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Chicago Sun Times
Chicago Sun-Times
27 Jun 2023
https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/kaitlin-washburn


NextImg:Here’s an overview of the twists and turns in this weekend’s NASCAR street race

NASCAR officials provided a tour of this weekend’s Chicago Street Race course, as well as the spots along the way where spectators will watch the races and enjoy other festivities.

Julie Giese, president of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race, took reporters on a guided tour of most of the circuit on double-decker tourist bus. Some sections are still under construction.

Screenshot_2023_06_27_at_2.47.50_PM.png

A map of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race course and different attractions for the race weekend on July 1-2, 2023.

NASCAR

“We are tremendously excited for this weekend, this is a huge opportunity for NASCAR and Chicago,” Giese said. “The team at NASCAR and the team with the city of Chicago has been working really hard to bring this event. It’s coming together very quickly, and it’s fun to be out here walking around.”

Each lap of the 2.2-mile course has 12 turns, seven of which are at 90 degrees. Grandstands and viewing suites line many of the course’s straightaways. For Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, drivers will race for 100 laps around the course.

A man watches Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race at the course’s turn 12 at East Jackson Drive and South Columbus Drive.

A man watches Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race at the course’s turn 12 at East Jackson Drive and South Columbus Drive.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The start and finish line will be on Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives. The President’s Paddock Club, the most expensive section for spectators, is situated above the start and finish line and the area where the drivers will make pit stops.

Buckingham Fountain will become the “fan plaza,” where spectators can get food, beverages and merch. Across from the fountain on Jackson Drive will be the NASCAR Village, the only free area for the weekend. There will be interactive displays from NASCAR, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and more.

The city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on South Columbus Drive near Buckingham Fountain on Tuesday.

The city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on South Columbus Drive near Buckingham Fountain on Tuesday.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The course is nothing like a standard oval NASCAR race track. In addition to the sharp turns, drivers have said they’re preparing for different types of pavement and elevation changes, like the bridge on Jackson Drive over the train tracks, Giese said.

In addition to those quirks, some of the drivers have more experience on street race circuits than their competitors. A.J. Allmendinger, for example, is a seasoned racer on road courses, Giese said.

“A.J. is someone who has done numerous street races; it’s what he did before NASCAR,” Giese said. “So his impression and how he’s looking at it is very different from someone who hasn’t done a street race. But they’re all competitors, so they’re looking at turns, they’re looking at where they can make passes.”

From the starting line, drivers will head south on Columbus Drive and turn left on Balbo Drive. They will then make a right on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Along that section of the course is Hutchinson Field, which is where the weekend’s concert stage, Ferris wheel, food hall and general admission area will be.

Once drivers take the turn onto DuSable Lake Shore Drive, they will be on the fastest part of the course, Giese said, reaching speeds upwards of 100 mph. They will then turn right on Roosevelt Road and then a quick right on northbound Columbus Drive.

Bleachers are set up along South Michigan Avenue near East Jackson Drive as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race downtown Tuesday.

Bleachers are set up along South Michigan Avenue near East Jackson Drive as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race downtown Tuesday. Race cars will reach speeds upwards of 100 mph along the straightaways.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Drivers will then make a sharp left turn onto Balbo Drive and then a hard right on Michigan Avenue. From there, they will turn right onto Congress Plaza Drive and then drop back onto Michigan Avenue.

The course then makes a right onto Jackson Drive and a right on southbound Columbus Drive, bringing the drivers back to the starting line.

Spotters for the drivers, those responsible for helping the racers successfully navigate the course, are set up at three different points along the track. Spectators can tune into those conversations during the race via the NASCAR app, Giese said.

This race “is about showcasing the city,” Giese said, “and introducing NASCAR to a whole new set of fans.”

Bleachers are set up Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race near the course’s turn 1 at East Balbo Drive and South Columbus Drive downtown.

Bleachers are set up Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race near the course’s turn 1 at East Balbo Drive and South Columbus Drive downtown.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Pedestrians walk through Grant Park on Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race near South Lake Shore Drive and East Roosevelt Road.

Pedestrians walk through Grant Park on Tuesday as the city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race near South DuSable Lake Shore Drive and East Roosevelt Road.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on South Columbus Drive near Buckingham Fountain on Tuesday.

The city prepares for the 2023 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on South Columbus Drive near Buckingham Fountain on Tuesday.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times