The Chicago Street Course is a temporary 2.2-mile street circuit with 12 turns located in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, designed by iRacing for NASCAR racing.[1][2] Introduced in 2023, it hosts the Grant Park 165 for the NASCAR Cup Series and the Loop 110 for the Xfinity Series, representing the first purpose-built street course in NASCAR's top-tier history.[1][2]The circuit winds through urban landmarks including the Buckingham Fountain and Lake Michigan waterfront, demanding precise handling amid tight corners and extended straights totaling nearly 10,000 feet.[1] Notable achievements include Shane van Gisbergen's surprise Cup Series debut victory in 2023 as a road course specialist from Supercars, followed by his repeat wins in both series in 2025, underscoring the track's favoritism toward adaptable open-wheel talents.[1][2] The event earned "Event of the Year" honors at the 2024 Sports Business Awards for its innovative integration of racing with city infrastructure.[1] However, races have faced typical street course challenges such as weather-related shortenings and mechanical failures, with the series pausing the Chicago event in 2026 to reassess logistics and potential new dates amid collaborative discussions with city officials.[1][2]
History
Origins and Development
The Chicago Street Course originated as a virtual racing layout developed by iRacing in early 2021, specifically for the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series.[3] iRacing created the approximately 2.2-mile, 12-turn circuit by scanning public streets in downtown Chicago's Loop area, including portions of Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive near Grant Park, resulting in a near figure-eight configuration that incorporated city landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain.[4] This digital version debuted in simulations that spring, allowing virtual racers to preview the urban street racing format ahead of its potential real-world application.[5]NASCAR selected this iRacing design as the basis for a live street race to expand its series beyond traditional ovals, drawing inspiration from established urban circuits in Formula 1 and IndyCar while targeting Chicago's large market and infrastructure.[6] The sanctioning body collaborated with iRacing to adapt the virtual layout for physical use, announcing in 2022 that the course would host the inaugural Grant Park 165NASCAR Cup Series event on July 1, 2023—the first such street race in Cup history.[5] Development required coordination with city officials for permits, traffic management, and safety adaptations, emphasizing temporary barriers and fencing suited to public roads without permanent modifications.[7]Physical construction commenced on June 18, 2023, involving installation of over 100,000 feet of fencing, tire walls, and catch barriers across the 2.14-mile path to ensure racer and spectator safety on asphalt not optimized for high-speed motorsport.[7] The process highlighted logistical challenges of urban street racing, such as minimizing disruption to daily city functions and integrating with landmarks, but proceeded without major redesigns from the iRacing blueprint.[6] This marked a deliberate evolution in NASCAR's scheduling, prioritizing experiential racing in non-traditional venues to attract new audiences, though subsequent events in 2024 and 2025 revealed ongoing refinements in course setup based on operational feedback.[8]
Inaugural Race (2023)
The Grant Park 220, the first NASCAR Cup Seriesrace on the ChicagoStreet Course, took place on July 2, 2023, marking the series' debut on a temporary street circuit in downtown Chicago around Grant Park.[9] The 2.2-mile, 12-turn layout incorporated public roads closed for the event, with the race scheduled for 100 laps but shortened to 75 laps due to heavy rain causing a red-flag period.[10] Qualifying saw A. J. Allmendinger take the pole position for the #16 Chevrolet, followed by Shane van Gisbergen in third starting spot for the #91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet in his Cup Series debut.[9]Van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars Champion from New Zealand making his first NASCAR start, capitalized on his road racing expertise to lead the final 12 laps after passing Justin Haley on a late restart following the rain delay.[9] He crossed the finish line 1.203 seconds ahead of Haley in the #31 Chevrolet, with Michael McDowell third in the #34 Ford, becoming the first international driver to win a Cup race on debut and the seventh to win in their first start overall.[9] The victory drew praise for van Gisbergen's aggressive moves, including a bold pass on the outside of turn 12 to take the lead.[11]The race featured multiple cautions, including early incidents like Corey LaJoie's spin on lap 10 and a multi-car crash involving Denny Hamlin and others on lap 25, alongside wall contacts by drivers such as Kyle Busch due to the unforgiving street barriers.[9] Attendance exceeded expectations with over 75,000 fans, though some disruptions from weather and urban logistics were noted, setting the stage for future iterations.[10]
