It’s actually happening. It’s here. Saturday afternoon, Cup Series cars drove through the streets of downtown Chicago for the first time and it was immaculate. Plenty of passing zones, hard dives into tight corners and much more action were on display throughout the one-hour practice session. At the end of the qualifying clock, it was Denny Hamlin who earned the event’s first Busch Light Pole Award. Hamlin outpaced a strong run from Tyler Reddick and Australian Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen, setting the quickest mark around the 2.2-mile circuit in the final round of qualifying — Hamlin and van Gisbergen nearly flip-flopped on the leaderboard from practice, with van Gisbergen topping the early charts. After another strong run on Saturday, budding road-course ace Reddick will start on the front row with Hamlin. | Read the full practice and qualifying recap, see highlights
Big story lines
Bringing the NASCAR party to the fans. Imagine waking up in Downtown Chicago and being able to watch race cars speed through the turns from your balcony or living-room window. That once far-fetched dream is now a reality, with NASCAR taking on one of its biggest and boldest challenges yet: a street race. Strap in for a weekend filled with family-friendly events for fans, plenty of on-track action, two races (Xfinity Series race on Saturday), live music and much more in one of the country’s most iconic sports hubs. It’s not just a weekend filled with hype, but one with incredible story lines that could play out during the race on Sunday. Can Chase Elliott win his way into the playoffs sooner, rather than later? Will one of the road-course aces take control of the race? Or will another winless driver come from below the cutline to shake up the standings? There is plenty to wonder about and pay attention to this weekend, for everyone.
History tells us…
Even with a field of talented road racers, Joey Logano may be the biggest wild card, again. Realistically speaking, the trend has to end at some point. But Logano has been an incredible force in first-time events for the Cup Series. He won the debut race at the Clash at the LA Coliseum, the inaugural Bristol Dirt Race and the first Cup Series competition at World Wide Technology Raceway. It’s simply unprecedented. Even other drivers have taken notice. But Logano will be far from the favorite this weekend, entering with a trend of hit-or-misses at left-and-right-turn courses — a track type he’s never won on. In his last nine road-course events, he does have four finishes of seventh or better but also five finishes of 17th or worse. Expect the reigning champion to fly well under the radar on Sunday, but if he somehow manages to win this, too, it shouldn’t really be that big of a surprise.
He may not be the betting favorite to win, but watch out for…
Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, you will get to know this talented street-course ace throughout the weekend while he drives Trackhouse Racing’s latest Project 91 entry. Coming to the United States for the chance of a lifetime, van Gisbergen will be the most experienced street racer in the field by a large margin — and that could pay off well, given his 100-1 opening odds to reach Victory Lane. Either way it shakes out, it will be fun to watch him navigate not only the Chicago circuit but an extremely competitive field. | 🎙️ van Gisbergen on Chicago: ‘Ain’t going to be easy’
Chicago is a city of firsts, and this weekend NASCAR adds its name to that list with the first street-course race in the sport’s history.
Countdown to green 🔴 🟡 🟢
Stay updated on all the unique pre-race content surrounding this week’s historic event.
• Live blog: Key updates, exclusive content from on the ground | Follow along here • ‘Risk vs. reward’: Balance will be key as buzz builds for inaugural Chicago race | Read more • It’s on NBC: NBC Sports broadcast crew ready to bring race to fans | Read more
• Race logistics: Ben Kennedy explains differences between LA Clash, Chicago | Watch the video
• Chicago beginnings: Looking back on the first U.S. auto race in 1895 | Read more
• Drivers to watch: These eight drivers could shake up the race on Sunday | Read more
• Back to No. 50: The Kennedy family looks back on NASCAR’s 50th anniversary | Watch the video
Familiar favorites ⭐️
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
• Paint Scheme Preview: See which schemes will race through the Chicago streets | Pick a favorite • Fantasy Fastlane: Leaning on drivers with street-course experience | Top plays, sleepers • Power Rankings: Will AJ Allmendinger punch playoff ticket in Windy City? | Latest driver rankings • Betting odds: See which driver is favored to win on Sunday | Top bets, underdog picks • At-track photos: Best photos from throughout the weekend in Chicago | See them all here
• Stacking Pennies: Shane van Gisbergen joins to talk Supercars, NASCAR and Chicago | Listen to the podcast
💎 NASCAR 75: Learn more about the history of the sport, from pioneers to current stars | Visit NASCAR 75 hub
Hot off the press 📰
Key stories and breaking news from the week leading up to the race.
• Olliv by CoinFlip: Partners with CSR, launches $1 million crypto giveaway | Read more
• Roblox: NASCAR debuts new Chicago Speed Hub this weekend | Learn about it
• Inside the Race: Does Chase Elliott win his way into the playoffs? | Watch the video
• Caraway to Chicago: Larson ready to tackle street course after Roots top 10 | Read more
• Pit-road stats: Crews getting hot as summer temps rise before Chicago | Read more
• Streak shakers: Where Cup Series winners could snap year-plus skids | Read more
• Penalty ruling: National Motorsports Appeals Panel upholds No. 43 penalty | Read more
• Blaney wreck: NASCAR to evaluate unprotected wall at Nashville | Watch video
• Two Kyles: Petty kicks off Season 3 of ‘Dinner Drive’ with Kyle Busch | Read more
Get in on the action 💰
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy and Fan Rewards.
• Fantasy Live: Participate in interactive gameplay from week to week | Choose your lineup • Fan Rewards: New in 2023, get rewarded for your participation | Learn more • NASCAR BetCenter: Don’t miss your chance to make picks each week | Visit the BetCenter
• Going the distance: 2023 Cup Series championship odds | See them here • The Action Network: A 10-1 prop pick for Sunday’s Grant Park 220 | Expert analysis • Gaming: Racing in the streets of Chicago spurs heavy movement on sportsbooks | Read more
Take some notes 📝
Five hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• The driver who led the most laps won eight times this season, including the last four races.
• Each of the last six winners finished inside the top three in Stage 1.
• Seven laps or less is the margin for the final green-flag stretch in nine races this season.
• In the last road-course event at Sonoma Raceway, the race only had two cautions.
• Three races this season were won with a last-lap pass and three with two laps remaining.
CHICAGO – It’s a bit surreal to see, after the creative renderings and computer simulations that imagined the Chicago Street Race circuit before it became a real-life thing. The haulers parked on Lake Shore Drive, the choose-rule marking painted on Congress Plaza Drive, inspection taking place on the corners of Columbus and Jackson – all real, and not a dreamscape.
