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12 drivers crash in frenzied NASCAR Truck restart melee at Michigan

With just five laps to go in the scheduled distance for Saturday’s NASCAR Truck race at Michigan, 18-year-old rookie Gio Ruggiero and NASCAR Cup star Ross Chastain lined up on the front row for a mad dash to the finish. Unfortunately for them, neither driver would be part of that fight to the checkered flag. […]

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With just five laps to go in the scheduled distance for Saturday’s NASCAR Truck race at Michigan, 18-year-old rookie Gio Ruggiero and NASCAR Cup star Ross Chastain lined up on the front row for a mad dash to the finish.

Unfortunately for them, neither driver would be part of that fight to the checkered flag. Staying out on old tires with anxious drivers behind them, the pushes from trucks behind came early in the restart zone as Ruggiero tried to wait to accelerate for as long as he could, aiming to shorten the run down into Turn 1.

Leaving the restart zone, tires had already started spinning and trucks began to turn sideways, with Chastain saving his — only to be hooked by Ruggiero as he got turned down the track. 12 trucks were involved in the crash that followed, with Corey LaJoie moving from fifth to first in the chaos.

 

Chastain’s truck was destroyed, as was the truck of championship leader Corey Heim. Along with them and Ruggiero, the following drivers were listed as being involved in the incident: Jake Garcia, Tanner Gray, Daniel Hemric, Dawson Sutton, Frankie Muniz, Chandler Smith, Andres Perez De Lara, Connor Mosack, and Ben Rhodes.

What happened?

Ross Chastain, Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Ross Chastain, Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

After the race, Ruggiero still wasn’t sure what happened. “Yeah, I don’t know. Have to watch the replay. Haven’t seen it yet, looked at it, (nor) talked about it as a team yet, said the rookie driver for TRICON. “Yeah, it’s unfortunate. We had a really good truck and not sure what happened there. Just felt like I wasn’t ready to go yet. I was right at the start of the restart zone. Just have to look at the replay to see what happened there.”

Heim was directly behind Ruggiero and was trying to push his teammate. On the radio, he seemed frustrated by the teenager’s decision to wait so long in the restart zone.

“Myself and the No. 17 [Ruggiero] just didn’t link up the way we wanted to, and it went down from there,” he said after the race, barely touching on it. “Definitely had the truck to beat today. Just didn’t work out.”

Chastain spoke with FOX Sport’s Bob Pockrass outside the infield care center, saying: “The push came really hard from behind. It felt like a couple trucks connected to come through the 15 [Gray] to me. I haven’t seen a great replay yet, but I was definitely getting pushed before the restart zone, and I didn’t want to jump.”

The race ended up going into triple overtime with Stewart Friesen ultimately capturing the checkered flag, snapping a three-year winless streak.

Photos from Michigan – Race

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Nick DeGroot

NASCAR Truck

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NASCAR’s Daniel Suarez won’t drive for Trackhouse in 2026

CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suárez, the only driver born in Mexico to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the current season. The team and Suárez both called the parting a mutual decision that allows the 33-year-old driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for […]

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July 3, 2025

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CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suárez, the only driver born in Mexico to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the current season.

The team and Suárez both called the parting a mutual decision that allows the 33-year-old driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for next year. The announcement was made Tuesday.

Trackhouse, which currently has charters for three full-time cars, launched in 2021 with one car and Suárez — who had previously competed in the top-tier Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing (2017-18), Stewart-Haas Racing (2019) and Gaunt Brothers Racing (2020) — behind the wheel.

While the organization did not name a replacement in the No. 99 Chevrolet, Suárez’s departure opened the door for the team to promote teen sensation Connor Zilisch. The 18-year-old Zilisch, who currently drives in the second-tier Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has run three Cup Series races for Trackhouse this season, including last Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta.

Suárez has just two wins in 305 career starts on NASCAR’s top circuit, and he is a distant 29th in the Cup Series points standings this year with the regular season past its midpoint. Suarez made the 16-driver playoffs in 2022, when he wound up 10th, and again last year, when he ultimately finished 12th.

“We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021 and in just a couple of years we were winning races and running upfront on a weekly basis,” Suárez wrote on social media. “Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change and we have agreed to each go in our own direction.”

Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks thanked Suárez for his contributions.

“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever,” Marks said in a released statement. “His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career.”

Trackhouse also has Ross Chastain in the No. 1 Chevy and Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 88 Chevy under contract, along with Zilisch as its development driver. Chastain, who joined Trackhouse in 2022 when it added a second car, was the 2022 Cup Series runner-up and has six career wins, including the Coca-Cola 600 in May to secure a playoff berth. Van Gisbergen, who came on board as a full-time driver this year as Trackhouse added yet another car, won last month’s Cup Series race in Mexico City to lock up his own postseason spot.

Suárez, who became an American citizen last year, also has three Xfinity Series wins and one victory on the third-tier Truck Series during his NASCAR career. He became the only foreign-born driver to win a national series season title in 2016, when he won the Xfinity championship for JGR.

He made a triumphant return last month to his home country when he won the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City driving for JR Motorsports at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, yet the balance of celebrating a homecoming with looming contract negotiations weighed on the Monterrey native.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it’s not the first time that I’ve been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,” Suárez said ahead of that weekend when asked about being in the final year of his deal.

“It’s definitely a distraction. I won’t sit here and tell you that it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and to put all this stuff on the side and just do my thing on the track.”

He’ll do his thing at the track in 2026 with yet another new team, although he still has an opportunity to give Trackhouse a full stable of three cars in this year’s 10-race playoffs.

Eight races remain in the regular season, a stretch that starts with Sunday’s return to the streets of downtown Chicago for the third year in a row. Suarez finished 11th in last year’s race — when Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman took the checkered flag — and was 27th in 2023, when van Gisbergen won while making his NASCAR debut in a Trackhouse part-time entry.



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NASCAR National Series News & Notes – Chicago Street Course – Speedway Digest

NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Grant Park 165 The Place: Chicago Street Course Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course The Date: Sunday, July 6 The Time: 2 p.m. ET The Purse: $11,704,450 TV: TNT, 1 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90) Distance: 165 miles (75 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20), Stage […]

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NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Grant Park 165

The Place: Chicago Street Course

Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course

The Date: Sunday, July 6

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Purse: $11,704,450

TV: TNT, 1 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 165 miles (75 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 45), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 75)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: The Loop 110

The Place: Chicago Street Course

Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course

The Date: Saturday, July 5

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,651,939

TV: CW, 3:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 110 miles (50 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 15),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 30), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 50)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: TSport 200

The Place: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Track Length: 0.686 Mile Asphalt Paved Oval

The Date: Friday, July 25

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Purse: $782,900

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

Where To Watch NASCAR This Weekend:

Saturday, July 5

NXS Practice & Kennametal Pole Qualifying (CW App at 10:30 a.m. ET)

NCS Practice & Busch Light Pole Qualifying (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM at 1 p.m. ET)

NXS Race: The Loop 110(CW Network, MRN, SiriusXM at 4:30 p.m. ET)

Sunday, June 22

NCS Race: Grant Park 150 (TNT, MRN, SiriusXM at 2 p.m. ET)

NCS Race: Grant Park 165 – In Season Challenge Altcast (truTV, MRN, SiriusXM at 2 p.m. ET)

NASCAR Cup Series

Chicago Storylines and Insights:

·       This weekend marks the third running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course (2023-2025).

·       The stage end laps are Lap 20, 45 and 75.

·       Both Chicago winners got their first win of the season: Shane van Gisbergen (’23), Alex Bowman (’24).

·       Ty Gibbs, Michael McDowell and Kyle Busch are the only drivers to finish top-10 in both races in Chicago.

·       Shane van Gisbergen won on the Chicago Streets in 2023 and finished last in 2024, Alex Bowman finished last in 2023 and won in 2024.

·       Rain tires were used in both Chicago Street races.

·       Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams on the Chicago Street Course with three top-fives and four top-10s, they also won the pole and the race there last year (Larson on pole, Bowman won the race).

·       Alex Bowman got his last of eight Cup wins on the Chicago Street course last July, he started eighth and led only the final eight laps en route to his eighth Cup win.

·       Alex Bowman is the only driver to win at Chicagoland and the Chicago Street Course, he got his first Cup win at Chicagoland in 2019 in the last race held on the oval and won the last race on the Chicago Street Course in 2024.

·       Three of the eight remaining races before the Playoffs are on road courses – Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen.

·       Each of the last five road course races were won by a different driver.

·       Five of the last 11 road course races were won by drivers getting their first road course win.

·       Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams in poles, wins, top fives, top 10s, laps led and average finish on road courses in the Next Gen era (2022-2025).

·       Hendrick Motorsports drivers won five of the last nine road course races with three different drivers winning: William Byron and Kyle Larson (two each) and Alex Bowman (one).

·       The Stage 1 winner finished outside the top-10 in each of the last five road course races.

·       Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell finished in the top-five in the last three road course races, the longest active streaks.

·       Chase Elliott leads all drivers with 10 top-five finishes in the Next Gen car on road courses but none of his seven road course wins came in the Next Gen car.

·       Christopher Bell finished in the top-two in the last three road course races including a win at COTA this year.

·       Chris Buescher has the best average finish on road courses in the Next Gen car (8.8), Chase Elliott is the only other driver with a top-10 average finish on road courses in the Next Gen (9.8).

·       Ryan Blaney is on a 20-race streak without a top-five finish on road courses.

·       Denny Hamlin’s only top-10 finish on a road course in his 18 starts in the Next Gen car is a runner-up at Watkins Glen in 8/2023.

·       Brad Keselowski is on a 17-race streak without a top-10 finish on a road course.

·       The driver leading the most laps won six of the last 10 road course races.

·       Both Chicago Street Course winners took the lead for the final time with eight laps to go.

·       Chris Buescher finished in the top-10 in the last four races, tied for his longest Cup top-10 finish streak.

·       The last nine races of 2025 were won by nine different drivers, seven of the nine got their first win of the season.

·       Hendrick Motorsports had at least one car finish top-five in the last 26 races, the team’s longest ever top-five streak in Cup.

·       The top-three drivers in 2025 regular season standings are all Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers (William Byron-1st, Chase Elliott-2nd, Kyle Larson-3rd), it’s the third race this year that the top-three in regular season standings were all Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers (2025 is the first season since 2014 that Hendrick drivers ranked 1-2-3 in points following multiple races in the season).

·       2025 is the second straight season that Chase Elliott completed all but one lap of the season entering the 18th race of the season.

·       Chase Elliott became the fourth driver to reach 20 wins with Hendrick Motorsports.

·       41 drivers on the entry list this weekend are the most since 45 for the 2025 Daytona 500.

·       7 of the 15 road course regular season races in the Next Gen were won by a driver ranked 16th or worse in the Playoff standings, including both Chicago races.

·       This season, 82% of laps at road courses were led by drivers above the Playoff cutline.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Chicago Storylines and Insights:

·       This weekend marks the third running of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Course (2023-25).

·       Chicago Street Course will be the third of seven road course races in 2025.

·       Nick Sanchez earned his first-career Xfinity Series win at Atlanta.

·       Nick Sanchez’s win in race #17 is the latest into a season the Xfinity Series had a first-time winner since 2003.

·       Nick Sanchez entered Atlanta 26 points below Playoff cutline.

·       Big Machine Racing’s Atlanta win was its first since Texas in May 2022, 103 starts between.

·       There are nine races left in the regular season and five Playoff spots remain open.

·       Sheldon Creed and Ryan Sieg are tied at the Playoff cutline; Creed holds the tiebreaker with a runner-up finish at Martinsville.

·       The drivers from 12th-14th in the Playoff standings are separated by just 1 point and the drivers from 10th-14th in the Playoff standings are separated by 29 points.

·       Taylor Gray gained 60 points to Playoff cut line in last 3 races, and Sheldon Creed lost 42 points to Playoff cut line in last 2 races.

·       Sam Mayer leads active drivers with four road course wins and is tied for fourth on the all-time Xfinity road course wins list.

·       Shane van Gisbergen will drive JR Motorsports #9 this weekend, it won the last race it competed in with Daniel Suarez in Mexico. Shane van Gisbergen won half of all races run at Chicago Street Course – 1 Cup, 1 Xfinity.

·       Shane van Gisbergen’s five career NASCAR national series wins all came on road courses.

·       Three Australian Supercars veterans will race this weekend at Chicago Street Course: Shane van Gisbergen – Cup & Xfinity, Will Brown – Cup, and Jack Perkins – Xfinity.

