breakthrough hopes
Rising NASCAR star Corey Heim is generating serious buzz ahead of a possible transition to the NASCAR Cup Series, with Kansas Speedway shaping up as a pivotal point in his racing journey. At just 22 years old, Heim has already made a name for himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with 12 career wins since 2022—most recently a standout victory at Darlington in 2025. A native of Marietta, Georgia, Heim has consistently showcased his prowess on tracks like Kansas, Martinsville, and Mid-Ohio. Now, with support from 23XI Racing—co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan—and Toyota Racing Development (TRD), Heim is preparing for select Cup Series starts, including high-profile events like the Chicago Street Race and Nashville. Kansas Speedway holds particular significance for Heim. Not only has he celebrated previous victories there, but it also represents a proving ground as he adapts to the Next Gen Cup car. With intense preparation underway, including data analysis and hands-on training, Heim is methodically building toward a successful Cup debut. Despite a recent setback at Kansas—a pit stop issue that cost him a shot at a third consecutive Truck Series win—Heim remains focused and resilient. He continues to lead in the 2025 Truck Series standings while eyeing the bigger stage of Cup racing. With talent, dedication, and backing from elite mentors, Corey Heim is poised for a major leap forward. As he approaches his Cup Series debut, NASCAR fans and teams alike are watching closely to see if Kansas will spark the next chapter in his ascent.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Neighbors express concerns about disruptions with NASCAR Chicago Street Race to return for third year
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will be back for a third year in July, and Chicago Police and NASCAR representatives met with South Loop neighbors Wednesday to hear their concerns when it comes to safety. While the revving of engines in Grant Park is welcomed by some, many who live in the area are not fans of the congestion the event ushers their way. Paul Wasserman has called the South Loop home for 30 years, but in recent years, he has dreaded the NASCAR Street Race due to the lack of access. "It's really tough on the neighborhood during NASCAR," Wasserman said. As NASCAR plans to descend over several streets surrounding Grant Park for the third year in a row, many like Wasserman are fed up with what comes with the race. "Occasionally when there's an event going on down here, you get like a bad day or maybe a bad night for like a Beyoncé concert [at Soldier Field] or something, but this is like that, but for however long NSACAR goes on," Wasserman said. At the community meeting Wednesday night, Wasserman's South Loop neighbors came together to voice their concerns directly to the Chicago Police Department — and specifically to NASCAR Chicago. "I understand it's a lot of people live down here, and they're not interested in their front yard being a party every weekend," said Central (1st) District police Cmdr. David Harris. NASCAR said it is heeding neighbors' concerns. "We have been working very hard to minimize those disruptions," said Julie Giese of NASCAR Chicago. NASCAR said there will be a total of 25 days from setup to clearing the course and blocked roads, albeit for only two days of racing. "We're going to continue to get better at this," Giese said. Residents are waiting to see how the new changes will play out, but Wasserman stands by his opinion. "I understand that we might have to live with it, but if it were elsewhere, I'd be happier," he said. The city entered into a three-year contract with NASCAR under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This year is the third for the race. Giese was asked if NASCAR plans to return again for a street race in 2026. "Again, right now, our focus is on this year's event," she said. "We have those option years. We'll have those conversations." The race is set for July 5 and 6..
NBC Sports
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Change proves to be a constant in NASCAR, so what will be next?
The NASCAR Cup Series goes to a new venue for a fifth consecutive season. The championship race changes tracks next year. How the series crowns its champion also could be different in 2026. In a sport whose competitors can travel nearly 200 mph, what is happening off track can be dizzying to some — or seemingly slow to others. Either way, it's not stagnant. 'I think it's always changing and always evolving,' former Cup champion Chase Elliott said of the sport. 'I don't think that's ever going to stop. There has been a lot of it … over the last three or four years. I don't think that will ever change, but I do think that they're in search of a better balance right now between all their different track configurations and rightfully so, because I think it can be better. 'No reason why we can't take all the knowledge that we've learned for the 75-plus years that it's been around and have it the best today than it has ever been.' Not all concepts prove fruitful, though. NASCAR floated the idea to teams about relaxing some rules for this month's All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway to give them more creativity with car setups. Teams declined for various reasons. Series officials continue to examine at what can be done with the racing at short tracks with this car, which debuted in 2022. Goodyear continues to change tire compounds. Competitors and fans also want to see changes with superspeedway racing. For some, change can't come soon enough. 'The thing is about everyone's opinion is that you have to understand the full picture of one, how you got there, and two, why things aren't so simple to change,' three-time Cup champion Joey Logano said. 'There's a lot of positives that go on that we don't talk about. There's a lot of negatives that we talk about because people like that. With that same attitude, complacency is also one of the worst things you can ever have in your life. 'So you got to look at it and say, 'OK, what can we make better?' Because you can always improve something.' Next month's race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City continues NASCAR's international push. The race will mark the first time since 1958 that the Cup Series has had a points race outside the United States. 'With Mexico, that will be a new experience,' Noah Gragson said. 'It will be something that's really cool and something that's different for NASCAR.' Since 2021, new tracks on the Cup schedule include Circuit of the Americas (2021 debut), Nashville (2021), World Wide Technology Raceway (2022), Chicago Street Race (2023), Iowa (2024) and the Mexico City event. 'I think schedule variation works, and it's proven that it works,' NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps said last November at Phoenix. 'It works from an attendance standpoint. It works from a ratings standpoint. Not insignificantly it works from kind of a brand standpoint, what it means to be bold and innovative and do things differently and change things up. That drives success. 'I think that's what we've tried to do as a sport is do those things. And not just schedule innovation, but other things as well.' NASCAR has a group looking at what changes, if any, to make with how the champion is crowned. Such changes could be instituted after this season. 'You're talking to a guy that thinks we have a great system,' said Logano, who is among the drivers on the group. 'I would make minimal changes, if any. 'There's different opinions, right? All of us will have different ones, probably depending on where you're sitting. I try to look the at it and ask what do I think is most entertaining?' Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue & racing innovation officer, said this week that the group is not expected to announce any decision for a few months. NASCAR revealed this week that the championship race for Cup, Xfinity and the Craftsman Truck Series will move from Phoenix to Homestead-Miami Speedway for 2026. That will begin a rotation of tracks for the title event. Kennedy did not say what other tracks would be a part of the rotation other than Phoenix and Homestead. Josh Berry, who is set to make the Cup playoffs for the first time with his Las Vegas win, has a track in mind for the championship rotation. 'I think the first one that comes to mind is Las Vegas, not only because of us winning there, but it just seems to put on good racing and I think it's a good market for the championship race as well,' he said. 'I think that checks those two boxes there. It's a really good racetrack, but a really good area that could bring some excitement for the championship race.' Kennedy said that Daytona won't be among those tracks because officials 'unanimously agreed that (the finale) needs to look and feel like what we would expect traditional NASCAR racing to look and feel like. Short tracks, intermediate tracks, mile tracks are all on the board. Superspeedways, I think we all feel like right now we wouldn't consider that as a championship venue, not that Daytona isn't a championship caliber venue.' But Daytona will remain the season opener. The Clash, though, will likely move to different venues and Kennedy has said an international venue could be in the event's future but not next year. 'I wouldn't ever rule out international in the future, though,' Kennedy said. 'We have thoughts about a lot of it being prior to the season, in the off-season, an exhibition race. It's a great opportunity for us to bring NASCAR racing to other parts of the world.'