Friday’s eve of on-track action in downtown Chicago had all the bustle of a quote-unquote normal race weekend, with teams from the Cup and Xfinity Series unloading equipment and setting up for tech day. The unusual metropolitan backdrop, though, came with the imposing city skyline surrounding the garage area footprint in Grant Park.
NASCAR racing will leave its long-awaited mark on the Windy City this Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the Cup Series’ first street-circuit event, the Grant Park 220 (5 p.m. ET, NBC, NBC Sports App, Peacock, MRN, SiriusXM). The Xfinity Series kicks off the doubleheader with a Saturday lid-lifter, The Loop 121 (5 p.m. ET, USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM).
“It’s a little different than Nashville, that’s for sure,” said Ross Chastain, the Cup Series’ most recent winner last weekend in the Tennessee capital. “Being out on the race track, it’s wild. I mean, I think we’re all experiencing it, right? Whether you grew up in a city like this or not, it’s different when we’re coming here and the thought of racing a NASCAR race. So for me, it’s a bit different than (hometown) Alva, Florida, and I am embracing it. It’s just been an incredible feeling, just knowing that this is where we’re going to work this weekend when I strap in on Sunday. It’s right here, it’s in the buildings, and it’s going to be different. And I’m proud to be one of the drivers getting to be a part of this history-making moment.”
The parts and pieces involved in the course’s assembly were falling into their final place Friday afternoon. The late hour was due to organizers working to keep as many of the city’s thoroughfares open as long as possible heading into the holiday weekend.
The barriers and catch-fencing – 12 feet tall together, and the same barriers used in street circuits at Nashville and Detroit – were largely in position, with a few remaining tire-pack barriers awaiting placement. But the stage was essentially set for not just the event, but the festival atmosphere surrounding it, with grandstands, suites and grounds for concert-goers awaiting their first guests.
“I can only think of positives. I don’t see why anyone would be negative,” said former Formula 1 champ Jenson Button, prepping for his second Cup Series start. “It’s one race out of many. We’re trying something new. I think it’s exciting. We’re going to see Cup cars and Xfinity cars racing on the streets of Chicago. I mean, it’s pretty crazy, right? I think it’s a great challenge for everyone. For the organizers that put this on, I’m impressed. But also for everyone involved. The logistics are difficult; I know from previous experience in street races. For the team and drivers, it’s all a big learning curve. I think to have got to this point already, we should congratulate everyone for what they’ve done.”
As for the course itself, the full day of allotted track-walk time had heavier participation than other weeks for the teams and drivers, who were there to make sure their visuals aligned with what they’ve experienced in computer simulation. Noah Gragson buzzed by the main straightaway on a bicycle, Justin Allgaier pushed along on a skateboard and other drivers walked in groups with their crew. What they found were some areas where sections seemed tighter, others where bumps and manhole covers might upset their cars’ balance, and stretches where the course transitions from asphalt to concrete and back.
They’ll fire the engines and try it for real in Saturday’s preliminaries, but the 12-turn track has already presented challenges in computer-generated form. Button said he spun out leaving the pit lane in a sim session, losing it before he ever reached Turn 1. RFK Racing teammates Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher said they left iRacing scars on every virtual patch of the 2,200 concrete barriers that outline the 2.2-mile course. Asked about trouble spots, Chastain said he counted. “Twelve of them. I wrecked every corner, OK?”
“You can very easily lose a race car around this place,” Buescher said. “I don’t have to see the track in person yet to say that. I’ve lost many of them on the simulator, so it is going to be a tough one just in the fact that there’s no room, there’s no room for error. I watched a lot of other motorsports in their street races over the past couple of weeks, whether it’s been IndyCar or F1 or some sports-car series. It’s tight, and one person’s mistake can cause three, four, eight people to have a really bad day. So we need to make sure to run as clean a race as possible to put us in the best spot to be able to set up for a win at the end.”
Julie Giese, Chicago Street Course track president, offered a guided track tour Friday afternoon atop one of Chicago’s double-decker busses – another line she can add to her already impressive resume. She was appointed to head up the Chicago effort nearly 11 months ago, transitioning from the same role at Phoenix Raceway, where she helped to shore up NASCAR Championship Weekend there in recent years.
Her expertise in pointing out all of the circuit’s amenities – from the different suites, hospitality and entertainment areas, including the President’s Club above a line of trees — came naturally, especially since Giese’s move to Chicago for an immersion in the project. Now those efforts – surreally – are coming to life.
“I mean, it’s really hard to describe, honestly,” Giese said. “I think it’s been months and months of a lot of hard work by a lot of people — not just within the NASCAR industry, the city of Chicago and the departments that we’ve been working with, meeting weekly on the planning for this event. So it’s really fun to see it come together. I mean, the first time that we started putting barriers in, it was like, ‘OK, here we go.’ And then every day, more work is being done. We’re now less than 24 hours before we put race cars on course for the first time, so it’s pretty special.”
If there’s one thing NASCAR crew members know best, it’s how to get a car running again after a wreck.
Those skills from the Legacy Motor Club and Kaulig Racing teams came in handy Friday, but in a totally different arena — on the streets of downtown Chicago.
The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series are in the Windy City for the first street-course race in the history of either series. As haulers drove in and teams unloaded their cars on one half of Lake Shore Drive, members of both teams noticed a fender bender across the street in road traffic.
So crew members did what they do best and sprang into action to fix the car, which was cut off and had its bumper heavily damaged.
According to No. 31 hauler driver Damon Lopez, the right side of the bumper was hanging off the car and the left side was completely torn up. Crew members (pictured in the above tweet are David Cropps, Carl Garcia and Mike Usray) unhooked the wiring harness and used a screwdriver to get the entire bumper off, then put it in the back of the car — allowing the driver to continue on his way.
So among the benefits of having the NASCAR circuit in downtown Chicago, add personal roadside service to the list.
NASCAR is in town and, for the first time in Cup Series history, we will race on a street course. Nestled in the heart of downtown Chicago, the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course in Grant Park hosts both the NASCAR Cup Series (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, NBC) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, USA Network).
Cars will zoom down Lake Shore Drive, pass by Buckingham Fountain, jockey for position on Michigan Avenue.
This weekend isn’t just a race, though. It’s an experience as NASCAR embraces the city of Chicago with weekend concerts, a night at Wrigley Field and a Bubba Wallace Block Party event, just to name a few.
