Introduction:
Screeching around hairpin turns past Chicago’s iconic skyline, NASCAR‘s top drivers will tackle a temporary 2.2-mile circuit specifically for this unique event. As the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race in downtown Chicago, the Chicago Street Course 400 is gearing up to be an unforgettable motorsports spectacle. Digital News Planet provides insider info on the NASCAR Chicago 2024 street course race.
What to Expect from NASCAR in Chicago 2024
While NASCAR has previously hosted races at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet since 2001, running high-powered stock cars through the streets of a bustling metropolitan city introduces an entirely new set of variables. The course layout will create exciting racing action as drivers navigate quick 90-degree turns through Grant Park, speed along Lake Shore Drive’s sweeping curves, and brave McCormick Place’s warehouses.
The Chicago Street Course 400 will differ drastically from the typical oval tracks NASCAR frequents. The added twists and turns of navigating city streets level the playing field and favor skilled wheelmen who can handle the technical elements. With the iconic Chicago skyline framing the course, this race will offer a backdrop unlike elsewhere in motorsports.
The NASCAR Cup Series last visited Chicagoland Speedway in 2019, so Chicago race fans have been eagerly awaiting the series’ return. The move to a downtown street circuit for 2024 has only elevated the buzz and excitement around this can’t-miss event.
Chicago Street Course 400 Schedule and Events
Full schedule of on-track action for the 2024 NASCAR Chicago street course race
As part of a NASCAR weekend packed with on-track activity, the main event, Chicago Street Course 400, takes place on Saturday, July 15 at 5 PM CT, airing nationally on NBC. But before the elite Cup Series hits the streets, the ARCA Menards Series kicks things off on Thursday, July 13, with Xfinity Series racing on Friday, May 14.
Thursday also features an open test session, giving NASCAR teams additional practice and dialing-in setups specific to the Chicago city course. Friday then ramps up the intensity with Cup Series qualifying to set the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
With concerts, festivals, and other entertainment options around Grant Park all weekend long surrounding the course, NASCAR has made the Chicago Street Course 400 the epicenter of an entire slate of summertime festivities downtown.
NASCAR Chicago 2024 Street Course Map and Layout
Details on the track map and course layout for NASCAR’s 2024 Chicago street race
Winding 2.2 miles through Grant Park and along Lake Shore Drive, the Chicago street course incorporates key landmarks with several high-speed sweeping turns and tight corners.
The start/finish line and main straightaway runs along Columbus Drive with the iconic Buckingham Fountain as the backdrop. Cars dive into a quick left at Balbo Drive before an acute right sends them into Roosevelt’s first heavy braking zone.
They are navigating through Grant Park, a left pinch into a tight right at Monroe Drive, opening up into the high-speed turn 7. Racers must be brave on the throttle to carry momentum up through the left-handed turn eight at North Boulevard.
Approaching Lake Shore Drive, drivers will scrape the wall through the right-handed turn nine and exit onto Lake Shore Drive. High speeds then carry into a flat-out right-hand kink at turn ten before hammering the brakes for the tight right at turn 11.
Winding along Lake Shore Drive with views of Lake Michigan, the most treacherous complex follows turn 12, leading to a slight left bend and a hard right at turn 13. Exiting Lake Shore Drive, an acute left at turn 14 sets up the final complex, navigating through McCormick Place back to the start/finish.
With top speeds forecasted near 180 mph and lap times under 70 seconds, this diverse course will provide a worthy challenge to crown the first NASCAR Cup winner on the streets of Chicago.
How to Get Tickets to the 2024 Chicago Street Course 400 Race
Info on getting tickets to attend NASCAR’s debut Chicago street race in 2024
As the inaugural NASCAR event through the streets of Chicago, the Chicago Street Course 400 will surely draw massive crowds clamoring for tickets. While seating options are still finalized for the makeshift event, prime locations along the fencing lining the course will make fans feel the roar of 40 stock cars racing past.
General admission tickets grant access to various zones within the track grounds, taking in views from different vantage points around the perimeter. Seating in temporary grandstands erected around the start/finish straight turns 1 and 11 will also be available.
Suites and hospitality packages provide upgraded experiences with premium views, catered food and drinks, and appearances by drivers and celebrities. More details on pricing and ticket options will be released in early 2023 as planning continues for constructing infrastructure to support crowds.
Given the buzz already building for NASCAR’s long-awaited return to Chicago, fans interested in attending should plan to purchase tickets early once they go on sale. The inaugural Chicago Street Course 400 will undoubtedly be one of the hottest tickets in sports for 2024.
How to Watch and Follow the Inaugural Chicago Street Course 400
TV, streaming, and live coverage details for NASCAR’s 2024 race in Chicago
For those unable to snag tickets to the sold-out event, the Chicago Street Course 400 will be a must-see television. NBC and Peacock will feature live national broadcasts of Cup Series qualifying on Friday and the primary race on Sunday.
Coverage will showcase gorgeous aerial views of Chicago’s iconic landmarks mixed with the fierce door-to-door competition. Turn 7 through Grant Park, and the high-speed sweep of Lake Shore Drive from turns 9-12 should prove to be thrilling spots to watch the Pin it to Win action unfold.
In addition to TV, NASCAR will offer comprehensive streaming and live timing and scoring data for every lap. Through their suite of mobile apps and website, fans can track each car’s gaps, speeds, and times updated in real-time for free. News, highlights, and analysis will also inundate social media from teams and drivers.
Conclusion:
With NASCAR’s return, the inaugural Chicago Street Course 400 promises to be an unforgettable motorsports spectacle in an iconic setting. Mark your calendars now and prepare to witness history when the green flag waves through the streets of Chicago on July 15, 2024.
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When and where is the Chicago Street Course 400 NASCAR race being held?
The Chicago Street Course 400 is set for Saturday, July 15, 2024, through the streets of downtown Chicago. The course winds through Grant Park and along Lake Shore Drive for 2.2 miles of racing.
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What other NASCAR races will be held in Chicago that weekend?
The ARCA Menards Series will race on Thursday, July 13, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series taking the track on Friday, July 14, ahead of Saturday’s central Chicago Street Course 400 Cup race.
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How many turns does the Chicago downtown street course layout have?
The Chicago city track features 14 turns over the 2.2-mile course, incorporating sweeping curves with several tight 90-degree corners. Navigating this diverse layout through an urban environment introduces unique challenges.
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What other entertainment or activities are planned around the inaugural Chicago race?
In addition to three days of NASCAR racing action, concerts, festivals, and other summertime events will occur in Grant Park throughout the weekend. The Chicago Street Course 400 is set up to be an epic party in the city’s front yard.
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Where can I buy tickets for the first NASCAR Chicago street race 2024?
Details on ticket purchasing options will be released in 2023 as infrastructure planning continues for the Chicago Street Course 400. Given the high demand already, interested fans should plan to buy tickets early once sales open to secure seats—both grandstand and general admission.
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Are there ways to watch and follow the race at home if I can’t buy tickets?
Absolutely! NBC and Peacock will feature live national TV and streaming coverage of the entire Chicago race weekend. NASCAR’s website and apps will also have real-time timing and scoring data with customizable views for users to follow every car and lap.
