Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Motorsport
Motorsport
Sport
Jim Utter

Worker dies in accident while setting up NASCAR's Chicago Street Course

In a statement Friday, NASCAR confirmed an employee of a private contractor working on the construction of the Chicago Street Course suffered a “fatal medical emergency.”

Police reports and WGN of Chicago identified the man as 53 years old who worked for a staging and lighting company.

Around 12:30 p.m. ET, the victim was working on the frontstretch area of the course near the start/finish line when he was apparently electrocuted, police reports say.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department confirmed a man was transported from Grant Park area and pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

An autopsy will be performed to determine an official cause of death.

“We are coordinating with local authorities on this tragic incident,” a NASCAR statement said. “We share our condolences to the family and their loved ones.”

While parts of the 2.2-mile, 12-turn course which winds through Grant Park have been under construction for weeks, there were some areas that could not be completed until Friday.

Track activity for both the Cup and Xfinity series begins Saturday morning with practice and qualifying sessions followed by the Xfinity race late Saturday afternoon. The Cup race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.