We’ll provide live updates throughout this historic weekend, so bookmark this page and come back often.
11:59 p.m.: This will conclude our live coverage of the Chicago Street Race weekend. It was a weekend of firsts — a new track, new fans, a new winner — and one that we’ll remember for a long time.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
11:27 p.m.: With post-race inspection complete, the results are official: Shane van Gisbergen is the inaugural Grant Park 220 winner. | Full results
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
11:15 p.m.: There’s a pause in the celebration as Chicago Street Race winner Shane van Gisbergen takes a break to answer media questions. Follow along with Press Pass if that’s your jam.
10:58 p.m.: As things settle into nightfall, you can check out the complete race results from Chicago.
10:42 p.m.: Think the drivers are ready for more.
Thank you Chicago. Thank you @NASCAR. Job well done.
10:09 p.m.: Another interesting tidbit as the sun sets in Chicago: Trackhouse owner Justin Marks made a one-off start driving for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series this weekend, and finished dead-last after an engine failure. Now, as a car owner, Marks finds himself in Victory Lane — after Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 91 car finished just ahead of the Justin Haley-piloted Kaulig Racing entry.
9:56 p.m.: What a city. What an event. What a win.
9:48 p.m.: Some interesting firsts and figures as the electric celebration continues in Chicago.
SVG’s win was the first time a driver has won in their Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford did it at Daytona in 1963 — that’s 60 years ago. The last win for the No. 91 was by Tim Flock in 1951. And today marked the first win for a Kiwi in NASCAR competition.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
9:43 p.m.: The celebration continues for Shane van Gisbergen, crew chief Darian Grubb, and team.
9:32 p.m.: SVG is doing burnouts on Columbus Drive. What a scene.
9:28 p.m.: In his first-ever NASCAR start, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has just won the inaugural Chicago Street Race in Trackhouse’s Project 91 part-time ride. Wow.
9:25 p.m.: The street lights are turned on in Chicago. White flag for Shane van Gisbergen — final lap.
9:21 p.m.: Don’t write SVG’s name on the trophy just yet — the yellow flag is in the air again with two laps to go. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. landed in the wall after contact with Bubba Wallace, and now we’re headed to NASCAR Overtime. Deep breaths, folks.
9:13 p.m.: Give the top spot to Shane van Gisbergen with five to go. Reminder that the Kiwi is making his NASCAR debut.
9:09 p.m.: Hold onto your hats. As Shane van Gisbergen made his move on Justin Haley for the race lead — much to the cheering of fans — Martin Truex Jr. pounded the tire barrier. Caution’s back out to remove the No. 19. Things are about to get really interesting in the Windy City.
9:02 p.m.: Shane van Gisbergen is up to third place and is closing in fast on leaders Justin Haley and Chase Elliott. SVG’s No. 91 is the fastest car on the track … by a lot. Nine laps remain.
8:59 p.m.: Austin Dillon had the lead within his grasp, but tagged the wall. The No. 3 won’t win today. Justin Haley continues to lead by about a second and a half over Chase Elliott.
8:48 p.m.: Early speed doesn’t guarantee results in NASCAR. The two dominant cars in the opening stages — Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick — suffer back-to-back issues, both separately tagging the tire barrier. Reddick’s 23XI Racing Toyota is lodged in the Turn 6 wall; another caution’s out to extricate the car. Just 16 laps remain in the race.
8:30 p.m.: Caution’s out again — there’s a stack-up on Michigan Ave. In a scene straight out of Blues Brothers, a dozen cars piled up after William Byron slid into the tires.
8:24 p.m.: The race length has been shortened to 75 laps from the originally scheduled 100 with the inevitability of darkness approaching. An unintentional nod to NASCAR’s 75th anniversary?
Much of the field pits under caution to set up their strategies for completing 28 more laps around Grant Park, but a handful stay out. Justin Haley will take over the lead on the restart.
8:15 p.m.: With the No. 48 stopped on track after an engine failure, Stage 2 ends under caution. Christopher Bell nabs his second stage win of the day (and the season).
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
8:05 p.m.: The fourth caution of the event has flown when Denny Hamlin sent Alex Bowman into the Turn 11 tires. Bowman’s No. 48 is on pit road with the hood up; he needs strong finishes to remain in playoff contention.
7:45 p.m.: Noah Gragson lodged his Chevrolet into the Turn 6 tire barriers … twice, for back-to-back cautions. You’d think with all this rain that Noah would have a better time.
7:35 p.m.: Shane van Gisbergen briefly led a lap in the middle of the pit cycle; he’s settled back into second place for now. It’s quite a moment for the No. 91.
SVG to pit road, but credited with leading Lap 25 of 100 in his #NASCAR Cup Series debut.
It's also the first lap led for the @THProject91 entry in three starts.
7:25 p.m.: Quick PSA while some exhilarating racing is happening throughout the field: NASCAR Drive offers free live in-car cameras from every car in the field, also in NASCAR Mobile.
Here’s what Jenson Button is seeing out the windshield of his No. 15 car as Stage 2 begins.
7:20 p.m.: Stage 1 is in the books, and it goes to Christopher Bell. That’s a playoff point in the bank for Driver No. 20 (leaderboard). Some drivers are now opting to head to pit road — and as the track is drying out, a few are even opting for slick tires. We’ll see how that works out for them.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
7:00 p.m.: If you’re not tuned into NBC or watching from the streets of Chicago, you’re missing some exciting racing in the opening stage under wet conditions. Christopher Bell takes advantage of a slip-up by leader Tyler Reddick to take over the top spot on Lap 9.
6:50 p.m.: The wet conditions have given the drivers a challenge out of the gate. Within the opening three laps, Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Erik Jones and Denny Hamlin were among those who ran into trouble — but no one more than Kyle Busch, who slid into a tire barrier to draw the race’s first caution.
6:38 p.m.: Denny Hamlin leads the field to green in a single-file, wet-weather start. Catch the action on NBC.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
6:25 p.m.: Cars are rolling off pit road. It’s time to go!
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
6:15 p.m.: Bears quarterback Justin Fields makes it official with the command to fire engines. We’re going to go racing on the streets of Chicago!
6:00 p.m.: Drivers, to your cars! With lightening rain (don’t worry; I said lightening, not lightning), there’s hope the start of the race is coming up soon.
5:20 p.m.: Things are a bit wet out there, but on pit road they’re having fun with it.
5:00 p.m.: Rain, rain, go away! The start of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the Chicago Street Course is on hold due to persistent rain.
