2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race: What to know about the 2.2-mile course around the city

NASCAR is back in Chicago.

For a second straight year, the city will transform the Grant Park environs into a racetrack for Saturday’s The Loop 110 (Xfinity Series) and Sunday’s Grant Park 165 (Cup Series). The televised event on NBC-5 will have NASCAR drivers weaving through the park on closed-off streets lined with temporary fences, grandstands and what promoters hope will be thousands of fans.

Last year the event was marked by torrential rainfall and Canadian wildfire haze. Despite curtailed races, canceled concerts and a drenched crowd that fell short of targets, the event was a TV ratings hit and by most accounts a boost to Chicago’s image and tourism efforts.

“The weather was definitely a challenge,” said Julie Giese, president of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race. “I think the key takeaway on that, though, is that we were able to get the event in. We were able to do it very successfully, in spite of record rainfall, and we did learn a lot.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the race — including the course map, road closures and how to watch (or avoid) it all.

What happened last year?

A race that began in rain ended in the final rays of a sunset. New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars champion, took the victory in his first Cup Series start, becoming the first driver to do so since Johnny Rutherford in 1963.

The day began with uncertainty. Rain delayed the Sunday race 1 hour, 30 minutes after the resumption of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race was canceled and Cole Custer declared the winner. The Cup Series race was shortened from 100 to 75 laps because of looming darkness.

Plenty of cars hit the tire barriers, but the race had none of the spectacular multicar collisions often seen in NASCAR races on oval tracks. One slow-motion pileup near the end looked like a typical Chicago street accident.

Chase Elliott said the race would’ve been a “home run” if not for the rain.

The four-hour broadcast on NBC averaged nearly 4.8 million viewers, making it the network’s most-watched Cup Series race in six years.

Soldier Field hosted a NASCAR Cup Series race in July 1956. And a quarter-century later, an ambitious plan by then-Mayor Jane Byrne to hold a Formula One race on Lake Shore Drive in summer 1981 never made it to the starting line.

What do I need to know this year?

Two-day tickets start at $269 for general admission and run to $3,360 for the Founders Club on the first floor of The Skyline, formerly the Paddock Club, a premium hospitality experience overlooking pit road and the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain.

This year NASCAR is also selling single-day general admission tickets at $150, with children 12 and under admitted free on Saturday and for $45 on Sunday.

What other events are happening around the race?

A two-day Family Fest will take place from 2-9 p.m. July 2-3 at Navy Pier.

Keith Urban, the Chainsmokers, the Black Keys and Lauren Alaina will headline the concert lineup for the weekend. Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy also will be performing. Here’s the full schedule of events.

What’s the route?

It’s the same configuration as last year’s race but with a few changes.

The Grant Park 165, taking place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, is 75 laps around the course — 25 fewer than last year’s street race was scheduled for. The Loop 110 will be 50 laps on Saturday.

Organizers adjusted the race lengths to allow for maximum daylight and TV broadcast time.

What’s the timeline for road closures before and after the race?

Well, from now until July 18. Closures began June 10.

Downtown commutes will be snarled by road closures around Grant Park. Making matters worse is the ongoing construction on the Kennedy Expressway.

CTA, too, will be affected by the road closures. Multiple bus lines will be rerouted downtown through early July.

But CTA and Metra are expected to add service for the event. Metra will run extra trains on Saturday and Sunday on the Rock Island, Union Pacific North and Union Pacific West lines. Alcohol will be banned on all Metra trains for the weekend, and if trains are crowded, bikes could also be banned.

Prerace activity in Grant Park

• June 10: Ida B. Wells Drive closed from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive starting at 12:01 a.m. to allow for construction of the main viewing areas; and limited parking restrictions were put in place along southbound Columbus Drive between Jackson and Balbo drives

• June 19-20: Temporary road closure from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. on northbound Michigan Avenue from Congress Circle to Jackson Drive to allow for a pedestrian walkway to be installed while viewing structures are assembled

• June 26 – Beginning at 8 p.m.: Northbound traffic lane closure on Congress Circle

• June 27 – Beginning at 7 p.m.: Curb lane closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road

Street closures near Grant Park begin Monday for NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Significant street closures

• June 27 – Beginning at 7 p.m.: Closure of Jackson Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive

• June 28 – Beginning at 8 a.m.: Closure of Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive (intersection will remain open)

• June 28 – Beginning at 7 p.m.: Full closure of Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive

• June 29 – Beginning at 7 p.m.: Southbound lane closure on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road

• July 1 – Beginning at 1 a.m.: Closure of Columbus Drive between Jackson Drive and Roosevelt Road. Closure of Jackson Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive

• July 1 – Beginning at 9 p.m.: Closure of southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Reopening at 6 a.m. on July 2

• July 2 – Beginning at 6 a.m.: Closure of Congress Circle and entrances at Michigan Avenue, Van Buren Street and Harrison Street

• July 4 – Beginning at 9 p.m.: Closure of westbound and eastbound Roosevelt Road between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Closure of northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive

• July 5 – Beginning at 12:01 a.m.: Closure of northbound and southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive between Randolph Street and McFetridge Road. Closure of southbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive. Closure of the northbound lane of Indiana Avenue at 13th Street. Closure on Monroe Street between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Race weekend street closures – July 6-7

• Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive

• Northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from McFetridge Drive to Randolph Street

• Northbound Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Jackson Drive

• Southbound Michigan Avenue from Jackson Drive to 8th Street

• Monroe Street from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive

• Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street

• Roosevelt Road from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue

• Jackson Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive

• Balbo Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive

• Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive

• Congress Circle from Harrison Street to Van Buren Street

• Northbound Indiana Avenue from Roosevelt Road to 13th Street

• Post Place: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive

• Garvey Court: Entrance and exit of Lower Wacker Drive

• Reopening schedule: The northbound section of DuSable Lake Shore Drive is set to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. After the event, select streets will gradually reopen

• Priority streets: The priority streets for reopening are DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Other street closures will remain in place until the demobilization of the track wall, fence and viewing structures is completed. All NASCAR-related demobilization activities are expected to conclude by the end of the day on July 18

Streets with local access only for residents, businesses and their employees

Sidewalks will remain open throughout the setup and teardown (June 10–July 18).

