Inside NASCAR’s Chicago Street Course: How the City Shaped a One-of-a-Kind Race

all photo credit: Instagram/@aussie.rob
 

NASCAR’s Chicago Street Course race featured early accidents, strategic pit stops, and intense final laps, creating a memorable event that might be the last of its kind at Grant Park.

The first thing you notice about NASCAR’s Chicago Street Course is how bold and almost unbelievable the whole setup feels. Grant Park transforms into a racetrack that seems surreal the moment you walk in. You realize right away this is anything but a typical race weekend. Standing behind the barriers with your camera, watching forty stock cars weave through Grant Park, the scene almost seems surreal. Skyscrapers rise above tight corners, and the familiar feel of traditional tracks disappears.

Daytona and Charlotte carry their own legacy, but Chicago is a different animal. Concrete walls stand in place of SAFER barriers, and the skyline presses close at every turn. Photographers keep moving, always searching for that perfect shot where the city’s energy collides with the sound and speed of the race.

See 50 Photos: Behind the Lens: NASCAR’s One-of-a-Kind Chicago Street Course Race [50 photos]

Early Chaos Sets the Tone

Capturing the race’s defining moments requires constant attention and a readiness for the unexpected. Just three laps into the race, Carson Hocevar spun out. What followed was the kind of multi-car pileup that street courses are known for. The red flag allowed time to reposition but also served as a warning. Mistakes here come with high costs. A small slip in Turn 6, and the whole field tightens like a spring.

Strategic Chess Match in the Concrete Jungle

The second stage of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Course became a masterclass in pit strategy, with Ryan Blaney and Team Penske choosing to stay out while Shane van Gisbergen and AJ Allmendinger took the early pit stops. Documenting these strategies demands patience. Often the whole story is told in a single frame. Meanwhile, Ty Dillon pushed forward as an underdog in the In-Season Tournament, edging out Brad Keselowski in what felt like the kind of David-versus-Goliath narrative that makes motorsports compelling.

Drama in the Final Laps

With fewer than ten laps remaining, the tension peaked. Alex Bowman spun Bubba Wallace with six laps to go. Their confrontation on pit road afterward reminded everyone that motorsports is about people as much as it is about speed.

Then came Cody Ware’s crash into the Turn 6 barrier. NASCAR waited before calling a caution, which allowed Shane van Gisbergen to hold on and secure victory under yellow. As the checkered flag fell and celebration started, it was clear the city delivered more than just a race.

In its third and what may be final year, NASCAR’s Chicago Street Course turned a familiar sport into something unexpected. The race brought exactly what a city race should—unexpected moments, real consequences, and a backdrop you can’t find anywhere else on the circuit.