4:45 p.m.: The opening ceremonies are complete, featuring a lovely performance of the national anthem by Uniting Voices Chicago.
4:25 p.m.: It’s still rainy in Chicago as teams have rolled their cars out to the grid and crews set up equipment for a hopeful race start at 5 p.m. on NBC. (I also just locked in my Fantasy Live lineup. Saving my two remaining Tyler Reddick starts in favor of Shane van Gisbergen.)
3 p.m.: Next up is the main event, the Grant Park 220, scheduled to begin just after 5 p.m. ET. As a reminder, Denny Hamlin will lead the Cup Series field to the green. Take a look at our guide on what to watch for later today.
1:45 p.m.: Standing water and flooding in Chicago will end The Loop 121 early, and the Xfinity Series cars won’t resume today. Cole Custer is declared the race winner after 25 laps. It’s Custer’s 12th series victory, and he’ll go into the record books as the winner of the first-ever Xfinity Series street race.
Today’s NASCAR Cup Series race is still on schedule to begin at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.
12:15 p.m.: Things are still on hold in terms of on-track activity while the course is cleared of standing water. Drivers are seated in their cars waiting for the good word.
11:30 a.m.: The gates are open, the teams are preparing their cars for liftoff, and a restart is on deck.
11 a.m.: It’s a wet one in Chicago, but that’s what rain tires are for. Cars are now expected to roll off the grid in a half hour or so.
10:05 a.m.: First up, at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network, the Xfinity Series will pick up at where things left off yesterday. Cole Custer’s had command of the race so far with John Hunter Nemechek in second.
And — just saying — the two of them have a bit of history battling door-to-door for wins on road courses. In a 2016 Craftsman Truck Series race at Ontario’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Nemechek put the bumper (and then some) to Custer for the win … and Custer responded in the form of a swift takedown that would make a Bears offensive tackle proud.
I don’t want to start anything, but beef that’s seven years old is still beef.
10 a.m.: Good morning! There’s a full day of racing and merriment ahead in Chicago.
Saturday, July 1
8:40 p.m.: What a day — and we’ve got a full plate of Windy City action tomorrow.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
8:10 p.m.: We’ll pick the racing back up tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and the NBC Sports App.
Yes, that means two checkered flags will wave Sunday, with the Cup Series’ Grant Park 220 going green at 5 p.m. ET just hours after the conclusion of the Xfinity Series event.
#TheLoop121 has been rescheduled for tomorrow, at 10 AM CT on USA. due to weather. Gates open at 9AM CT. Thank you for your patience and we'll see you tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/GuTzIjJbCY
— NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend (@NASCARChicago) July 1, 2023
The weather has also forced the cancelation of non-racing festivities, including the post-race concert featuring The Chainsmokers.
7:05 p.m.: The racing action is in weather delay. When we’re back at it, Cole Custer looks to continue his early strong run at the point.
5:45 p.m.: University of Chicago alum Andre Castro’s Xfinity Series debut came to an abrupt end when his Chevrolet landed in the Turn 1 tire barrier.
5:40 p.m.: So far, it’s been the Cole Custer show. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver collects the Stage 1 win after starting from pole position.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
5:20 p.m.: It’s a quick end of the day for Justin Marks, who had set the fastest time in practice earlier today. It seems the engine expired on the No. 10 on Lap 4, and the caution is out for cleanup. Time to grab a Chicago-style hot dog, perhaps?
5:06 p.m.: Green flag! The Loop 121 is underway and NASCAR’s officially racing on the streets of Chicago. Names are made in the Xfinity Series — and so is history.
4:55 p.m.: The Tate Brothers deliver that oh-so-important command to fire up those engines. Time to go racing! Follow along on USA Network with our live leaderboard or NASCAR Mobile.
Caroline Fogle | NASCAR Studios
4:45 p.m.: Xfinity Series pre-race ceremonies are underway! Roman Banks delivered a beautiful performance of the national anthem.
4:20 p.m.: The Black Crowes are rockin’ the place at the Mobil 1 Stage.
Austin Matthews | NASCAR Studios
Austin Matthews | NASCAR Studios
Austin Matthews | NASCAR Studios
4:05 p.m.: One hour until the stars of the Xfinity Series hit the streets for The Loop 121 — the first time we’ll see door-to-door racing for position in Chicago. Cole Custer will lead the field to the green (full lineup). Catch the race at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network.
3:55 p.m.: What a tense qualifying shootout! It looked like Shane van Gisbergen might have walked off with the Busch Light Pole Award in his first-ever attempt, but last-second charges by Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin bumped SVG down the chart as time expired.
Hamlin will start from pole position after posting a blazing 88.435-second lap; he’ll go down in history as the first-ever pole winner on a street course in the NASCAR Cup Series. The last-second fast lap was reminiscent of Hamlin’s most recent pole, which came at Sonoma last month when the No. 11 rocketed to the top of the leaderboard as time expired.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
3:40 p.m.: After some cleanup for a Kevin Harvick crash, 10 drivers have 10 minutes to set a fast time. The 10 who advanced are Daniel Suárez, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, AJ Allmendinger, Jenson Button, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Christopher Bell, Michael McDowell and Joey Logano.
3:15 p.m.: Uh oh. Chase Elliott stuffs it in the Turn 8 wall while working on setting a fast qualifying time. Shane van Gisbergen, just ahead of the No. 9 on the track, won’t get to complete his qualifying lap. Elliott’s car was towed back to the pit area once the driver climbed out.
2:45 p.m.: Let’s set this lineup, shall we? The field is split into two group-qualifying sessions that span 15 minutes each. The top five drivers from each session will advance to the final 10-minute round of qualifying, where the inaugural Grant Park 220 Busch Light Pole Award winner will be crowned.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
2:25 p.m.: That’s it for Cup Series practice. Shane van Gisbergen topped the fast-lap charts, fending off Denny Hamlin and Jenson Button. What a trio! And let us again note that this is SVG’s first-ever NASCAR event. Quite the quick learner.
1:50 p.m.: Shane van Gisbergen! The Supercars standout driving in the Project 91 entry for Trackhouse has quickly jumped to the top of the leaderboard in practice. This is his first time racing in NASCAR. We’ll see how the Cup Series regulars respond to the speedy No. 91 as the session continues.
1:35 p.m.: How about we get some Cup Series cars roaring around this place? Practice is on deck; catch it on USA Network.