• Southbound Michigan Avenue from Monroe Street to Jackson Drive

• Southbound Michigan Avenue from 8th to Roosevelt Road

• 8th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• 9th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• 11th Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Balbo Drive from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Harrison Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Ida B. Wells from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Jackson Blvd. from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Van Buren Street from Wabash Avenue to Michigan Avenue

• Monroe Street from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive

• Southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to Monroe Street

• Northbound Michigan Avenue from 13th to 16th Street

• Northbound Indiana Avenue from 14th to 16th Street

• Columbus Underpass and the Chicago Lakefront Bicycle Path will remain open throughout the event (this includes Monroe Street and Roosevelt Road)

• Pedestrians traveling west must utilize and access sidewalk on the north side of Monroe Street, Roosevelt Road or Columbus Drive underpass only

Alternative routes available — streets may be closed by the city of Chicago if deemed necessary

• DuSable Lake Shore Drive northbound will remain open from South Shore Drive to I-55 merger

• To visit the Museum Campus from the south: Exit DuSable Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street and utilize Fort Dearborn Drive to proceed north and access 18th Drive

• To visit the Museum Campus from the north: Access Stevenson Expressway (I-55N), and merge onto DuSable Lake Shore Drive exit at 18th Street

• DuSable Lake Shore Drive southbound will remain open from Hollywood Boulevard to Randolph Street

• Inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive will remain open in both directions

• Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions

• Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) will remain open in both directions. Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) will remain open in both directions

• Stevenson Expressway (I-55) will remain open in both directions

• In the Loop, the following streets will remain open: State Street, Dearborn Street, Clark Street, LaSalle Street, Wells Street, Franklin Street, Upper Wacker Drive, Lower Wacker Drive, Randolph Street, Washington Street, Madison Street, Roosevelt Road – West of Michigan Avenue, 18th Street

Can I still go to Museum Campus during all of this?

Yes. Maggie Daley Park, Cancer Survivor’s Garden, Buckingham Fountain, Butler Field, Lower Hutchinson Field and the Museum Campus will remain open and accessible throughout the event. The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium and other attractions could adjust hours due to the race, so check their websites.

To access the museums, drivers must reach either DuSable Lake Shore Drive south of downtown or arrive via I-55. From DuSable Lake Shore Drive, they can exit the northbound lanes at 31st Street, then take Fort Dearborn Drive along the lakefront to 18th Street. Those heading to the museums from I-55 can take DuSable Lake Shore Drive north and exit at 18th Street.

What about Taste of Chicago? Is it the same weekend?

For the second consecutive summer, Taste of Chicago has been moved to September to accommodate the race.

The Taste, a summer tradition established in 1980 and typically held in early July, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors to Grant Park for food, beverages, live music, dancing, karaoke and kids activities. It will be held Sept. 6-8.

Chicago summer food festivals: Chow down at these 34 events, from Taste of Chicago to Vegandale

OK, I’m going. Where can I park and what’s the schedule?

Parking starts at $40 in the Millennium Park Garage (6 S. Columbus Drive) and $50 for the Grant Park North Garage (25 N. Michigan Ave.). You can find more details here.

Taking Uber or Lyft to the festival? Drop-off and pickup are west of State Street from Randolph Street south to Roosevelt Road.

Gates for all things NASCAR open at 8:45 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Here’s the full event schedule.

Saturday, July 6

• 9-11 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying
• 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: House Music 40 showcase on the main stage
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying
• 1:15-2 p.m.: Buddy Guy performs
• 12-12:30 p.m.: Prerace concert featuring the JC Brooks Band
• 2 p.m.: Driver introductions for Xfinity Series
• 2:30 p.m.: The Loop 110 NASCAR Xfinity Series race (50 laps)
• 5-6:30 p.m.: The Black Keys perform
• 8 p.m.: The Chainsmokers perform

Sunday, July 7

• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Lauren Alaina performs
• 1-2:30 p.m.: Keith Urban performs
• 2:55 p.m.: Driver introductions for NASCAR Cup Series
• 3:30 p.m.: Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race (75 laps)

As with most events, attendees are limited to one clear bag no larger than 12-by-12-by-6 or a small clutch or fanny pack that is 6-by-6 with one pocket. Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited. More details here.

Who are the drivers to watch?

Shane van Gisbergen: The full-time Xfinity Series driver will defend his Chicago title in one of eight Cup Series races in which he’s competing this season. In 2023 he became the first New Zealander to win a race in the Cup Series. Van Gisbergen, 35, was a three-time winner (2016, 2021 and 2022) of the Supercars Championship, a circuit in Australia and New Zealand.

Kyle Larson: He’s in first place in the Cup Series standings with 664 points. Larson, 31, has three first-place and 10 top-10 finishes in 18 starts this season. He took fourth in Chicago in 2023.

Chase Elliott: The Georgia native, 28, finished third in this race last year, and seven of his 19 career Cup Series wins have come on road courses. He’s second in the Cup standings, 20 behind Larson, with one win and nine top-10 finishes in 19 races.