Report: Chicago 'open' to potential NASCAR return, with conditions

While most expect NASCAR to move on from Chicago, the city and the sport might have a surprise up their sleeves. Mayor Brandon Johnson inherited the event from the previous mayoral administration. Has he started to turn a new leaf on the future of the Street Race?

The Chicago Street Race has been, from a marketing standpoint at least, a success. It pulls in viewers, drivers have really embraced the event, and it has attracted a number of foreign drivers from different series around the world.

As part of the original deal between NASCAR and Chicago, there is a chance to extend this race for two years. In fact, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Mayor Johnson’s office is open to that extension. But there is one major condition: the date.

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is open to two more years of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but only after exploring the possibility of shifting the marquee event to a different date that does not pose the ‘challenges that July 4th weekend presents,’ a top mayoral aide said Monday,” Fran Spielman wrote in the Times. A surprising turn of events for many fans.

The idea is to move away from the July 4th weekend. Chicago is usually packed with tourists through the summer months, and the 4th is a major weekend, race or not, for the city. Could we see the Chicago Street Race move to another date on the NASCAR schedule? That would be very interesting.

NASCAR in Chicago: Where does the race go from here?

If nothing else happens with the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, at least this third year of the race was dry. Both the Xfinity and Cup Series races were dry from start to finish. No weather delays, no worries about the sunset.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, NASCAR has 90 days to trigger the two-year extension. Of course, they aren’t going to agree to that extension with a city unwilling to host them. Then there is San Diego and other cities who are apparently interested in hosting a street race.

From NASCAR’s standpoint, 4th of July is a great date for this race. But, race president Julie Giese says, NASCAR is open to other dates on the schedule.

“There’s a couple of factors at play working through the NASCAR schedule and how those shifts may impact the schedule,” Giese said. “But more importantly, making sure that there’s a window that would work with the Grant Park schedule.

“We like the holiday. We’ve shown it can be successful. The mayor mentioned [Sunday] that there’s a large number of people coming into the city from a flight perspective traveling in. We’re open [to a change], but also open to staying on the same date as well if that is what works.”

Good news if you are a race fan in Chicago. Maybe not so great if you are Steve Greenberg…