NASCAR announces new projected start time for The Loop 121 in Chicago

UPDATE: A lightning hold has halted all NASCAR operations. NASCAR aimed for an 11:45 ET resumption of the Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race, however, several areas of the track are not yet ready for them to be able to race in the wet amid heavy rain, according to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports.

Thunderstorms across the Chicago area Saturday pushed The Loop 121 NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race to Sunday for a scheduled start time of 11 a.m. ET.

Sunday in the “Windy City” arrived with rain and lightning in the area, forcing NASCAR to put all of its operations on hold, according to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. Following a brief delay for lightning, NASCAR announced it is targeting a new start time of 11:30 a.m. ET for resumption of the Xfinity Series race on USA.

Pockrass previously reported NASCAR had been assessing track conditions to determine a suitable time to resume racing.

“NASCAR has been assessing track conditions and sending equipment on the track to work on getting rid of standing water,” Pockrass tweeted. “Still under a lightning hold as far as any activities and fan gates not open yet.”

NASCAR completed 25-of-55 laps before a lightning strike forced a postponement of the race. Pole-sitter Cole Custer led every lap as he looks to capture his second victory of the season.

“Due to the potential for continued lightning strikes and in the interest of public safety and caution, the facility needed to be evacuated,” NASCAR said in a statement. “NASCAR had hoped to resume activities, but not until city officials allowed fans to return to the grandstands. The forecast for lightning extends into the next several hours, forcing NASCAR to postpone the completion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race until tomorrow morning.”

NASCAR execs weigh in on why they’re investing in races like Chicago

Sunday’s Grant Park 220 in downtown Chicago represents the first ever street race contested in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The unique event is one that NASCAR hopes will help take the sport to the next level, said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s SVP of racing development and strategy.

“This is part of our long-term strategic plan,” Kennedy said, via Doug Greenberg of Front Office Sports. “About three years ago, around the time that we had the acquisition of ISC [International Speedway Corporation] … we put a number of initiatives in place to start to think about, ‘Hey, how do we take the sport and transcend it to the next level?’”

NASCAR spent $50 million-plus setting up the 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course in Grant Park. Among the many places for fans to take in the race, the President’s Paddock Club sticks out. The two-story premium seating option sits directly over pit road — tickets starting at $3,015 a person.