What To Expect From The Debut NASCAR Chicago Street Race

As NASCAR prepares to take over the streets of Chicago for a historic race through the city, street course president Julie Giese offers a sneak peek of the high-profile event.

Catch NASCAR drivers zipping through the streets this summer.

In the past few years, mainstream media hits like Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive have catapulted motorsports to the center of American popular culture, and the moment could not be more perfect for NASCAR to host its debut street race right here in Chicago. “People who have never been exposed to racing are coming to the sport through new and exciting ways—and that’s what the Chicago Street Race Weekend is all about: introducing world-class racing in a unique festival environment to a new group of fans,” says Julie Giese, president of the NASCAR Chicago Street Course. “Chicago is already a top NASCAR market in terms of viewership, but with a backdrop of the skyline and Lake Michigan, no one has ever seen NASCAR quite like this—and that’s something we’re really excited about.”

Giese

With thrilling racing around Grant Park and down Lake Shore Drive, A-list performances by The Chainsmokers, Miranda Lambert and more, the weekend is primed to be a massive win for both NASCAR and Chicago. “This city does festivals so well, and the Street Race Weekend is really the next level of that proud tradition,” Gieser shares. “Sports fans across the world have this one circled on their calendars.”

The two-day race/festival weekend is one of the most anticipated autosports events of the year, and longtime track executive Giese is integral in making the historic event a success. “NASCAR’s first street race is one of the boldest—if not the boldest—moves we’ve made in the 75-year history of the sport,” she says. “Never before have NASCAR drivers raced through city streets like this, and the chance to do it in a city as iconic as Chicago is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Beyond the race, Giese shares that NASCAR is fully committed to fostering a long-term relationship with the city. “[We’ve] established the NASCAR Chicago office with a full-time team who are a part of the community year-round and partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, Chicago Public Schools and more,” she says. “We are committed to Chicago for the long haul, and we want to be a positive contributor to the fabric of this city in every way possible.” July 1-2