NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell has provided a significant update regarding the highly anticipated Chicago street race and its place in the NASCAR schedule beyond 2025. The future of the Chicago Street Course, officially known as the Grant Park 165, is currently under evaluation as NASCAR approaches the end of its initial three-year agreement with the city.
The inaugural Grant Park 165 in 2023 marked a historic moment as the first-ever street race in the NASCAR Cup Series. This groundbreaking event saw Shane van Gisbergen clinch victory, followed by Alex Bowman in 2024, establishing them as the only two drivers to conquer the challenging Chicago street course to date. As the 2025 race approaches, it also signifies the conclusion of NASCAR’s initial three-year commitment, prompting questions about a contract extension.
Shane van Gisbergen winning the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race
While the Chicago street course race generated considerable excitement and media attention, NASCAR President Steve Phelps has indicated that the event has not yet turned a profit. This financial aspect is a crucial factor in ongoing discussions about the race’s future.
NASCAR’s Focus on a Successful 2025 Chicago Street Race
When questioned about the possibility of extending the contract for the Chicago street course race, O’Donnell emphasized that the immediate focus is on ensuring the success of the 2025 event. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, O’Donnell stated, “For us, we’re just looking at 2025. It’ll be the third year of a three-year run and each year we’ve wanted to build upon the momentum that we have.”
He further elaborated on the learning process involved in staging a street race of this magnitude. “We’ve learned things each and every year — it’s our first street race, a lot of learnings came from that. A lot of weather challenges as well.” These learnings have led to adjustments in the event format, with continuous evolution aimed at optimizing the race experience for both fans and participants at the Chicago street course. O’Donnell concluded, “…we’ll get through the event, see where things are, but concentrating on 2025 and making that event as successful as it can be.”
NASCAR trucks navigate the tight corners of the Chicago Street Course
International Expansion and the NASCAR Model
Beyond the Chicago street course, NASCAR is also exploring broader international opportunities. Speculation has linked NASCAR to a potential race in Saudi Arabia at the futuristic Qiddiya entertainment city, slated to open in 2028. While O’Donnell refrained from specifically commenting on Saudi Arabia, he highlighted NASCAR’s international strategy.
“I wouldn’t put it specifically on Saudi,” O’Donnell noted, indicating a wider scope for international growth. He further explained NASCAR’s approach: “We’ve got a finite amount of content we can bring but I think as you look at NASCAR from an international standpoint, it’ll be more around that Mexico model where we want to look to grow the overall sport and build it within the culture wherever we go.”
This “Mexico model” suggests a strategy that combines bringing premier NASCAR events with grassroots development efforts to foster local interest and long-term growth of the sport in new markets. O’Donnell affirmed, “So we can certainly take a race from an exhibition standpoint or from a national series but you’ll see it coupled if we do go somewhere with a grassroots efforts as well.”
Aerial view of the Chicago Street Course layout
In conclusion, the future of the NASCAR Chicago street course race remains undecided beyond 2025. NASCAR is currently focused on maximizing the success of the upcoming 2025 event while simultaneously considering strategic international expansion. The coming year will be crucial in determining the long-term place of the Chicago street course on the NASCAR calendar and the sport’s global footprint.
