CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Race car drivers will be burning rubber around Grant Park once again in 2024, as NASCAR officially announced that the Chicago Street Race will return for Fourth of July weekend.
Race organizers said the 2024 race will mark the second of a minimum three-year commitment between NASCAR and the City of Chicago. It will take place on July 6 – 7.
The first race coincided with historic rains across Chicago, which resulted in multiple accidents and delays, as well as sparse attendance at the race itself. Nonetheless NBC said the street race was the network's most watched Cup Series race in six years.
Choose Chicago, the City's tourism agency, previously published a study showing that the 2023 race brought in $108.9 million in economic impact and $23.6 million in total media value to Chicago. Several City Hall veterans, though, expressed skepticism about those numbers, given that Choose Chicago paid for the study.
The race drew criticism from downtown alderpersons and residents, who complained about the restricted access to Grant Park and the copious amount of construction due to the race.
Following the announcement, Mayor Brandon Johnson's Office released a statement saying that his administration has been working with NASCAR to address those concerns ever since the conclusion of the 2023 race.
"As a result of these conversations, NASCAR has agreed to shorten the event's set up and tear down windows, reducing travel disruption for impacted communities and other residents," the statement read. "NASCAR has also committed to addressing costs incurred by City departments and agencies in facilitating and securing the event as consistent with other large-scale events."
Johnson called this a "win for Chicago taxpayers."
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