The 2024 Grant Park 165, the second running of the NASCAR Cup Series event on the Chicago Street Course, took place on July 7, 2024, over 75 laps covering 165 miles.[13] Alex Bowman driving the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports claimed victory, securing his eighth career Cup Series win and ending a drought of 80 races without a triumph.[14] Tyler Reddick finished second in the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, while Ty Gibbs placed third in the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.[13] The race featured nine lead changes among six drivers and five caution periods totaling 19 laps.[15]The 2025 Grant Park 165 occurred on July 6, 2025, again contested over 75 laps on the 2.2-mile street circuit.[16]Shane van Gisbergen, in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, won the event—his second consecutive Chicago victory following his 2023 debut success and third career Cup Series win overall.[16]Ty Gibbs again finished second, with Tyler Reddick taking third for the second straight year.[17] The race included six lead changes among five drivers and seven cautions for 15 yellow-flag laps, with van Gisbergen holding off challengers in the final stages.[18]
Future and Negotiations
Following the inaugural 2023 IndyCar race, which was truncated to 25 of 75 scheduled laps due to heavy rain and thunderstorms on July 9, the series did not include the Chicago Street Course on its 2024 or 2025 calendars. This omission reflects logistical and financial challenges associated with street circuit events, particularly after the weather-disrupted debut limited on-track action and canceled ancillary concerts. No public negotiations between IndyCar officials and Chicago authorities for event renewal have been reported as of October 2025. The series has instead prioritized schedule stability and expansion to alternative venues, including a new street course in Ontario, California, slated for 2026.[19]The course's potential availability for future use increased after NASCAR opted not to renew its contract beyond 2025, announcing a pause for 2026 to allow time for rescheduling discussions with the city. NASCAR cited the need for collaborative planning amid ongoing economic evaluations, as the event has faced criticism for high setup costs exceeding $20 million annually and mixed local business impacts. However, IndyCar's focus on established markets and new opportunities, such as joint events with NASCAR at Phoenix, suggests low likelihood of returning to Chicago without significant promoter incentives.[20][21]
Track Layout
Course Configuration
The Chicago Street Course is a temporary 2.2-mile (3.5 km) street circuit configured within Grant Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois, utilizing existing city streets such as South Columbus Drive, East Jackson Drive, South Michigan Avenue, and East Balbo Drive.[1][22] The layout incorporates 12 turns, predominantly right-handers consistent with its clockwise direction of travel.[22][2]The course features a near figure-eight configuration, crossing itself via bridges over the Metra Electric rail line, with straights reaching speeds over 180 mph on sections like Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.[4] The track surface consists of public asphalt roads modified with temporary SAFER barriers, curbing, and runoff areas where feasible, though space constraints limit extensive safety margins typical of permanent facilities.[1] Pit lane is integrated along South Columbus Drive, with entry and exit positioned before Turn 1 and after Turn 12, respectively, enforcing a 45 mphspeed limit.[2]Racing occurs on a single-lane format for most segments, with double-file restarts implemented in designated zones such as before Turn 12, and a "choose" rule allowing lane selection at the entry to Turn 6.[22] The configuration supports NASCAR Cup Series events at a race distance of 165 miles over 75 laps, emphasizing high-speed straights interspersed with tight, 90-degree urban corners.[1] Annual setup involves street closures starting weeks in advance, with track preparation including resurfacing key intersections and installation of over 2,000 feet of barriers.[23]
Key Features and Turns
The Chicago Street Course measures 2.2 miles in length and consists of 12 turns configured on public streets encircling Grant Park in downtown Chicago.[1] The layout integrates segments of roads including South Columbus Drive, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, East Balbo Drive, and South Michigan Avenue, presenting drivers with a mix of tight corners, sweeping sections, elevation variations, and surface transitions between concrete and asphalt.[24] Notable features include two bridge crossings over Metra Electric District tracks and proximity to landmarks such as the Field Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago, which influence visibility and track dynamics.[25] The design emphasizes precision braking and acceleration, with long straights facilitating overtaking opportunities amid urban constraints.[26]Turn 1 marks the entry from the front straightaway with a left 90-degree corner from South Columbus Drive onto East Balbo Drive; its relatively wide approach supports three-wide formations, particularly on restarts.