1:05 p.m.: Cole Custer wins the first-ever pole on a street course in NASCAR! With a lap of 90.421 seconds, he’ll roll off in first place in The Loop 121 when the Xfinity Series takes the green flag just after 5 p.m. ET today. Custer won at Portland International Raceway last month.
1 p.m.: While going for the pole position, Sheldon Creed crashes. Creed had set the second-fastest lap in the final round of qualifying, and now the No. 2 team is likely facing a move to a backup car — and starting at the back of the field.
12:15 p.m.: Time to set the lineup for this afternoon’s Xfinity Series race. The first of two qualifying groups is on track now; the fastest five drivers from each round will advance to a final 10-minute round of hot laps. Quickest lap in the final round earns pole position for this afternoon’s race.
11:50 a.m.: That’ll do it for the lone Xfinity Series practice! Justin Marks set the fastest lap time, going a bit quicker on slick tires in the second half of the session. Qualifying for today’s The Loop 121 happens next.
11:30 a.m.: Xfinity Series practice has slowed for a battery on the course from the No. 92 car — the first break in the action so far. It’s been an intriguing 20 minutes of on-track time, watching drivers translate their iRacing laps and track walks into wheeling around the real thing. Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks, in a rare one-off driving appearance in the Kaulig Racing No. 10 car, has set the fastest time with 15 minutes of practice remaining.
When action resumes, drivers will put on slick tires as the track has dried; we’ll see if Marks’ speedy lap holds up.
11:10 a.m.: No big deal. Just watching stock cars roaring at full song down Columbus Drive.
11:00 a.m.: This is not a drill. Cars have headed onto the track! Catch Xfinity Series practice on USA Network or follow along with Race Center or NASCAR Mobile. With some raindrops in the sky, the cars are racing with wet-weather considerations; you’ll notice flashing red lights on the cars and treaded rain tires.
10:45 a.m.: Some lovely finishing touches. Darius Dennis, folks.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Studios
9:30 a.m.: Morning! There’s racing in Chicago today. The NASCAR Xfinity Series cars take to the street at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local time) for practice and qualifying, airing on USA Network. It’ll be the first time we’ll see stock cars making laps at full speed on this beautiful course.
5:30 p.m.: Here’s “The Bowman” … twice. A bus tour of the track provided quite the view of this statue, which is called “The Bowman.” Moments later, the driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Ally Chevrolet popped into view.
Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios
Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios
4:45 p.m.: Cars take to the track for the first time tomorrow. For now, drivers and teams are walking the course to get the lay of the land. (We’ve also got a turn-by-turn guide and a video tour if you want to follow along.)
9:45 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads a singing-driver trio with Harrison Burton and John Hunter Nemechek in baseball’s classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Nailed it, fellas. The Cubs, though, would go on to lose 3-1, despite Stenhouse’s request to score some more runs.
8 p.m.: How to be the coolest kid on the block? Attend Bubba’s Block Party. Several thousand did just that, taking in time with Bubba, listening to Lupe Fiasco, watching live pit stops and playing on iRacing simulators. All at the historic DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, too.
8 p.m.: At Navy Pier, fans and stars of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series took it to the virtual #NASCARChicago streets. This weekend, it’s the real deal.
Monday, June 26
8:08 p.m.: How about a little track walk? The on-track action is five days away, but the course is really coming into shape. And how about that famous skyline as the backdrop?
As NASCAR prepares to make history with its first-ever street race this weekend in Downtown Chicago, it’s bringing to life another first in the tech space by launching its own WhatsApp Channel.
Channels is a new feature the global messaging platform recently rolled out to provide a way to receive simple, secure and private updates from people and organizations, right within WhatsApp. The one-way broadcast tool will appear for users in a new tab called “Updates,” where they can opt to follow statuses and channels, while keeping it separate from their chats with family and friends. Channels enable organizations to share text, photos, and videos on a one direction basis with fans across the globe.
WhatsApp partnered with select global sports properties — including NASCAR, UFC, FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC — to initially launch the feature in Colombia and Singapore before rolling it out to other countries over the coming months. NASCAR has already begun sharing photo and video content on the platform.
The sanctioning body will continue to share real-time content from the historic Chicago Street Race Weekend, including behind-the-scenes clips, event updates and exclusive content directly from Chicago, connecting fans on the other side of the globe to this iconic moment in NASCAR history.
It’s the perfect example of the capabilities this new feature provides, as NASCAR continues to look for ways to deepen its connection with new and existing fans domestically and abroad.
Despite the Cup Series venturing into the unknown of the Chicago streets for the inaugural Grant Park 220, betting action – much of it sharp – came early and often at Las Vegas’ Westgate SuperBook, the first sportsbook each week to hang NASCAR odds.
“For a race that has no history behind it, I’m shocked at the action we’ve had so far,” Ed Salmons, the SuperBook’s vice president of risk management, said Tuesday of the bets the book had written across the eight states in which it operates.
Heading into the weekend, Chase Elliott sits atop the oddsboard, his familiar residence for road course races. A sharp bettor in Arizona played Elliott at Salmons’ +700 opener, prompting an adjustment to +500 before the No. 9 Chevrolet was nudged back up to +550.
Martin Truex Jr. and Tyler Reddick also drew early wagering interest, and professional money induced significant moves on the SuperBook oddsboard for Kyle Busch (from +1400 to +1000), AJ Allmendinger (+1400 to +900), and William Byron (+1600 to +1000).
“Then we’ve had some sprinkles on these [foreign] guys. Whenever they come over, it’s automatic, these people bet these guys. So they were betting this Shane van Gisbergen at 100-to-1, down to 60-to-1,” Salmons said
“Little bit of money on Jenson Button. Good luck. He was 200 (to 1), now he’s 100.”
Here is a partial list of drivers’ odds to win Sunday’s Chicago Street Race from three sportsbooks – the SuperBook and NASCAR partners Barstool at BetMGM:
DRIVER
SUPERBOOK
BETMGM
BARSTOOL
Chase Elliott
+550
+500
+600
Tyler Reddick
+700
+650
+700
Kyle Larson
+800
+800
+850
Martin Truex Jr.
