It’s going to get fast and furious in Grant Park next summer! Chicago is officially set to host the first-ever NASCAR street race in 2023, sending speeding cars careening down the streets of Lakeshore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and other downtown thoroughfares for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series.
The televised street race, which is scheduled for July 2, 2023, will be preceded by an additional IMSA-sanctioned race on July 1. According to a city press release, the street course will span a 2.2-mile, 12-turn stretch near Grant Park, with a start/finish line and pit road located at South Columbus Drive in front of Buckingham Fountain. Spectators can watch the elite racers speed by from a safe distance, and the course will be surrounded by yet-to-be-announced music and entertainment options for a full-out sporting extravaganza.
Wondering just how fast race cars can go within city limits? A NASCAR official told the Chicago Tribune they’re still running simulations to determine speed limits, but it’s currently estimated the vehicles could hit “120-plus” miles per hour along the street course. That’s not quite race track speed (which hovers around 200 miles per hour) but hey—it’s still probably the fastest car you’ll see barreling past Buckingham Fountain!
Tickets for the race go on sale later this year, and additional details about the lineup are expected to be announced soon. In the meantime, you can take a look at a map of the proposed course layout below.