[26]Turn 2 follows immediately as a right-hand dive into southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive, offering braking zones for aggressive passing maneuvers.[26]Turn 3 is a faster right curve approaching the Field Museum, demanding throttle lift to manage the subsequent braking area.[26]Turn 4 involves a right onto East Roosevelt Road, characterized by tight radii that risk wall contact on entry or exit.[26]Turn 5, another right, benefits from forgiving wall geometry, serving as a critical exit onto the circuit's longest straightaway.[26]Turn 6 returns left in a 90-degree maneuver back to East Balbo Drive, tight enough to enable passing from the straight but punishing for errors.[26]Turn 7 presents a challenging right 90-degree downhill brake over a bridge onto South Michigan Avenue, combining descent with narrow margins.[26]Turns 8 and 9 form a sweeping right-left chicane at Congress Plaza, volatile with bumpiness in Turn 9 requiring careful throttle modulation to avoid the inside wall.[26]Turn 10 is a high-speed right necessitating a lift, positioned close to barriers.[26]Turn 11 is a standard right 90-degree onto East Jackson Drive near the Art Institute's iconic lions.[26]Turn 12 concludes with a right 90-degree downhill brake back to the front straightaway, where passing is limited due to compression.[26] The configuration has remained consistent since its 2023 debut, with no structural alterations reported for subsequent events.[22]
Safety and Modifications
The Chicago Street Course utilizes concrete Jersey barriers, typically eight feet tall, supplemented by crash-absorbing tire packs in vulnerable sections to mitigate impact forces during incidents. High-risk zones, including the compression areas of Turns 1 and 6 and the apexes of Turns 2 and 5, incorporate extra layers of barriers and fencing for enhanced containment. A Geobrugg debris fence system is deployed across key segments to prevent errant objects from endangering spectators and infrastructure.[7][27][24]Prior to each event, track preparation involves grinding pavement irregularities, sealing cracks, filling potholes, and securing manhole covers with steel plates to eliminate hazards that could damage vehicles or cause loss of control. These measures align with NASCAR's standardized safety protocols, which emphasize barrier integrity, runoff limitations inherent to urban layouts, and rapid response capabilities via on-site medical and fire units.[24][28]Modifications across race years have focused on efficiency and reduced disruption rather than wholesale redesigns, with concrete barriers and fencing reused from 2023 onward to maintain consistency and cost-effectiveness. Build timelines shortened progressively—from 43 days in 2023 to 38 days in 2024 and 25 days in 2025—through streamlined logistics and pre-fabricated components, cutting traffic impacts by 28% since inception. Pavement enhancements in the inaugural year targeted specific degraded sections without full resurfacing, while 2024 introduced Goodyear tires with thicker treads to improve heat retention, grip degradation, and overall handling safety on the abrasive street surface. Following community feedback after the 2023 announcement, subsequent iterations adjusted closure perimeters and preserved more public access in Grant Park to balance event security with local needs.[29][30][31]
Records and Performance
Qualifying Records
The qualifying records for the NASCAR Cup Series at the 2.2-mile Chicago Street Course, introduced in 2023, reflect the fastest single-lap times achieved during official qualifying sessions for the Grant Park 165 (formerly Grant Park 220). These sessions determine the starting grid under knockout format rules, with the pole award going to the driver posting the quickest lap. Conditions such as track temperature, tire compounds, and weather have influenced times, with dry sessions yielding the most competitive laps.[32]The current single-lap qualifying record stands at 87.836 seconds (90.168 mph), set by Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2024 event on July 6. This edged out Ty Gibbs by 0.01 seconds and remains the benchmark for speed on the 12-turn layout. Larson's lap highlighted superior car balance through tight sections like the Turn 5-6 complex and the high-speed frontstretch.[33][34]Pole positions and times by year are summarized below:
No changes to the course configuration have altered qualifying parameters significantly across events, though minor safety barrier adjustments post-2023 incident reviews ensured consistent reference for record attempts. The 2025 pole by van Gisbergen, a New Zealand native racing part-time in Cup, marked his third career pole and underscored his street course proficiency, though it fell short of Larson's mark amid slightly warmer track conditions.[36][37]
Race Lap Records
The Chicago Street Course, a 2.2-mile temporary street circuit, has hosted NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series races since 2023, with race lap records established under varying conditions including traffic, weather, and tire wear. These records represent the fastest laps officially recorded during green-flag race conditions in each series.