+800
+700
+850
AJ Allmendinger
+900
+800
+1000
Kyle Busch
+1000
+1000
+1100
William Byron
+1000
+1200
+1400
Ross Chastain
+1800
+1200
+1400
Chris Buescher
+1800
+2200
+1800
Austin Cindric
+2000
+2000
+2500
Christopher Bell
+2500
+2500
+2000
Daniel Suárez
+2500
+2500
+2500
Michael McDowell
+3000
+2500
+2500
Denny Hamlin
+3000
+3000
+2500
Ty Gibbs
+3000
+4000
+4000
Joey Logano
+4000
+3500
+3000
Kevin Harvick
+4000
+4000
+3500
Does uncertainty translate into opportunity?
Some bettors are staying away from the Chicago Street Race (“I wouldn’t know where to begin,” says one pro gambler), or at least proceeding with caution (“my card will be much lighter on Sunday than typical races simply due to the lack of historical data,” said Action Network’s PJ Walsh).
Others see the uncertainty as opportunity.
“I’m very interested in [brand-new races on unique layouts],” said Blake Phillips, a sharp NASCAR bettor. “It’s really difficult for anybody to have a good expectation of what’s going to happen because none of these drivers have ever raced there before.
“The sportsbooks don’t know, either. So anytime there’s general uncertainty, your job as a bettor is not to be right, but to be a little bit less wrong than the sportsbooks. You have the advantage of being able to pick and choose; sportsbooks don’t. They have to hang a line for everything.”
While Phillips says he’ll place most of his action after he gathers information from Saturday’s qualifying and practice sessions, he does have a few drivers circled, including the favorite as a candidate to fade.
Elliott’s reputation as an excellent road course racer naturally leads to his short price – too short, in Phillips’ mind.
“When you’re putting so much emphasis on one driver, that creates value,” he said. “I just don’t see Chase Elliott dominating this weekend.
“It could happen, and I’m prepared to put my foot in my mouth, but I like to see these kinds of races where books are leaning so heavily on a driver that has a reputation,” Phillips continued, “because there’s a lot of opportunities for that to not pan out.”
Instead, Phillips, whose bread is buttered with matchup bets rather than in the outright market, is giving strong looks to drivers with the ability to adjust to the uncertainty. Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick are on his radar.
Salmons expects Sunday’s Grant Park 220 (5:30 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock) to be a well-bet event because of several factors: top drivers with big potential payouts, the excitement of the inaugural Chicago Street Race, and its placement during a slow time on the sports calendar.
“I think this race will write decent money just because [bettors think they can get lucky on a longshot],” Salmons said, “and it’s pretty exciting running through a city like this.”
With the green flag dropping Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, the race doesn’t face much competition from other sports. Salmons witnessed something similar last weekend.
“The Nashville race started at 4:00 (in Vegas), 7:00 East Coast time. That was great for handle,” he said. “Two hours before the race, it was just nonstop NASCAR betting.”
With just one baseball game on, plus a USFL game, “NASCAR took the front-center stage as far as betting, which was great to see.”
Marcus DiNitto is Managing Editor at Gaming Today. He’s been covering sports business for 25 years and sports betting for 12. NASCAR is among the many sports Marcus enjoys betting but often loses on. Follow him on Twitter; do not bet his picks.
NASCAR unveiled the new NASCAR Chicago Speed Hub on Roblox Friday ahead of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series street race on the Chicago Street Course this weekend.
The Chicago Speed Hub is a new, event-themed experience on the platform that replaces the original 75th Anniversary Speed Hub within the NASCAR Speed Hub experience on Roblox. The hub features a multitude of new and updated features and serves as a digital twin to celebrate the real 2.2-mile course through downtown Chicago that will host Xfinity Series and Cup Series events this weekend.
The map is designed as the Buckingham Fountain area of Chicago.
Players can walk or drive from the hub to the time trial, social driving area, or skyscraper car obstacle course.
Expanded car customization where players can design their cars using different colors, patterns, and numbers.
Leaderboards for best lap time, best obby time, longest burnout, most donuts, and legacy lap time.
Merch haulers featuring collectible UGC (avatar clothing items) for sale (price WIP).
Weekly collectible, limited UGC (avatar clothing items) that’s quest based to increase player engagement time.
Enjoy the thrills of the Roblox world and tune in to see the real-world stars hit the track in Chicago, culminating with the Cup Series’ main event, the Grant Park 220 on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
It’s time to add to the NASCAR history books this weekend as the Cup Series makes its street-course debut in the Windy City.
Nestled right in the heart of downtown Chicago, the 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course in Grant Park will introduce new fans to the sport and hardcore fans to a new style of racing. To help build up to Sunday’s race, there will be plenty to do at the track from attending concerts to visiting the free-to-the-public NASCAR Village at Butler Field.
Before a monumental weekend begins, check out some important info to get a taste of what to expect for Sunday’s Grant Park 220 (5 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with trends to watch, a look at each corner of the track, Goodyear tire notes and interactive ways to follow all of the action.
A first-time event means the potential for a first-time winner in 2023 and there are a plethora of road-course aces with street-course knowledge to break through.
Both Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger have competed in street-course events in different series. Both finished inside the top 10 just three weeks ago at Sonoma Raceway to build momentum into Chicago where they will run the same tire setup.
Rookie Ty Gibbs could be in play for his first career Cup Series win on Sunday. He showed his prowess on road courses in the Xfinity Series with three wins, which included outdueling 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson last season.
Defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano has a knack for winning at debuting events in the Cup Series, grabbing the inaugural checkered flags at the Bristol Dirt, LA Coliseum and World Wide Technology Raceway.
NOTES ON SPOTTERS STANDS AND TRACK SERVICES EQUIPMENT ✍🏾
With drivers utilizing multiple spotters to help them navigate all 12 turns, there will be three locations where spotters will be stationed.
The primary spotters stand will be at the President’s Club where the start/finish line is located. There will be another stand in Turn 4 where the Big Bus Tour buses will be utilized and the third will be in Turn 11 where spotters will be perched on the balcony of the Chicago Symphony Center.
In the event cars crash on the course or stall due to a mechanical failure, Track Services equipment will be placed in Turns 2, 4, 7 and 12. Crashed vehicles would be recovered as normal, taken off in Turns 2, 4 and 12.
LOCAL CAUTION PROCEDURE/GEICO RESTART ZONE ⚠️
Local cautions will be implemented this weekend on the street course. A waving blue flag will indicate a local caution. This will inform drivers of a problem ahead such as debris, surface condition or incident. A waving yellow flag indicates a full-course caution and will correspond with the start/finish line flag.
The GEICO Restart Zone will be located just ahead of Turn 12 which precedes the main straightaway where the start/finish line is located.
