NASCAR Chicago Street Race Returns To Grant Park For Third Edition In July 2025

CHICAGO — NASCAR street racing is revving up to turn downtown Chicago into a (permitted) racetrack for a third consecutive year, officials announced, promising another high-octane spectacle of speed in Grant Park.

The two-day event, set for the weekend of July 5 and July 6, is due to again feature the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course, according to representatives of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

“The Chicago Street Race Weekend has quickly become one of the highlights of the Chicago summer calendar, so we are proud to bring NASCAR back to this great city for a third year in a row,” said Julie Giese, who leads NASCAR's Chicago office.

“We look forward to continuing to build on the tremendous success of 2023 and 2024 to deliver one of the most unique sporting events in the country and continuing to help drive tourism to Chicago," Giese said in a statement.

According to a report from local tourism bureau Choose Chicago, the first year of the NASCAR Chicago street race had a $109 million economic impact in a "conservative estimate," leading to more than 24,000 people traveling to Chicago and spending and average of $684 per day — about $200 more than the average traveler.

Race promoters said the 2024 edition attracted visitors from 24 countries and touted $5 million of financial contributions to community initiatives.

The first year led to 25 days of street closures, while the 2024 race reduced anticipated set up and break down time to 19 days, according to city officials.

In 2023, heavy rain limited racing and canceled concerts, while the second day of racing was delayed due to weather in 2024.

In the race's first year, taxpayers covered the cost of $3.5 million for set-up and policing the race, while NASCAR paid just $620,000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, while NASCAR paid $2 million in its second year.

The office of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to comment on the extension of the event.

The announcement of the third edition of the Chicago street race comes as part of the stock car racing company's broader 2025 schedule, which includes another groundbreaking event: the NASCAR Cup Series’ first-ever race in Mexico City.