CHICAGO — “NASCAR is doing... what?”
This might’ve been the reaction to the news last July, when NASCAR announced that it would host a Cup Series points race through the heart of Chicago on July 2, 2023.
Accompanying questions probably followed: Will the city completely shut down? For how long? What safety measures will be put in place? And... why?
The Charlotte Observer sat down with Chicago Street Race president Julie Giese last month in NASCAR’s headquarters in Uptown Charlotte to discuss the logistics and goals of the first-of-its-kind event. Now with the race a few days away — airing on NBC at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday — here’s what she had to say.
8 frequently asked questions about NASCAR Chicago Street Race
— Why has NASCAR elected to do this?
“Firsts” are always worth celebrating. And this one is a flex of NASCAR’s innovative muscle. The sanctioning body has made a bunch of bold scheduling moves in 2023, which is its 75th year of existence. Among those innovations include traveling to the L.A. Coliseum for a second year for The Clash and reviving North Wilkesboro Speedway. The reasoning behind building and bringing the best stock car racers in the world to downtown Chicago is similar, Giese said.
“First and foremost, I think the goal is to just introduce NASCAR to a new audience,” Giese said. “Chicago is already a good market for us from a fan-base perspective. We obviously raced in Joliet for 20 years. And looking at fan engagement and interest, Chicago’s in our Top 3 markets. But doing in the heart of downtown, in and around Grant Park, really opens the door to really educate people about NASCAR, introduce them to NASCAR. So that was the big part of it.”
— Any desire to attract Formula 1 fans or fans from other motorsport disciplines?
IndyCar ran through Detroit earlier this year. Formula 1 features nearly a third of its 23 races on the 2023 calendar at street venues. Said Giese on the question: “I would say our goal is to just bring new fans to NASCAR in general. To me, it’s not any specific group. It’s across the board. And I think we have a tremendous opportunity in Chicago.” She added that this is an opportunity to “tell the story of NASCAR” — with Chicago nodding to its future.
— How will attending fans be able to see this? What will their experience be like?
In mid-May, Giese said that the team was expecting about 50,000 people to descend on the Chicago Street Course on both days — Saturday for the Xfinity Series race and Sunday for the Cup race. Giese compared transforming Chicago’s Grant Park, which is where the main attractions of the race are, into transforming a golf course for a big tournament: “Just like a golf tournament when you go, you see chalets and grandstands and things by the tee boxes and the greens. You’ll see a lot of those similar options at the Chicago Street Race.”
Viewing options range from general admission — kind of like a grounds pass — and then reserved seats. There is also a premium hospitality two-story structure built above the tree-line of the park that overlooks pit road.
— When did preparations and construction for the race begin?
The bulk of construction for the race began on June 17, and there were still preparations being made during this past weekend. The construction plan was set up to be as non-intrusive to Chicago residents as possible, Giese said. A lot of that has to do with the fact that most of the buildouts have been centered around streets and sidewalks, so the green spaces of Grant Park have been accessible to the public this past month.
— Will fan safety be a concern at the new track?
Every racetrack is required to meet NASCAR’s thorough safety standards.
— Will drivers get any practice on the course before race day?
Yes. Cup drivers are scheduled to practice and qualify Saturday, with the big race on Sunday. Many told reporters this past weekend that they’ve done a lot of work in the simulator. That said, no driver who is running in the Cup race is allowed to run in the Xfinity race. (One team has found a creative way to get an advantage: Justin Marks, owner of TrackHouse Racing, will run in the Xfinity race and presumably pass on what he learns to his Cup drivers, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez.)
— What has been the community reaction to the event’s impending arrival?
The community’s reaction to NASCAR taking over the streets of Chicago has been a mixed one. A bunch of reports about unhappy alderpersons surfaced after the announcement last summer. Of the more famous pieces that emerged was one about worried Chicago museum officials from Crain’s Chicago Business. (Its headline, in part: “Don’t shake the art, please.”)
But many have supported the idea from day one, Giese said, as it puts Chicago on a global platform. Buisnesses like the boost in tourism. Some who were initially skeptical have come around to the idea as Giese and other NASCAR officials have set out to educate and explain the vision to the city. (It’s worth noting, too, that Chicago Public Schools partnered with NASCAR in an initiative to inspire more than 22,000 students with racing-themed STEM and STEAM learning experiences. The Field Museum was a big part of that.)
“We are over 700 businesses that we have had one on one conversations with,” Giese said last week. “Almost 100 resident buildings. Seventeen places of worship. A number of different groups and organizations. So I think that leading into the weekend is really important. And we’re seeing that already with residents: They know to reach out to us with questions, and they’re sharing that information.”
— How will NASCAR measure success for this event?
In an availability last week, Giese was asked by a reporter how NASCAR would measure success for the Chicago Street Race. Is it high ratings on TV? Attendance? Is it a compelling race with a green-white-checkered finish? Is it community relations?
Giese said that minimizing disruptions in and around the community is important, and ensuring that people in the industry smoothly can get in and out is important, too.
“And then obviously things like TV viewership and attendance are obviously incredibly important, and making sure we are showcasing the city,” Giese said. “From the images, to the broadcast, to the coverage in general, I think the beauty of this city is going to shine through.”
