CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Some of the fastest drivers in the world are set to take over the streets around Chicago's Grant Park.
City leaders and executives at NASCAR confirmed Tuesday that the stock-car racing league will bring its signature series to a street course downtown starting next July.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot told reporters in Streeterville that her administration had been in talks with NASCAR for about one year.
“This is a huge, huge sports town,” Lightfoot said. “The opportunity to bring something so unique as NASCAR to the city of Chicago — I think it’s going to be one of the most iconic race courses, maybe ever — and introduce a whole new fan base to what NASCAR is about in the city of Chicago, we couldn’t pass up that opportunity.”
The Chicago race will be NASCAR’s first-ever street course, and it’s scheduled to take place on July 1 – 2, 2023.
“This is an ideal setting for the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy. “The NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen cars and IMSA machines will race along the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, marking a truly historic moment for our sport.”
In order to make room for the Chicago race, NASCAR will scrap its fan-favorite Road America race in Wisconsin.
Chicago’s race will be a 12-turn, 2.2-mile race around Grant Park. Tickets will go on sale later this week.
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