Live Updates:
Alex Bowman won Sunday’s Grant Park 165 after a round of afternoon showers forced the event to end early.
A round of afternoon showers brought the NASCAR Chicago Street race to a brief halt on Sunday.
Officials said the red flag was waived during the 26th lap and the cars were subsequently brought to the pit.
Crews removed standing water from the track and the race resumed around 7:15 p.m.
According to the NASCAR Rule Book, since race could not reach the advertised distance, it concluded at 8:20 p.m. CT.
Shane van Gisbergen out:
Shane van Gisbergen, who won Saturday’s Xfinity Series race and the 2023 Cup race, was knocked out of Sunday’s race after a crash during the 25th lap.
The 35-year-old New Zealand native’s attempt to defend the title came to an end after his car was hit by another driver, forcing him into a wall.
NASCAR in Chicago: Day 2 in Grant Park
CHICAGO — It’s Day 2 of the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race, with the featured race and two big concerts scheduled for Sunday in and around Grant Park.
The NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165, a 75-lap race covering 165 miles, is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Complete 2024 NASCAR in Chicago coverage
The race will be preceded by concerts from Lauren Alaina and Keith Urban on the DraftKings Stage, located at the course’s south entrance, between DuSable Lake Shore Drive and South Columbus Drive.
Julie Giese, president of the Chicago Street Race, said on Sunday morning that it’s too early to give an estimate on attendance numbers. But she said people from all 50 states and more than 20 countries have come to Chicago this weekend.
“This event, obviously, is about driving tourism to Chicago,” Giese said. “We have 23 different countries represented, so it’s people coming in, enjoying the city, visiting our restaurants, staying in our hotels.
“We anticipate another great day.”
Here’s what you need to know for the second and final day of NASCAR in Chicago:
The schedule
9 a.m.:NASCAR Village at Butler Field and entry gates open
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.:Course Access Gates B and C (between Fan Plaza and Festival Field) open for concert access
9:30-10 a.m.:Monster FMX Show on the Festival Field
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:Lauren Alaina on the DraftKings Stage
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:Monster FMX Show on the Festival Field
1-2:30 p.m.:Keith Urban on the DraftKings Stage
2-3 p.m.:Course Gates A and H open for pre-race access to properly credentialed guests and suite guests
3:10 p.m.:NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions on the start/finish line
3:30 p.m.:NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 (75 laps)
Post-race:Victory Lane celebration
7 p.m. (approx.):All Course Access Gates open for exit
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The course
The course includes 12 turns over 2.2 miles, with the start/finish line on Columbus Dr. in front of Buckingham Fountain.
The course includes sections of streets that surround and are adjacent to Grant Park, specifically Columbus Dr., Jackson Boulevard, Michigan Avenue, Roosevelt Road, Balbo Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Click HERE for a zoomable course map.
The drivers
Kyle Larson holds the pole position for the Grant Park 165 after edging out Ty Gibbs by one-hundredth of a second in Saturday’s qualifying.
Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports, is going for his fourth win of the season in his 350th career Cup Series start. He has five poles this year and 21 for his career.
Gibbs, driving the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, will start second, followed by Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports in third, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing in fourth, and Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 16 Chevy for Kaulig Racine in fifth.
It would be hard not to consider van Gisbergen, the 35-year-old road-course specialist from New Zealand, the favorite to win Sunday’s race. He’s the race’s defending champion after winning the inaugural NASCAR in Chicago Cup Series Race last year, and he’s coming off Saturday’s win in the Xfinity Series The Loop 110.
Van Gisbergen will try to complete the “Chicago double” on Sunday.
Click HERE for a full lineup for the Grant Park 165.
The first race
As mentioned, van Gisbergen won Saturday’s Xfinity Series The Loop 110, his third Xfinity Series win of 2024, all on road courses.
Gibbs finished second, followed by Larson in third, Parker Kligerman in fourth and Jesse Love in fifth.
Click HERE for full results from Saturday’s The Loop 110.
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The weather
After last year’s inaugural Chicago Street Race was hampered by near-constant rain throughout race weekend, everyone was hoping for better weather this time around.
Mother Nature sure came through.
After beautiful conditions on Saturday, it’s looking like another gorgeous day on Sunday.
“This is summertime in Chicago, and what we wanted to showcase last year,” Giese said Sunday.
“We’re just so excited that we get to showcase Chicago, how beautiful it is. The weather’s amazing, and everyone that came out (Saturday) had an absolutely fantastic time.”
It is projected to be warmer and muggier on Sunday than it was on Saturday, with highs in the low to mid-80s. It could feel pretty sticky, but there should also be plenty of sunshine. There is a chance for isolated showers and storms later in the day, but hopefully not until after the Street Race wraps up.
Visit WGN’s Weather Page for more information.
The traffic
Downtown street closures in and around Grant Park continue, with the following closures in place through race weekend:
Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. from Randolph St. to McFetridge Dr.
Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. from McFetridge Dr. to Randolph St.
Northbound Michigan Ave. from Roosevelt Rd. to Jackson Dr.
Southbound Michigan Ave. from Jackson Dr. to 8th St.
Monroe St. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Columbus Dr. from Roosevelt Rd. to Monroe St.
Roosevelt Rd. from DuSable Lake Shore Dr. to Michigan Ave.
Jackson Dr. from Michigan Ave. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Balbo Dr. from Michigan Ave. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
Ida B. Wells Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.
Congress Circle from Harrison St. to Van Buren St.
Northbound Indiana Ave. from Roosevelt Rd. to 13th St.
Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Dr.
Garvey Ct.: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Dr.
Select streets will begin reopening Monday. Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Dr. will begin reopening at 6 a.m., with all NASCAR-related demobilization activity expected to conclude by the end of the day on Thursday, July 18.
The priority streets to reopen are DuSable Lake Shore Dr., Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr. Other street closures will remain in effect as demobilization of the track wall, fence and viewing structures takes place.
Check out WGN’s Complete Guide to the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race for more information on street closures, parking and tickets.
You can also visit nascarinchicago.com for more information.
Next year?
On Sunday, Giese confirmed that NASCAR and Chicago have a three-year contract for the Street Race, so it will be back again in 2025.
“We’ll take it one year at a time,” Giese said. “We’re just really proud to be here this year and look ahead to next year.
“From there, we’ll see where it goes.”
A tune from the pit crew
Before Sunday’s feature event, WGN’s Judy Wang spoke with NASCAR pit crew member Kenyatta “Kap” Houston about how he made the transition from being a football and basketball player to working on a professional pit crew.
Houston has worked on the pit crew for 19 years and says he loves to write music about his experiences and make people smile.
Check out the videos below:
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