Grant Park 165: Weather threatens NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Here we go again — it’s race day in downtown Chicago and weather is threatening to wash out the Grant Park 165. Rain has been a factor at both Chicago Street Races, and it looks to be once again on Sunday.

According to RaceWeather, rain and thunderstorms are forecast for a 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET arrival. The NASCAR Cup Series teams do have rain tires on hand, but obviously, the presence of lightning will cause a delay.

11 AM CDT #Weather – @NASCARChicago update – 83°F, west winds, 8 mph with 16 mph gusts

Rain & t-storms are forecast – 2:30-3:30 PM CDT arrival. While they have rain tires 🛞, heavy rainfall and lightning may cause delays.

Thx to @NASCAR_Wxman for his collaboration#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/EvBzmtvGX6

— RaceWeather (@RaceWeather) July 6, 2025

Again, this is nothing new for NASCAR and downtown Chicago. Shane van Gisbergen won in a rain-filled Chicago Street Race in 2023. Alex Bowman won last year’s event, which was delayed at the start because of rain. Mother Nature looks to be attempting to go 3-for-3, though with a 2: 20 p.m. start time, there should be time to get some racing in before the bad stuff arrives.

Could this be the final Chicago Street Race?

You know NASCAR would love, just for once, to have a street race not marred by weather as this could be the final one in downtown Chicago. Sunday’s race marks the end of a three-year contract. A San Diego street course has been reported to be on the way. It’s unclear if there’s room for both on the schedule. If this is it, the drivers are going to miss it.

“It’s proven being bold can have its benefits if you take big risks,” Ryan Blaney told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. “It’s something they’d never done before. They took it head-on.”

“I wish we would have gotten more fortune with the weather, but it’s been a big success. No matter what happens next year, going forward, it’s been really good NASCAR decided to do this. It was a win.”