📉 TRENDS TO WATCH 📈
— Nine races in 2023 were won by drivers 30 or younger but only three of the nine came in the last eight races
— Four of the last seven races of 2023 were won by drivers ending winless streaks of at least 33 races
— Toyota won both road-course races this season
— Ford only has two wins this season, tied for the fewest since 2010
(Via Racing Insights)
TURN-BY-TURN NAVIGATION 🗺️
• Start/Finish Line: On Columbus Drive, in front of Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
◦ 940 feet toward Balbo Drive
• Turn 1: 90 degrees left on East Balbo Drive
◦ 900 feet towards DuSable Lake Shore Drive, with Museum Campus with Grant Park’s fields to the right
• Turn 2: 90 degrees right on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
◦ 1,350 feet on DuSable Lake Shore Drive with Lake Michigan on the left
• Turn 3: Slight right-hand curve staying on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
◦ 825 feet toward Roosevelt Road in front of the Field Museum at the Museum Campus
• Turn 4: 90 degrees right on East Roosevelt Road
◦ 375 feet toward Columbus Drive
• Turn 5: 90 degrees right on Columbus Drive, heading towards Balbo Drive
◦ 2,050 feet on Columbus Drive
• Turn 6: 90 degrees left on Balbo Drive
◦ 1,000 feet down Balbo Drive across a bridge over railroad tracks toward Michigan Avenue
• Turn 7: 90 degree Right on Michigan Avenue
◦ 500 feet on Michigan Avenue
• Turn 8: Right on Congress Plaza (street version of a chicane)
◦ Just over 500 feet toward Ida B. Wells Drive
• Turn 9: Middle of Congress Plaza Drive where it crosses over Ida B. Wells Drive
◦ Another 500 feet back to Michigan Avenue
• Turn 10: Right back on Michigan Avenue
◦ 475 feet toward E. Jackson Drive
• Turn 11: 90 degrees right on E. Jackson Drive back towards the lake adjacent to the Art Institute.
◦ 950 feet back to Columbus Drive and back across the railroad tracks
• Turn 12: 90 degree right on Columbus Drive
◦ 925 feet back down Columbus Drive to the S/F Line in front of the Buckingham Fountain
There will be no cautions at the end of the stages on Lap 20 and Lap 45. The rule first went into effect at Circuit of The Americas and will be implemented at all Cup Series road-course events along with any Craftsman Truck or Xfinity Series participating at the same road course as the Cup Series. Stage points will still be allocated as usual at the end of each stage.
The Cup Series will run the same Goodyear tire setup that was used at COTA and Sonoma Raceway earlier this season. Each team will receive two sets of tires for practice, one set for qualifying and an additional five for Sunday’s race.
In the event of a lost wheel that is contained to pit road, the offending team will be subject to a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions. If the infraction occurs during a caution period, the offending team will restart at the tail end of the field.
If the wheel breaks free outside of pit road, the new rules guidelines mandate a two-lap penalty. Plus, a two-race suspension for two crew members. Each penalty is series-specific: Violations in one series will not impact those crew members’ eligibility to participate in other series.
Heading to the track this weekend? Make sure to download the NASCAR Tracks app to see times and locations for all the festivities taking place in Grant Park.
You’re not going to want to miss out on seeing The Black Crowes, The Chainsmokers, Miranda Lambert and more as they get the city ready ahead of two days of thrilling action.
FAN REWARDS 🫵
Fans can get in on the action all season long with NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy.
There’s no cost to join. Fans must be 18 years or older to participate in the program.
Earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting your Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop and more. Points can be redeemed for race tickets, merchandise and VIP experiences at the track, including pace car rides and waving the green flag at qualifying.
NASCAR Mobile has now added support for fans to “Follow the Race” and access live leaderboard and race information from Live Activities in the current app release (v13.2.0), available now. Android users, we didn’t forget you — the same functionality has been custom-built for Android devices, as well.
How to access Live Activities on iPhones:
Make sure your iOS device has been updated to 16.1 or higher.
Available on the leaderboard of all NASCAR Series races.
Click on the three-dot menu near the top right of screen.
Select “Follow the Race.”
Swipe up to access the home screen and you will see the Live Activities at the top.
Lock the device and you will see Live Activities on the Lock Screen.
To turn off, simply visit the leaderboard, click the three-dot menu and “Unfollow the Race.”
FANTASY LIVE 🏆
Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which is open now. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $25,000 prize for the winner.
Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week, in-car cameras will be available.
NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement to the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.
SOPHIA, N.C. — Wednesday night marked the beginning of an unorthodox week for 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson.
After making his first Late Model Stock Car appearance in a decade at North Carolina’s Caraway Speedway, Larson is now turning his attention to the first street race in Cup Series history that will take place in downtown Chicago on Sunday afternoon.
An eighth-place finish Wednesday in a car prepared by JR Motorsports helped Larson obtain the right mindset ahead of what is expected to be an unpredictable race at Chicago. It also provided him an appreciation for how much Late Model Stock racing has changed since 2013.
“It was honestly much more fun than I was expecting,” Larson said. “The cars were much quicker than what I remembered them being. Obviously, I would have liked to have done a little better, but I’m not a short-track racer. This style of racing has been difficult for me, and it showed against the guys who do this for a living.
“I figured if I got to eighth, I’d be good, and we got to eighth.”
Prior to Wednesday, Larson’s most recent Late Model Stock was in the 2013 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown at Richmond Raceway. In an all-star field consisting of Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and others, Larson placed 10th after starting in the same position.
When Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked Larson to run a second car for him at Caraway with Josh Berry as his crew chief, Larson immediately jumped at the opportunity. His goals for the race were to have fun, but also get re-acclimated to the people and cars in Late Model Stock racing.
Among the people helping Kyle Larson in his first Late Model Stock race since 2013 included 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion Josh Berry, who served as his crew chief. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR)
The one-day show at Caraway saw Larson gradually get more comfortable with his car. By the time the checkered flag waved, Larson had raced his way up from a 16th starting position into the top 10, beating established Late Model Stock drivers like Connor Hall and Landon Huffman.
Now that Caraway is behind him, Larson is turning his attention toward Chicago. Although he is used to balancing out busy itineraries, Larson admitted the two races on the docket this week are different with how much information and knowledge he must take in for each event.
“I jump from extreme to extreme almost every day of the week,” Larson said. “It’s not hard for me to switch my mindset and get ready [for Chicago]. I’ve never raced a street course, so there will be a lot of learning in that little practice we get. Hopefully our car is fast.”
