With so many memorable happenings in the Chicago Street Race, it seems ridiculous to say the downtown circuit has yet to deliver a full representation of NASCAR.
But if the standard is a race unencumbered by rain and red flags, times have been tough on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
In Year 3, the Second City still is waiting on its first Cup event to reach the full scheduled distance – not that a lot already hasn’t happened regardless.
When the 2023 inaugural race got underway, Shane van Gisbergen put on a show that literally dazzled the world from the Great Barrier Reef to Lake Michigan and everywhere in between. But a Sunday monsoon delayed the start by more than an hour, and the scheduled race distance was shortened from 100 to 75 laps because of impending darkness.
In Year 2, the scheduled distance was reduced by 25 laps, and the start time was moved back 30 minutes.
Yet the race still ended 17 laps short of its original length because of afternoon storms that delayed the start and then caused a stoppage of nearly two hours after the 25th lap.
The majestic Chicago skyline at dusk provided a stunning checkered flag backdrop for victories by van Gisbergen and Alex Bowman (who pulled off a compelling drive last year that might have saved his job).
But the hope is the 2025 race finally will finish with a celebration in bright sunshine — and perhaps a celebratory dip in Buckingham Fountain.
There’s no predicting Midwestern summer weather, but the odds already are much better for the Chicago Street Race recording 100% of its 75-lap duration.
This year’s race will start two and a half hours earlier than last year.
If the green flag falls shortly after 2 p.m. ET, and Mother Nature plays nice, the winner should have time to make it to Wrigley Field for the 6:10 p.m. ET first pitch of the St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game.
That would be a “Sweet Home Chicago” kind of day for NASCAR — a nice capper to the full race experience that its Windy City fans are long overdue for enjoying on their home turf.
