NASCAR's second annual Chicago street race will soon send racecars drifting around downtown city streets, but what can you expect as the big race returns?
This year's event, which is scheduled for July 6-7, will feature a altered timeline for traffic impacts, but much of the same highlights will remain on full display.
Here's a look at what to expect this race weekend:
What are the dates and times for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race?
There will be two races over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The Cup Series race is named the Grant Park 165 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series race is The Loop 110.
The Loop 110 will take place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday while the Grant Park 165 takes place at 3:30 pm. Sunday.
As of Monday, here's a look at the full schedule of events:
Local
SATURDAY, JUL 6
8:45 a.m. CT: NASCAR Village at Butler Field and Entry Gates Open
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9- 11 a.m. CT: Practice + Qualifying Sessions | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
10:30- 11 a.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. CT: House Music 40 Showcase on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT: Practice + Qualifying Sessions | NASCAR CUP SERIES
12:30 - 1 p.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m. CT: Buddy Guy on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
2 p.m. CT: Driver Introductions on the START/FINISH LINE | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
2:30 p.m. CT: The Loop 110 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES (50 Laps)
5- 6:30 p.m. CT: The Black Keys on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
6:30- 7 p.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
7 p.m. CT: NASCAR Chicago Street Race Driver Reveal on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
8 p.m. CT (APPROX.): The Chainsmokers on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
10 p.m. CT - (APPROX.): All Course Access Gates Closed to Public
SUNDAY, JUL 7
9 a.m. CT: NASCAR Village at Butler Field and Entry Gates Open
9:30 - 10 a.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT: Lauren Alaina on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
12:30 - 1 p.m. CT: Monster FMX Show on the FESTIVAL FIELD
1 - 2:30 p.m. CT: Keith Urban on the DRAFTKINGS STAGE
3:10 p.m. CT: Driver Introductions on the START/FINISH LINE | NASCAR CUP SERIES
3:30 p.m. CT: Grant Park 165 | NASCAR CUP SERIES (75 LAPS)
7 p.m. CT (APPROX.): All Course Access Gates Open for Exit
How many laps are each race?
The Grant Park 165 will be a 165-mile race with 75 laps and The Loop 110 will be 50 laps with 110 miles.
How fast will cars go?
According to race organizers, "cars will once again exceed 100 mph along several sections of the course’s straightaways, while other sections, such as turns and pit road, require significantly reduced speed. "
What is the course route?
Just like 2023, the 12-turn race will take place on sections of streets that surround and are adjacent to Grant Park. That includes Columbus Drive, Jackson Boulevard, Michigan Avenue, Roosevelt Road, Balbo Drive, and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Which streets will be closed and which will remain open during the race?
Several streets along and around the race course will be closed in the lead up, during and after the big event.
This includes major roadways like DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and more.
For a complete day-by-day schedule of road closures, click here.
The following streets will remain open through race weekend:
- State Street
- Dearborn Street
- Clark Street
- LaSalle Street
- Wells Street
- Franklin Street
- Upper Wacker Drive
- Lower Wacker Drive
- Randolph Street
- Washington Street
- Madison Street
- Roosevelt Road west of Michigan Avenue
- 18th Street
Who is performing during race weekend
Buddy Guy will be performing and The Black Keys will play a full set on Saturday after the NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying sessions. The Chainsmokers will close out the day.
In addition, there will be a "House Music Showcase" featuring a number of artists from 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday will feature country music favorite Lauren Alaina performing followed by star Keith Urban.
Who is racing in the event?
The Cup Series entry list includes all of the usual full-time drivers, plus a few wild cards.
Shane van Gisbergen, who races full-time in the Xfinity Series but won the Cup race in Chicago last summer, will defend his victory in the No. 16 Chevy for Kaulig Racing. Elsewhere, Xfinity regulars A.J. Allmendinger and Austin Hill will enter the Cup race as part-time entries and road-racing ace Joey Hand will make his first start of the season for RFK Racing.
Here's the entry list for the Cup race on Sunday:
| Car number | Driver | Team | Sponsor |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Busch Light |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Discount Tire |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Get Bioethanol |
| 4 | Josh Berry | Stewart-Haas Racing | Overstock |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Valvoline |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Elk Grove Village |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Celsius |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Zone |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Bass Pro Shops |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Sport Clips |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Menards |
| 13 | A.J. Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Benesch |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Mahindra Tractors |
| 15 | Kaz Grala | Rick Ware Racing | Remixers.com/Meat N' Bone |
| 16 | Shane van Gisbergen | Kaulig Racing | Wendy's |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Fastenal |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Bass Pro Shops |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Craftsman Tools |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Motorcraft/Quick Lane |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Shell/Pennzoil |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | McDonald's |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Relay Payments |
| 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Cirkul |
| 33 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | United Rentals |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Chicago White Sox |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Gener8tor |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Haas Tooling |
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Dollar Tree |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Family Dollar |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Jordan Brand |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Mariano's/Colgate |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Ally |
| 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Pinnacle Home Improvement |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Monster Energy |
| 60 | Joey Hand | RFK Racing | BuildSubmarines.com |
| 66 | Josh Bilicki | MBM Motorsports | Purekick Hydration |
| 71 | Zane Smith | Spire Motorsports | Focused Health |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar | Spire Motorsports | Zeigler Auto Group |
| 99 | Daniel Suarez | Trackhouse Racing | Jockey/Folds of Honor |
