NASCAR Chicago Street Race: Highlights and Surprises
The inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race took place in downtown Chicago, featuring a pop-up street course that was constructed just before the race. The course included 2,000 concrete barriers and featured 12 turns and 2.2 miles of racing. Despite rain delays and concerns about air quality, the race proceeded, with New Zealand's Shane van Gisbergen winning in his first Cup Series start. The event drew nearly 4.8 million viewers on NBC and was expected to generate significant economic impact for the city. The future of the race is uncertain, as the contract allows for both parties to opt out.