Corey LaJoie reflects on the challenges of the Chicago Street Race Course

Although no one has done anything more than simulations, Corey LaJoie has an idea of what drivers will have to be wary of this weekend. The Chicago Street Race, Grant Park 220, whatever you call it – things are going to be different and these NASCAR drivers will be put to the test.

Perhaps the good thing about the Cup Series going on Sunday is you can watch the mistakes of the Xfinity Series race. Then again, the two series have very different cars and setups.

For Corey LaJoie, there is a stark difference between this course and “similar” road courses. Teams have to use all of the data they can get, but the streets are much different than a fixed, permanent road course.

“You know if you miss a corner at Watkins Glen, miss Turn 1 at Watkins Glen you’ve got a football field to just run off on and blend and you don’t lose any speed,” LaJoie said, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “Here [at Chicago] you lose a toe link and your day is done. So, I think you’re going to be as precise as ever. You’re also going to have to keep your nose clean. It’s hard to see.

“We put a shadow car up, like a ghost car up in front of you on the simulator and if I didn’t make it transparent, like translucent a little bit you couldn’t see your brake markers. So when you’re tucked up underneath somebody the brake markers are so low and you’re coming up so quick – by the time you were wanting to brake at the five you had already passed it. So that might be something, granted the guy in front of you is what dictates where you’re starting to slow down anyways.”

Corey LaJoie has limited road-course experience. He explains the challenges he has seen while in the simulator as he prepares for this weekend on the streets of Chicago: pic.twitter.com/w2LGbV1HOL

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 29, 2023

What to expect from Corey LaJoie

Now, in his career, Corey LaJoie has not had the best road course record. It just isn’t something he has a lot of familiarity with. When it comes to street racing, he’s even more out of his element. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t perform well.

Like most weeks, it is hard to really gauge where LaJoie should be. Do you judge him solely on where he finishes? How much of that has to do with his pit crew and the stops they make in the race? Really, the only barometer you have is his own teammate Ty Dillon.

Dillon has been in the Cup Series for quite a while now even though he is still young. But they are two drivers having very different seasons. LaJoie has a top-5 finish to his name this year. He has finished in the top-15 three other times this season and in the top-20 on six other occasions. That includes P20 in both of his last two outings.

Meanwhile, Dillon has a season-best finish of P14 from Talladega and has failed to crack the top-20 outside of that one race. On the season, Corey LaJoie has 308 points and is in 21st place overall. His teammate has just 151 points and is 33rd overall.

Still, it feels like measuring him by Dillon’s performances cheapens his accomplishments or perhaps lets him off too easily. If LaJoie can pull off a good race on Sunday, it would go a long way to dispel feelings about his prowess on non-oval tracks.