NASCAR highlights the drivers to watch in Chicago Street Race

NASCAR heads to a unique track this weekend, with the Chicago Street Race on the docket for Sunday. It’s another road course for the sport, marking the second one in the last three races (Sonoma).

As drivers prepare for the Grand Park 220 as part of the Cup Series regular season schedule, NASCAR released a list of drivers to watch for the event. There are some interesting names that made the cut.

Eight different drivers could make some interesting moves this weekend:

• AJ Allmendinger
• Tyler Reddick
• Kyle Busch
• Martin Truex Jr.
• Chris Buescher
• Michael McDowell
• Austin Cindric
• Ross Chastain

Will any of those names take home the checkered flag?

NASCAR odds for Chicago Street Race

With the Chicago Street Race approaching quickly, BetMGM has released the latest odds for some of the favorites to claim a victory. Some familiar names are near the top.

This week, four different drivers share the best odds to win the Grant Park 220. Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott all own 7-1 odds to cross the finish line first.

Here’s a look at the top-10 heading into Sunday’s race:

• Tyler Reddick: 7-1
• Martin Truex Jr.: 7-1
• Kyle Larson: 7-1
• Chase Elliott: 7-1
• Ross Chastain: 11-1
• AJ Allmendinger: 11-1
• Kyle Busch: 14-1
• William Byron: 16-1
• Michael McDowell: 20-1
• Christopher Bell: 20-1
• Chris Buescher: 20-1

What challenges NASCAR drivers face at Chicago

While Sunday’s Chicago Street Race falls under the description of “road course,” not all road courses are created equal. The Grant Park 220 presents some unique challenges for the NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

Corey LaJoie explained what difficulties might come into play on Sunday.

“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.”

Sunday’s race begins at 5:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBC.