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.

“We wanted to create options that appeal to everyone,” Kennedy said. “So anything from a general-admission ticket where people can really walk around the entire park, see the drivers on the grid, go down and watch music for the festival, and really roam around, all the way up to our highest zone area.”

Chicago Street Course president Julie Giese is focused on executing the three-year agreement between the city and NASCAR, in which the city receives $500,000 this year, $550,000 in 2024, and $605,000 in 2025.

“My focus is on Chicago and executing that agreement,” Giese said. “It’s not lost on me or anyone with the team here that this is a proof of concept.”

Denny Hamlin wins pole award for NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race

The Chicago Street Race gets underway at 5 p.m. ET on NBC. Denny Hamlin will lead the field to green after winning the pole during Saturday’s qualifying session. Hamlin leads off while Tyler Reddick, Shane van Gisbergen, Christopher Bell and Daniel Suárez round out the top-5. Michael McDowell, Kyle Larson, Jenson Button, Joey Logano, and AJ Allmendinger are the rest of the top-10.

“It’s a lot of fun when you can have days like today,” Hamlin said, via Reid Spencer of NASCAR.com. “Obviously, our Yahoo Camry is just super strong. I like where we’re at.”