Nine drivers set to race Cup and Xfinity double at Chicago, a new season-high

As NASCAR returns to Chicago for this season’s iteration of the street race, a myriad of wheelmen will be trying their luck in both the Cup Series and Xfinity Series.

There are always a couple of drivers in both races each weekend when Cup and Xfinity are at the same track, but a season-high nine drivers will be competing in both races on the streets of Chicago this weekend. It should be a fascinating storyline to follow, seeing if racing in both provides some sort of benefit.

Check out the full list below, as the drivers pulling double-duty this weekend have been compiled with a wonderful mix of Cup Series veterans, Xfinity Series upstarts and everything in between.

• Joey Logano
• Kyle Larson
• AJ Allmendinger
• Ty Gibbs
• John Hunter Nemechek
• Daniel Suarez
• Shane van Gisbergen
• Austin Hill
• Josh Bilicki

Of course, Logano and Larson have reached the highest of highs in the Cup Series, winning a championship, while others like AJ Allmendinger and Daniel Suárez have at least won a Cup race. Also, don’t forget about Shane van Gisbergen, who won last season’s edition of the Chicago Street Race.

Elsewhere, Ty Gibbs, John Hunter Nemechek and Austin Hill have been tearing up the Xfintiy Series over the last couple of seasons, with Hill the lone full-time Xfinity Series racer remaining of the three. However, his rivalry with van Gisbergen has taken center stage multiple times in 2024, and now they’ll be on the track together not once, but twice in a weekend. That should be interesting.

The most surprising name on the list is Josh Bilicki. Still, he has plenty of experience, starting 99 Xfinity races in his career, and 99 Cup Series races. He’ll be looking for a solid performance in both races over the weekend.

Alas, the anticipation is high for NASCAR’s return to Chicago, and two great races seem to be on the docket. It remains to be seen who gets the win, and if pulling double duty will help, but there’s a myriad of factors that’ll help determine this one, that’s for sure.

Kevin Harvick predicts winner of NASCAR Chicago Street Race, longshot to win

As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Chicago for the Grant Park 165, Kevin Harvick and the Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are locking in their predictions.

The favorite for Sunday’s race is Shane van Gisbergen , last season’s surprise winner of the event. Harvick believes it’s SVG’s race to lose once again in 2024, but he’s adding an interesting long shot to his prediction.

“You know who I’m picking, I think he’s going to win again. I think SVG is going to win again,” Harvick stated, riding with the New Zealander . “I think the long shot is Justin Haley .”

Kaitlyn Vincie agreed with Harvick, riding with SVG as well, but Mamba Smith took Harvick’s Haley prediction one step further, believing the Rick Ware Racing wheelman will win the race in Chicago.

“I’m picking Justin Haley to win this race,” Smith said , regarding last season’s runner-up in Chicago. “He put himself into a situation last year to win it, and actually I changed my mind because you got me fired up because you used him as a secondary pick.

“Originally I was going to pick Tyler Reddick, because I thought it was redemption time, because he was actually the only one who could keep up with SVG, and he has ties to Chicago, Illinois. You know, Jumpman. But I think I’m going Justin Haley.”

While a victory from Shane van Gisbergen would be awesome, it wouldn’t have the effect on the playoff standings that Justin Haley getting to Victory Lane would. Time will tell if any of the Harvick’s Happy Hour crew are correct, but they’re certainly making some interesting picks for this weekend’s race.

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