NASCAR working feverishly overnight Friday to make changes to track ahead of Chicago Street Race

When driving around the streets of Chicago, there are two certainties. The first is traffic, which backs up Lake Shore Drive and downtown during rush hour.

The second is pot holes. Those are causing issues not only for commuters, but also for NASCAR officials ahead of this week’s Chicago Street Race.

NASCAR is spending Friday night filling pot holes that didn’t match the measurements from last season, according to Sportsnaut’s Matt Weaver. Multiple teams pointed them out during the track walk on Friday, and it’s leading to some late-night fixes ahead of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race downtown.

This year is the second of the Chicago Street Race, starting with the Loop 110 Xfinity Series race Saturday night. Then, the headliner is on Sunday with the Grant Park 165 for the Cup Series Sunday afternoon around the streets of the Windy City.

The city is bringing out some heavy hitters as grand marshals, too. Blackhawks legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios and Bears great Matt Forte will give the “start your engines” commands for the Xfinity and Cup Series races, respectively.

Chelios – a Chicago native – is one of the iconic Blackhawks in history and the franchise recently retired his No. 7 jersey. He will deliver the famous “Drivers, start your engines” instruction ahead of the Xfinity Series race on Saturday before it gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET.

As for Forte, he became a fan favorite with the Bears from 2008-15, making two Pro Bowls to become one of the franchises top 100 players of all time. He’ll be in attendance for Sunday’s Grant Park 165 to give the command to the drivers prior to the 4:30 p.m. ET start.

“Chicago is one of the best sports towns in the world, and NASCAR is proud to be a part of that historic Chicago sports culture,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President, in a statement. “Chris and Matt are two of the most recognizable sports icons in the city, and we’re excited to welcome their winning spirit to this weekend’s races.”

The 2023 Chicago Street Race was a hit with massive viewership and strong attendance as fans braved the weather to watch along the downtown track. Shane van Gisbergen brought home the checkered flag last year, and Giese recently pointed out he has a “fan base” in the city as a result.

The weather is looking better this year. No rain is in the forecast, meaning it could be another big weekend for NASCAR and the city of Chicago.