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2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race: What to know about the 2.2-mile course around the city
By Kori Rumore, Amanda Kaschube, Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune,
1 day ago
NASCAR is back in Chicago.
For a second straight year, the city will transform the Grant Park environs into a racetrack for Saturday’s The Loop 110 (Xfinity Series) and Sunday’s Grant Park 165 (Cup Series). The televised event on NBC-5 will have NASCAR drivers weaving through the park on closed-off streets lined with temporary fences, grandstands and what promoters hope will be thousands of fans.
Last year the event was marked by torrential rainfall and Canadian wildfire haze . Despite curtailed races, canceled concerts and a drenched crowd that fell short of targets, the event was a TV ratings hit and by most accounts a boost to Chicago’s image and tourism efforts.
“The weather was definitely a challenge,” Julie Giese, president of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race, said . “I think the key takeaway on that, though, is that we were able to get the event in. We were able to do it very successfully, in spite of record rainfall, and we did learn a lot.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the race — including the course map, road closures and how to watch (or avoid) it all.
The day began with uncertainty. Rain delated the Sunday race 1 hour, 30 minutes after the resumption of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race was canceled and Cole Custer declared the winner . The Cup Series race was shortened from 100 to 75 laps because of looming darkness.
Plenty of cars hit the tire barriers, but the race had none of the spectacular multicar collisions often seen in NASCAR races on oval tracks. One slow-motion pileup near the end looked like a typical Chicago street accident.
Soldier Field hosted a NASCAR Cup Series race in July 1956. And a quarter-century later, an ambitious plan by then-Mayor Jane Byrne to hold a Formula One race on Lake Shore Drive in summer 1981 never made it to the starting line.
What do I need to know this year?
Two-day tickets start at $269 for general admission and run through $3,360 for the Founders Club on the first floor of The Skyline, formerly the Paddock Club, a premium hospitality experience overlooking pit road and the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain.
This year, NASCAR is also selling single-day general admission tickets at $150, with children 12 and under admitted free on Saturday and for $45 on Sunday.
What other events are happening around the race?
A two-day Family Fest will take place from 2-9 p.m. July 2-3 at Navy Pier.
Keith Urban, the Chainsmokers, the Black Keys and Lauren Alaina will headline the concert lineup for the weekend. Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy also will be performing. Here’s the full schedule of events .
What’s the route?
It’s the same configuration as last year’s race but with a few changes.
The Grant Park 165, taking place at 3:30 p.m. July 7, is 75 laps around the course — 25 fewer laps than last year’s street race. The Loop 110 will be 50 laps on July 6.
Organizers adjusted the race lengths to allow for maximum daylight and TV broadcast time.
What’s the timeline for road closures before and after the race?
CTA, too, will be affected by the road closures. Multiple bus lines will be rerouted downtown through early July.
But CTA and Metra are expected to add service for the event. Metra will run extra trains on Saturday and Sunday on the Rock Island, Union Pacific North and Union Pacific West lines. Alcohol will be banned on all Metra trains for the weekend, and if trains are crowded, bikes could also be banned.
Prerace activity in Grant Park
June 10 : Ida B. Wells Drive closed from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive starting at 12:01 a.m. to allow for construction of the main viewing areas; and limited parking restrictions were put in place along southbound Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives
June 19-20 : Temporary road closure from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on northbound Michigan Avenue from Congress Circle to Jackson Drive to allow for a pedestrian walkway to be installed while viewing structures are assembled
June 26 – Beginning at 8 p.m. : Northbound traffic lane closure on Congress Circle
June 27 – Beginning at 7 p.m. : Curb lane closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road
June 27 – Beginning at 7 p.m. : Closure of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive
June 28 – Beginning at 8 a.m. : Closure of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive (intersection will remain open)
June 28 – Beginning at 7 p.m. : Full closure of Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
June 29 – Beginning at 7 p.m. : Southbound lane closure on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road
July 1 – Beginning at 1 a.m. : Closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road. Closure of Jackson Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive
July 1 – Beginning at 9 p.m. : Closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Reopening at 6 a.m. on July 2
July 2 – Beginning at 6 a.m. : Closure of Congress Circle and entrances at Michigan Avenue, Van Buren Street and Harrison Street
July 4 – Beginning at 9 p.m. : Closure of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Closure of northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive
July 5 – Beginning at 12:01 a.m. : Closure of northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Closure of southbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive. Closure of the northbound lane of Indiana Avenue at 13th Street. Closure on Monroe Street between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Race weekend street closures – July 6-7
Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive
Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge Drive to Randolph Street
Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Jackson Drive
Southbound Michigan Avenue from Jackson Drive to 8th Street
Monroe Street from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street
Roosevelt Road from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue
Jackson Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
Congress Circle from Harrison Street to Van Buren Street
Northbound Indiana Avenue from Roosevelt Road to 13th Street
Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive
Garvey Court: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive
Reopening schedule : The northbound section of DuSable Lake Shore Drive is set to reopen at 6 a.m. July 8. After the event, select streets will gradually reopen
Priority streets : The priority streets for reopening are DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Other street closures will remain in place until the demobilization of the track wall, fence and viewing structures is completed. All NASCAR-related demobilization activities are expected to conclude by the end of the day on July 18
Streets with local access only for residents, businesses and their employees
Sidewalks will remain open throughout the setup and teardown (June 10–July 18).
Southbound Michigan Avenue from Monroe Street to Jackson Drive
Southbound Michigan Avenue from 8th to Roosevelt Road
8th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
9th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
11th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Balbo Drive from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Harrison Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Ida B. Wells from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Jackson Blvd. from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Van Buren Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue
Monroe Street from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive
Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to Monroe Street
Northbound Michigan Avenue from 13th to 16th Street
Northbound Indiana Avenue from 14th to 16th Street
Columbus Underpass and the Chicago Lakefront Bicycle Path will remain open throughout the event (this includes Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road)
Pedestrians traveling west must utilize and access sidewalk on the north side of Monroe Street, Roosevelt Road or Columbus Drive underpass only
Alternative routes available — streets may be closed by the city of Chicago if deemed necessary
DuSable Lake Shore Drive northbound will remain open from South Shore Drive to I-55 merger
To visit the Museum Campus from the south: Exit DuSable Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street and utilize Fort Dearborn Drive to proceed north and access 18th Drive
To visit the Museum Campus from the north: Access Stevenson Expressway (I-55N), and merge onto DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit at 18th Street
DuSable Lake Shore Drive southbound will remain open from Hollywood Boulevard to Randolph Street
Inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive will remain open in both directions
Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions
Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions. Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) will remain open in both directions
Stevenson Expressway (I-55) will remain open in both directions
In the Loop, the following streets will remain open : 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
Can I still go to Museum Campus during all of this?
Yes. Maggie Daley Park, Cancer Survivor’s Garden, Buckingham Fountain, Butler Field, Lower Hutchinson Field and the Museum Campus will remain open and accessible throughout the event. The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium and other attractions could adjust hours due to the race, so please check their websites.
To access the museums, drivers must reach either DuSable Lake Shore Drive south of downtown or arrive via I-55. From DuSable Lake Shore Drive, they can exit the northbound lanes at 31st Street, then take Fort Dearborn Drive along the lakefront to 18th Street. Those heading to the museums from I-55 can take DuSable Lake Shore Drive north and exit at 18th Street.
What about Taste of Chicago? Is it the same weekend?
For the second consecutive summer, Taste of Chicago has been moved to September to accommodate the race.
The Taste, a summer tradition established in 1980 and typically held in early July, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors to Grant Park for food, beverages, live music, dancing, karaoke and kids activities. It will be held Sept. 6-8.
OK, I’m going. Where can I park and what’s the schedule?
Parking starts at $40 in the Millennium Park Garage (6 S. Columbus Drive) and $50 for the Grant Park North Garage (25 N. Michigan Ave.). You can find more details here .
Taking Uber or Lyft to the festival? Then drop-off and pickup are west of State Street from Randolph Street south to Roosevelt Road.
9-11 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying
11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: House Music 40 showcase on the main stage
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying
1:15-2 p.m.: Buddy Guy performs
12-12:30 p.m.: Prerace concert featuring the JC Brooks Band
2 p.m.: Driver introductions for Xfinity Series
2:30 p.m.: The Loop 110 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (50 laps)
5-6:30 p.m.: The Black Keys perform
8 p.m.: The Chainsmokers perform
Sunday, July 7
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Lauren Alaina performs
1-2:30 p.m.: Keith Urban performs
2:55 p.m.: Driver introductions for NASCAR Cup Series
3:30 p.m.: Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race (75 laps)
As with most events, attendees are limited to one clear bag no larger than 12-by-12-by-6 or a small clutch or fanny pack that are 6-by-6 with one pocket. Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited. More details here .
Who are the drivers to watch?
Shane van Gisbergen: The full-time Xfinity Series driver will defend his Chicago title in one of the eight Cup Series races in which he’s competing this season. In 2023 he became the first New Zealander to win a race in the Cup Series. Van Gisbergen, 35, was a three-time winner (2016, 2021 and 2022) of the Supercars Championship, a circuit in Australia and New Zealand.
Kyle Larson: He entered the Ally 400 on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway in first place in the Cup Series. Larson, 31, has three first-place and nine top-10 finishes in 17 starts this season. He took fourth in Chicago in 2023.
Chase Elliott: The Georgia native, 28, finished third in this race last year, and seven of his 19 career Cup Series wins have come on road courses. He entered the weekend in second place in the Cup standings — although tied with Larson with 620 points, Larson holds the tiebreaker with three wins compared with Elloitt’s one in 18 races this season.
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