Larson admitted to spending a little more than a couple hours in the simulator this week to prepare for Chicago, which is something he rarely does.
For Larson, a simulator can only replicate race conditions so much, especially with a course as tight and narrow as Chicago. Despite this, Larson said the laps he made in the simulator helped him figure out the corners and the slight elevation changes around the course.
Any new track on the Cup Series schedule serves as an equalizer for Larson and the rest of the field. There are many unknowns for everyone about Chicago as Sunday approaches, but Larson is determined to be the first driver to claim a Cup Series race on a street circuit.
“Everybody is on an even playing field,” Larson said. “Obviously it’d be very neat [to win on Sunday]. I’m excited for the opportunity to race on a street circuit in the NASCAR Cup Series. All of us would love to get that win.”
Hundreds of fans arrived at Caraway Speedway on Wednesday to watch Kyle Larson, who now turns his attention to the Chicago Street Course. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR)
With so much going into executing a clean race at Chicago, Wednesday’s CARS Tour race served as similar-but-different territory for Larson.
A packed house descended into the foothills of Asheboro, North Carolina to see whether one of the most accomplished drivers of the current decade could defeat many of the best Late Model Stock competitors racing in the southeast.
Even though Larson wished to depart Caraway with another victory on his storied resume, he enjoyed the challenge that came with Late Model Stock racing and being able to lean on both Berry and Earnhardt Jr. for advice on how to get the most out of his car.
Should an opening in his hectic schedule arrive, Larson did not rule out a potential return to Late Model Stocks soon.
“Potentially, but who knows?” Larson said. “This [race at Caraway] obviously worked out because it was a good week and close to home, so that makes things a lot easier. I’ve never even looked at a Late Model [Stock] schedule before, so I don’t even know what else is out there.”
Until that day arrives, Larson is keeping his focus on earning a second Cup Series title. He will look to build momentum for that championship run by closing out his busy week with a victory on the streets of Chicago.
When the checkered flag flew to end the 2022 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, everyone in attendance knew who Jacob Borst was.
Heim won. Borst took second. Both left South Boston with damaged cars.
The last-lap crash was the only negative on a stellar weekend for Borst. He had already won twice at South Boston in 2022 entering the track’s crown jewel race and was thrilled to have race-winning speed against such a tough field.
“It was a very big deal for us,” Borst said. “The week before, we came across the [finish] line side-by-side with Peyton [Sellers], and were on the winning end. For [the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200], we were on the losing end, but to finish second with 40 other really good cars definitely boosted our conference for the rest of the year.”
With limited resources at their disposal, for Borst and his family, being able to race a Pulliam car for the win in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 was far from an easy journey.
Borst developed his craft and earned respect from other drivers racing quarter-midgets in the early 2010s. The on-track results gradually improved, and at the end of 2015, he finished second nationally in his age group to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar.
Borst a few years later fulfilled a childhood dream of running a full-bodied stock car at South Boston. As the wins kept piling in for Borst in the Limited Sportsman division, it only made sense for him to test his luck in South Boston’s storied Late Model Stock class.
Track regulars like six-time champion Peyton Sellers only helped Borst refine his driving style and build morale in a Late Model Stock. For Borst, the key component behind the success so far is the dedication displayed by his small team every weekend.
That quality is essential given the competitive depth in South Boston’s Late Model Stock class.
“One thing that’s really big about South Boston is there are a lot of good cars,” Borst said. “South Boston still does pretty good with its car count, so even if there are only 16 cars, there’s about 14 you can put money on to win the race. It’s really competitive, which means you can have the faster car and still not win the race.
“You can’t make a mistake, and when other people do, you have to attack.”
Among the names Jacob Worst has to battle weekly at South Boston Speedway include Mike Looney and six-time champion Peyton Sellers. (Photo: Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway)
Waiting for the right opportunity is what enabled Borst to pull alongside Heim in the final lap of last year’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.
Having tailed Heim for nearly the entire race, Borst felt his car was much better on the long run. Despite this, an onslaught of cautions over the final 50 laps meant the race would be decided on a short run, which gave Heim the advantage.
Borst did not let the race-ending circumstances deter him. He applied pressure to Heim’s back bumper, resulting in the latter getting loose in Turn 3 on the last lap. With Heim now having the preferred top line, Borst had no intention of surrendering on the bottom as he saw the checkered in his line of sight.
The resulting outcome was not one Borst had wanted. He was left to drive his battered No. 25 back to pit lane all while being confronted by members of Pulliam’s crew eager to figure out why Heim and Borst came together on the frontstretch.
Borst understood the anger Pulliam’s crew members felt, as he also had to fix the damage his car sustained from the last lap crash. He added any driver in his situation would have done something similar if it meant winning a Late Model Stock crown jewel.
“It’s just one of those things with racing,” Borst said. “Everybody is heated, and everyone is in the moment. They were frustrated, but it was a racing accident, and you can’t let that set you back. You have to move forward and take something from [the situation].”
Jacob Borst has already built a strong reputation at South Boston Speedway and will look to add a Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 win to his growing resume. (Photo: Veasey Conway/NASCAR)
Borst is bringing the same car that slid across the start-finish line sideways in last year’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 to South Boston on Saturday. Although he is confident about his chances, Borst is approaching this year’s race as a fresh start to his 2023 season.
Through 12 races, Borst has yet to find Victory Lane in a Late Model Stock at South Boston. Slight changes to the setup have yielded mixed results for Borst, who is hoping to tally his first win soon to build momentum against Sellers and Carter Langley for the track championship.
Earning a win in Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 would not only give Borst a much-needed jolt, but also validate the hard work put into his program since he started racing Late Model Stocks full-time at South Boston in 2021.
After coming so close to his first crown jewel win, Borst is determined to avenge his near-miss and best all the funded teams entered in this year’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.
“I play back in my head what I could have done differently last year,” Borst said. “[The Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200] would definitely be my biggest win. All of us would be jacked up over it for a while, but there’s a lot of good drivers who haven’t won at South Boston, let alone this race. We’re just going to go out there and try our best.”
Making the most with minimal funding has helped Borst and his family become ingrained in South Boston’s vibrant culture that has featured so many notable names like Pulliam, Sellers, Philip Morris, Jack Ingram, Ray Hendrick and many more.
Borst would forever be immortalized amongst the South Boston greats should he improve upon his finish in the track’s most cherished event by one position on Saturday.
