Drivers to watch, drivers with questions to answer at NASCAR Chicago Street Race

As NASCAR heads to the Windy City for the inaugural Chicago Street Race, there are a few names to keep an eye on throughout the weekend. It is hard to gauge the potential performances that we will see this weekend. Everything is brand new and no one has a clear advantage over anyone else.

This race will likely come down to qualifying order. If one of the favorites ends up messing their qualifying lap up then they can end up further back in the field. For those that do start in the chaos of the pack, they will have to take more risks in order to move up.

Expect wrecks, spins, and some “what the hell?” moments and hope for some awesome racing in the process. Coming into this race, you basically have to look back on road course results and then get a little creative.

Drivers to watch for NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Tyler Reddick
One of four favorites for this weekend, Reddick has that extra something on road courses. Taking the corners deeper than most, willing to dive in and take a risk, that is how Reddick fought to a win at COTA earlier this season. He has shown he has a thing for these unusual courses, he could have a big NASCAR Chicago weekend.

Kyle Larson
Of course, if we’re talking bout talent, you have to go to Larson. He is considered one of the, if not the, most talented drivers in the world. For some reason, there is a thing about these dirt racing guys, they just pick up road course racing really well. Larson could find that groove no one else is able to find on the NASCAR Chicago Street Course and run away with this race. He is also listed as a 7-1 favorite with Reddick and others.

Christopher Bell
I am throwing Bell in here because I think he is going to be on an upswing here soon. He had a great start to the season with four top-5s and a win between Daytona and the Bristol Dirt Race. Since then, he’s only had two top-10s, but two of those came in the last two races. I like Bell’s style and he feels like a driver that could sneak in and show out this weekend. Bell has a win at the Daytona Road Course and the Charlotte Roval in his career.

Drivers with questions to answer

It does feel hard to put any driver in this category this week. A new street race course that has never been done before, how do you judge that? That’s why I’m sticking with two very specific drivers that could, ideally, have a strong performance. And they definitely need for it to happen sooner rather than later. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race could be the place they get it done.

Chase Elliott
Until we see the No. 9 in Victory Lane, he’s going to remain in this position each week. We saw the back-to-back top-5 finishes. However, he is going to need to find that extra something inside himself if he wants to break through. Elliott needs to win to make the playoffs, chancing it to points is just not going to cut it.

Daniel Suárez
If the 99 car didn’t spin out in qualifying, we could have seen a Trackhouse Racing front row in the Ally 400. After struggling to match the speed of Ross Chastain in the race, Suárez came away with a P12 finish. A big race in Chicago would go a long way as Suárez battles for the NASCAR playoffs.