These times reflect single-lap performances in competitive race scenarios, distinct from qualifying records which allow for optimized setups without race traffic. No NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events have occurred on the course, precluding records in that category. Records may evolve with future races, subject to track configuration consistency and series regulations.[41]
Notable Race Results
The inaugural Grant Park 220 on July 2, 2023, was won by Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing in his NASCAR Cup Series debut, leading the final 12 laps after starting from the pole position to secure victory in NASCAR's first Cup Series street race.[35]Justin Allgaier finished second, followed by Byron in third, with the race shortened to 75 laps due to weather impacts but featuring 9 lead changes among 6 drivers.[35]In the 2024 Grant Park 165 on July 7, Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports claimed victory, his eighth career Cup win and first since March 2022, ending an 80-race drought amid 5 cautions and multiple incidents on the 2.2-mile circuit.[14]Tyler Reddick placed second, with Ty Gibbs third; Bowman led 28 laps in a race marked by stage wins from Shane van Gisbergen and Joey Hand.[15]Shane van Gisbergen repeated as winner in the 2025 Grant Park 165 on July 6, capturing his third career Cup triumph by holding off challengers in the closing laps, with Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick finishing second and third respectively amid 7 cautions and notable late-race drama including contact.[16] Van Gisbergen's back-to-back Chicago successes highlight his road and street course prowess, leading segments after a stage one win by Michael McDowell.[18]
Reception and Impact
Achievements and Positive Outcomes
The inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023 marked a historic milestone as the first NASCAR Cup Series event on a street circuit, won by Shane van Gisbergen in his series debut, achieving a rare weekend sweep with victories in both the Cup and Xfinity Series races.[1] This debut success highlighted the course's potential for competitive racing, drawing international attention and setting a precedent for urban street events in stock car racing.[42]In 2024, the event received the Sports Business Awards' Event of the Year honor for its innovative execution and broad appeal, underscoring its rapid establishment as a premier motorsport spectacle.[43] The race weekend demonstrated improved operational efficiency over the prior year, with enhanced fan experiences and logistical refinements contributing to sustained enthusiasm.[44]Economically, the 2024 Chicago Street Race generated $128 million in total impact on the local economy, representing a 17% increase from the 2023 event, while producing $9.6 million in tax revenue for the city.[45] This influx primarily benefited tourism, hospitality, and related sectors, with studies indicating boosts in local spending on lodging, dining, and entertainment.[46] Additionally, the event yielded $43.6 million in earned media value, amplifying Chicago's visibility as a global destination.[47]Overall, these outcomes have fostered positive community perceptions in many quarters, with reports noting net benefits to local businesses despite logistical challenges, positioning the course as a viable platform for future economic and cultural contributions.[48]
Criticisms and Challenges
The Chicago Street Course has drawn criticism for imposing substantial logistical burdens on the city of Chicago, including prolonged street closures that disrupt residents, commuters, and businesses for weeks during setup and teardown periods. These closures, often extending beyond the event weekend, have led to complaints from local neighborhoods about restricted access and increased traffic congestion.[49][50][51]The track's tight, 2.2-mile layout featuring numerous 90-degree turns and limited runoff areas has been described as unforgiving, particularly in braking zones, raising concerns about elevated crash risks and potential for chaotic racing or processional single-file processions. Critics note that the narrow streets amplify the danger of spins leading to multi-car incidents, with historical precedents for street circuits showing difficulties in overtaking and surface durability under high-speed open-wheel racing.[52][53]Weather vulnerability poses another challenge, as the urban street environment exacerbates issues with rain, resulting in slippery conditions that compromise traction and safety; the inaugural 2023 IndyCar event and subsequent races have highlighted how precipitation can turn the course into a high-risk skid-prone surface.[54][55]High operational costs associated with urban infrastructure modifications and event logistics have strained organizers, contributing to NASCAR's decision to discontinue its Chicago street race after 2025, amid questions about long-term viability for similar open-wheel events. Local opposition echoes a failed 1981 CART proposal, which was canceled after 44 days due to resident and media pressure over disruptions, underscoring persistent community skepticism toward downtown racing.[56][57][58]
Economic and Local Effects
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race, held on the Chicago Street Course in Grant Park, generated a total economic impact of $108.9 million during its inaugural 2023 edition, primarily through visitor spending on lodging, dining, and transportation.[59] The 2024 event increased this figure to $128 million, reflecting a 17% rise attributed to higher attendance and out-of-town visitors contributing $72.4 million in direct spending.[60][61] These impacts supported approximately 750 jobs in 2023 and yielded $9.6 million in state and local tax revenue in 2024, according to analyses by Choose Chicago and the Chicago Sports Commission.[46][60]Local effects included substantial road closures and traffic disruptions, with preparations affecting downtown streets for up to 18 days in recent years, though reduced by 28% from 2023 levels through streamlined setup.[62] Closures typically began with curb lanes on key routes like Columbus Drive days in advance, escalating to full blockages around Grant Park, prompting alternate routing and increased congestion for residents and commuters.[63] The city incurred costs of $2.44 million in 2024 for overtime labor, road repairs, and compensation to parking meter operators for lost revenue.[64]Businesses reported mixed outcomes, with some benefiting from heightened foot traffic and tourism while others faced access challenges and revenue dips from closures.[65] Event scheduling conflicts, particularly over the July 4th weekend, contributed to feedback leading NASCAR to pause the race in 2026, citing logistical strains and municipal costs despite net economic gains.[66] These disruptions highlighted trade-offs between short-term economic influxes and ongoing local inconveniences, with preparations like heat-induced pavement repairs occasionally accelerating closures.[67]