NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend schedule, weather

It’s almost time for one of the most anticipated events of the NASCAR season in Sunday’s inaugural Chicago Street Race.

It’s evident many aren’t sure what to expect, from the drivers to media members to fans. However, it’s bound to be an exciting and different event, and one that’ll be memorable for years to come.

Ahead of the event, Dustin Long of NBC Sports explained what the weekend schedule, as well as the weather for Chicago on all three days is looking like. Check it out below.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend Schedule:

Friday, June 30

(All Times Eastern)

Garage open

• 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. — Xfinity Series
• 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Track walk for drivers/teams

Saturday, July 1

Garage open

• 8:30 a.m. — Xfinity Series
• 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 8 – 9 a.m. — Track walk for drivers/teams
• 11 – 11:50 a.m. — Xfinity practice (USA Network, MRN)
• 12 – 1 p.m. — Xfinity qualifying (USA Network, MRN)
• 1:30 – 2:20 p.m. — Cup practice (USA Network MRN)
• 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (USA Network, MRN)
• 5 p.m. — Xfinity race (55 laps, 121 miles; USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, July 2

Garage open

• 1:30 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 5:30 p.m. — Cup race (100 laps, 220 miles; NBC, Peacock, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weekend Weather:

Friday: Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower is possible. High of 86 degrees.

Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Forecast for the start of the Xfinity race calls a high of 78 degrees and a 43% chance for a thunderstorm.

Sunday: Showers during the day. Forecast calls for a high of 69 degrees and a 44% chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.

Denny Hamlin expects to see a lot of crashes at NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin doesn’t believe NASCAR’s highly anticipated Chicago Street Race will feature the cleanest of racing. 

During his latest Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin explained that he’s expecting to see plenty of crashes this weekend, especially during the Xfinity Series showdown.

“I think that there’ll be significant practice crashes,” explained Hamlin. “Certainly in the Xfinity Series. It is going to be, I don’t know how much track time they’re going to get, so you better be ready. 

“Everyone have their — all the Xfinity Series drivers, have your helmet on. Be buckled down, ready to go when they drop the green, because who knows how much time you’re going to get.”

Alas, we’ve seen plenty of chaos at brand new tracks that NASCAR has tried out over recent seasons, such as the Charlotte Roval and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, so it’s fair to say Hamlin’s right in expecting there to be some tore up race cars this weekend.

One thing is for sure, Denny Hamlin will be hoping he’s not one of them. Whoever is the last car standing on Sunday will go into the history books, and the veteran driver is hoping it’s him.