NASCAR Chicago: Despite rain, Chicago still shines

2023: Wet tires were no match for Chicago weather, NASCAR Chicago Street Race main event shortened by 22 laps.

2024: Wet tires were no match for Chicago weather, NASCAR Chicago Street Race main event shortened by 17 laps.

NASCAR squeezed in 78/100 laps at last year’s Grant Park 220. Sunday’s Grant Park 165? 58/75.

Sunday began like any other ordinary hot, humid July day in the city. Vibes were high as former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte instructed drivers to start their engines. But as the cars and crowd roared with anticipation, spectators started to feel the once bright sky, spitting ever so slightly.

Officials put a brief hold on the race before it could begin, allowing crews to switch to wet tires. The race finally commenced just after 4 p.m. as drivers zipped down Columbus Dr. just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Fountain.

An accident on the 25th lap ended Grant Park 220 champion Shane van Gisbergen’s day.

Moments later, the red flag waved to clear the track to remove excess water. As conditions worsened, NASCAR worked tirelessly to keep the course driveable.

Drivers were instructed to return to their cars at 6:30 p.m. The next downpour began at approximately 6:32 p.m. Again, officials delayed the race.

The race eventually restarted shortly after 7 p.m. but with rain out of the area, there was a new problem: darkness.

Due to insufficient lighting around the entire course, the race had to end before the sun completely disappeared from the skyline. Therefore, NASCAR capped the race at 8:20 p.m. meaning that whatever lap the leader was on when the clock struck 8:20, the next lap had the checkered flag.

With just about twenty minutes remaining, Alex Bowman of the No. 48 car passed Joey Hand in Lap No. 51 and never looked back. 23XI’s Tyler Reddick made a valiant effort in the waning moments, but Bowman’s lead was too great to overcome.

Bowman’s celebration was filled with exhilaration and relief, winning his first race in his last 80 tries. When asked about his celebratory plans for later that night, Bowman couldn’t help but smile as he shared, “The last time we won, we didn‘t really get to celebrate — we‘re going to drink so much damn bourbon tonight.“

“It‘s going to be a bad deal,” Bowman added. “I‘m probably going to wake up naked on the bathroom floor again. That‘s just part of this deal sometimes.”

The Chicago Connection

Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 displayed a large image of 23XI owner Michael Jordan in his iconic Jumpman pose with Chicago’s skyline in the background on the doors and hood of the car.

In addition to Matt Forte giving the command for drivers to start their engines, Bears alum Spice Adams was also introduced on stage before the race began.

Wayne Messmer wowed in a way only Wayne Messmer could with a classic rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner while a group of four fighter jets performed a fly-over as Messmer finished the anthem.

Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds weathered the storm, outlasted the delay, and returned to pit road for the remainder of the race once the rain subsided. DJ Moore attended the race with members of his family, too.

Additionally — and maybe most importantly — roads blocked off for the event are expected to be reopened on Tuesday morning.

Can NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race be fixed?

The 2.2-mile track sees drivers fly down Columbus, Balbo, Lake Shore, and Michigan before looping around Jackson Boulevard and onto Columbus again. I’ve probably done that getting lost in Bears traffic on a Sunday afternoon. The course is not the issue.

It’s impossible to accurately predict the weather months in advance. However, in back to back years, NASCAR has shortened the main event due to weather and time constraints.

Is the answer starting earlier? Maybe, but when will Keith Urban perform?

The concept is terrific. The weather was eventually perfect. Starting earlier allows for flexibility in the schedule for the inevitable delays.

But NASCAR didn’t see start time as the issue, and instead opted to shorten the race by 55 miles (25 laps) this year. That didn’t work, and had the deluge on Sunday lasted just a half-hour longer, the event would’ve been in serious jeopardy.

It’s a disservice to the fans that make the trip, brave the traffic, and spend the money. For most spectators, complaints are few and far between — especially when the action is great.

Moving up the start time of the race seems reasonable enough to get those filling up the grandstands a full race in the main event.