The Chicago Street Race returns for its third year, kicking off the second round of the In-Season Challenge. This time, fans hope the race goes the full distance, something that weather hasn’t allowed before.
Both previous Chicago street events saw rain cause chaos. During the first race, storms delayed the start, and darkness forced a shortened event. Shane van Gisbergen still pulled off an overtime win after just 75 of the planned 100 laps.
Last year, wet conditions struck again. The start was pushed back, then heavy rain paused action after 26 laps. Eventually, the race ended at only 58 laps, with Alex Bowman taking the win after a strong finish.
This year, an earlier 2 p.m. ET start aims to give the field more time to finish all 75 laps, even if the weather turns rough.
Sunday brings head-to-head matchups as part of the In-Season Challenge. Here’s the lineup:
- Brad Keselowski (17) vs. Ty Dillon (32)
- Alex Bowman (8) vs. Bubba Wallace (9)
- Chase Elliott (5) vs. John Hunter Nemechek (12)
- Erik Jones (20) vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (29)
- Ryan Preece (15) vs. Noah Gragson (31)
- Tyler Reddick (23) vs. Carson Hocevar (26)
- Ty Gibbs (6) vs. AJ Allmendinger (22)
- Chris Buescher (3) vs. Zane Smith (14)
What to Know for Race Day
All times are Eastern.
- Engines will fire up at 2:10 p.m.
- Green flag scheduled for 2:25 p.m.
Pre-race:
Garage opens at 11 a.m.
Drivers meet at 12:55 p.m.
Introductions at 1:35 p.m.
Invocation at 2 p.m., followed by the national anthem at 2:01 p.m.
Race Details:
75 laps (165 miles) on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course that runs through downtown Chicago.
Stages:
First stage ends at Lap 20.
Second stage wraps up at Lap 45.
TV and Radio:
Catch the action on TNT from 1 p.m. truTV will offer a separate In-Season Challenge telecast. You can also listen on Motor Racing Network or SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Forecast:
Expect cloudy skies and scattered rain. Temps will hover around 80 degrees. Winds could reach up to 15 mph from the northwest. There’s about a 50% chance of rain. At race start, it should be around 79 degrees, with a 48% chance for thunderstorms.
Last Year:
Alex Bowman locked in his playoff spot by winning last year’s wet and wild race, leading the closing laps and edging out Tyler Reddick by nearly three seconds.
Plan for changing weather, some tight racing, and a packed schedule as NASCAR hits the streets again.