NASCAR in Chicago: What to Watch for This Independence Day Weekend

NASCAR returns to downtown Chicago this weekend for its only street course race of the year — and there’s no shortage of storylines, stakes, or summer heat to keep an eye on. With high-speed action set against iconic Windy City landmarks, the Grant Park races promise a thrilling Independence Day weekend for both the Cup and Xfinity Series.

The Schedule

Saturday, July 5

• 10:30 AM ET: NXS Practice & Qualifying (CW App)

• 1:00 PM ET: NCS Practice & Qualifying (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM)

• 4:30 PM ET: Xfinity Series — The Loop 110 (CW, MRN, SiriusXM)

Sunday, July 6

• 2:00 PM ET: NASCAR Cup Series — Grant Park 165 (TNT, truTV Altcast, MRN, SiriusXM)

Weather Outlook: Heat and Storm Threats

• Friday (Independence Day): Mostly sunny, high near 93°

• Saturday: Sunny and hot, high near 96°

• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, 20 percent chance of storms after 1 AM

• Sunday (Race Day): Mostly sunny early, with storms possible after 1 PM. High near 91°

• Sunday Night: Storm chances continue. Mostly cloudy, low around 69°

The heat index will be a factor, especially Saturday. Storms could create delays during the second half of Sunday’s Cup race.

NASCAR Cup Series – Grant Park 165

Track: 2.2-mile street course in Grant Park
Stages: 20 / 45 / 75 (165 miles)
Purse: $11.7 million

Storylines to Watch

• Street Smarts: Both previous winners — Shane van Gisbergen (2023) and Alex Bowman (2024) — earned their first win of the year in Chicago. Neither led more than the final 8 laps.

• Hendrick Heat: Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams in wins, poles, and laps led on road courses since 2022. Their drivers also rank 1st (Byron), 2nd (Elliott), and 3rd (Larson) in the 2025 standings.

• Playoff Pressure: Only eight races remain before the Playoffs begin, and Chicago is one of three road courses left. Seven of the last fifteen road course wins came from drivers outside the top 16 — including both Chicago races.

• SVG Returns: Shane van Gisbergen, the 2023 Chicago winner, is back after finishing last in 2024.

Fast Facts

• 41 cars entered, most since the Daytona 500

• Chase Elliott leads all drivers with 10 top-fives on road courses in the Next Gen era

• Christopher Bell has three straight road course podiums

• Chris Buescher leads all drivers in average finish on road courses (8.8)

NASCAR Xfinity Series – The Loop 110

Track: 2.2-mile street course
Stages: 15 / 30 / 50 (110 miles)
Purse: $1.65 million

Spotlight Drivers

• SVG x2: Shane van Gisbergen will run double duty for JR Motorsports. He won last year’s Xfinity race from the pole and returns in the JRM No. 9 — the same car that won in Mexico earlier this season.

• Connor Zilisch: With two wins in three road course starts, Zilisch boasts the best win percentage ever on road courses and has never finished outside the top five.

• Allgaier’s Run: Justin Allgaier leads the field with 10 top-five finishes and 648 laps led this year. He’s tied for 9th all-time in Xfinity wins and one away from Matt Kenseth.

Playoff Picture

• Five spots remain with just nine races to go

• Nick Sanchez's recent win shook up the standings

• The battle for the final spots is razor-tight, with the 10th–14th drivers separated by only 29 points

EV Prototype Showcase and Cultural Events

• NASCAR will showcase electric vehicle prototypes on Sunday morning from 10:15–10:45 a.m. CT, featuring drivers like David Ragan, Rajah Caruth, and Brent Crews.

• The “Speed and Sound Fest” on July 3 at the DuSable Black History Museum blends racing, food, and music, with local influencers and young NASCAR talent.

• Cuervo Tequila will sponsor viewing areas in Grant Park, including the new “Devil’s Turn” zone.

Racing Through Chicago History

Set against the stunning backdrop of Grant Park, the Chicago Street Course winds through landmarks like Buckingham Fountain, The Art Institute, and the Field Museum. The route mirrors part of the original course from the 1895 Chicago Times-Herald auto race — the first documented car race in the United States.

NASCAR’s ties to the Windy City run deep, from races at Soldier Field in 1956 to Chicagoland Speedway's two-decade run from 2001 to 2019. The 2025 street race adds another chapter to a storied motorsports history.

Where to Watch

• Cup Race: Sunday at 2 PM ET on TNT, with alternate coverage on truTV

• Xfinity Race: Saturday at 4:30 PM ET on CW

• Radio: All weekend on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

This year’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point in the season — where history, heat, and horsepower collide.