CHICAGO — As NASCAR prepares to return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has a lot on her plate. The track president is keeping an eye on a tight construction timeline for the street course, along with all the other details that come with the busy weekend.
What happens next will need to be put on hold.
The future of NASCAR in Chicago remains uncertain as it heads into its third year during the first weekend of July. The three-year agreement made between the motorsports organization and the city in 2022 includes two mutual options, but their outcomes are still unknown.
Giese mentioned that there have been “good conversations” between NASCAR and the city, and there is time to explore possibilities beyond this event.
“So right now, our main focus is on executing a fantastic 2025,” Giese said. “We will keep talking with the city. But at this moment, honestly, we are mostly having planning discussions.”
Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson, commended NASCAR for its community involvement and improvements related to the event. He noted that discussions about the future of their partnership are happening simultaneously within both NASCAR and the city.
Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, finalized the original agreement for the weekend event.
“We are open to discussing future plans,” Lee stated on Monday. “I know they have been focused on making this year’s event successful because they want to apply what they’ve learned. How well they achieve that will influence their future decisions.”
One change that might catch the city’s interest is rescheduling to a different weekend, which has been talked about with NASCAR before.
“It might be better to hold the event on another weekend when we don’t have as many demands on our law enforcement and emergency teams,” Lee told the AP. “This is definitely something we have considered, but there are also some limitations due to other events in Chicago and NASCAR’s schedule.”
On June 18, The Athletic reported that NASCAR was close to an agreement for a street race in the San Diego area next year, with an announcement potentially coming as early as July.
When asked if she had talked to NASCAR or anyone in San Diego about a street race in Southern California, Giese mentioned her focus is on Chicago. She also believes there is space for multiple street races on NASCAR’s calendar.
“We already have several road course races scheduled,” she explained. “I’ve never heard it suggested that it must be one or the other. There is definitely room. We entered this event knowing it was a trial run, and we proved it’s possible.”
The Xfinity and Cup Series races in Chicago take place on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile track with Lake Michigan and Grant Park as the backdrop. These races are the highlight of a weekend filled with music and entertainment options, creating a festival atmosphere.
This event aims to attract not only dedicated racing fans but also new audiences in one of NASCAR’s key regions. Previously, NASCAR raced at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, which is about 45 miles from downtown, but left after the 2019 season.
“NASCAR fans see this as one of our top three markets globally,” said NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy when they announced the Chicago event in 2022.
Before the first race weekend, there were concerns among drivers and teams about the course. Local businesses and residents also had reservations due to street closures in a busy tourist area during summer.
However, organizers have reduced the construction time from 43 days last year to just 25 days this year. They listened to fan feedback and made changes to the race viewing areas and relocated the concert stage to the start-finish line. Kids aged 12 and under can enter for free on Saturday and Sunday this year.
The weekend has also gained some support from people within NASCAR.
“This is something very different. It’s exciting to see industry people arriving early just to enjoy the city for a few days,” Giese shared. “Our drivers especially love being able to stay at a hotel right across the street. They can easily walk across Michigan Avenue and reach the track.”
Often, an umbrella is necessary. Bad weather greatly impacted the first two events. Heavy rain almost ruined the opening weekend, and last year’s Cup Series race was cut short due to a rain delay and fading daylight.
When the drivers hit the track, the racing was exciting. In 2023, Shane van Gisbergen raced against Justin Haley and Chase Elliott for a remarkable Cup win, while Alex Bowman ended an 80-race losing streak with his win last year.
“They’ve faced tough conditions,” said Denny Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing. “The track has been great, allowing for competitive racing with plenty of passing opportunities, and the scenery is wonderful where we are racing. There are many positives about the Chicago Street Race.
“It might change location in the future, but I believe it sets a standard for any street race they plan to hold moving forward.”