·       Jack Perkins will drive the Joe Gibbs Racing #19, he made over 150 Supercar starts including a Goad Coast 600 win in 2015.

·       Connor Zilisch finished top-five in all three career road course starts, including two wins. Connor Zilisch’s 67% winning percentage on road courses is highest all-time.

·       Connor Zilisch won the pole for all three of his NXS road course starts.

·       Connor Zilisch’s average finish of 2.3 on road courses is second all-time to Terry Labonte.

·       Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch combined to win five of the last seven road course races.

·       Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch combined to win last six poles on road courses.

·       Three drivers finished in top 10 in both Chicago Street Course races: Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill & Parker Kligerman.

·       Both Chicago Street winners started on pole and won Stage 1: Cole Custer 2023, Shane van Gisbergen 2024.

·       Eleven drivers on entry list are making first start on Chicago Street Course.

·       JR Motorsports won last four road course races with three different drivers, the longest win streak by a team on road courses in NXS.

·       Chevrolet won the last ten road course races with five different drivers.

·       Five active drivers won on road courses: Sam Mayer 4, Justin Allgaier 3, Shane van Gisbergen 3, Connor Zilisch 2 & Jeremy Clements 1.

·       JR Motorsports won eight races this season with five different drivers, tied for most different drivers in a season all-time: Justin Allgaier 3, Connor Zilisch 2, Sammy Smith 1, Kyle Larson 1 & Daniel Suarez 1.

·       JR Motorsports is four wins away from 100, only three other teams won at least 100 NXS races (Joe Gibbs Racing-217, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing-138, Richard Childress Racing-100).

·       Five crew chiefs got their first NXS win in 2025: Chad Haney at Atlanta, Sam McAulay at Darlington, Adam Wall at Bristol, Cory Shea at Mexico City & Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono.

·        JR Motorsports #88 won three races with three different driver/crew chief combos this season.

·       Justin Allgaier’s 28 career wins are ninth on the all-time wins list and one away from tying Matt Kenseth.

·       Justin Allgaier leads all drivers with 10 top-five finishes and 648 laps led in 2025.

·       Justin Allgaier’s 10 top-five finishes in 2025 are his most ever after 17 races in a season.

·       Five races this year ended with a last lap pass.

·       Five of the last seven races this season had a pass for the win in the final six laps.

·       Chevrolet won 15 of 17 races, the most all time by a manufacturer through 17 races in series history.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Looking Ahead – Indianapolis Storylines and Insights:

·       This season marks the 21st running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

·       Defending series champion, Ty Majeski, has won the last two consecutive Truck races at Indianapolis Raceway Park (2023-24). Grant Enfinger (2022) is the only active driver with a win at IRP. 

·       Ty Majeski currently occupies the 10th and final Playoff transfer spot in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver point standings, up +38 points on Jake Garcia in 11th, and up +65 points on Giovanni Ruggiero in 12th.

·       Corey Heim has won five of the 15 Truck Series races this season, his best finish at Indianapolis is fifth (2022).

·       Corey Heim has 14 stage wins in 2025, the driver with the next most is Layne Riggs with four.

·       Corey Heim has accumulated 39 Playoff points this season. The all-time most Playoff points a Truck Series driver has earned to take into the Playoffs is 49 by John Hunter Nemechek in 2021.

NCTS Clinch Scenarios Following Lime Rock Park:

Already Clinched:

·       The following seven drivers have clinched a spot in the 10-driver postseason field: Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Ankrum, Stewart Friesen and Rajah Caruth.

Can Clinch Via Win:

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

·       Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Jake Garcia, Giovanni Ruggiero, Ben Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Connor Mosack, Matt Crafton, Andres Perez De Lara, Jack Wood, Matt Mills, Dawson Sutton, Spencer Boyd, Toni Breidinger and Frankie Muniz.

Can Clinch Regular Season Championship:

Additionally, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:

·       Corey Heim: Would clinch with 39 points.

NASCAR & Chicago, Etc.

NASCAR Street Course History

  • The Daytona Beach and Road Course hosted NASCAR Cup Series races from 1949-1958. The front stretch of the course ran on highway A1A before the field turned into Daytona Beach itself for a 2-mile dash on the sand before returning to the highway for the frontstretch.
  • The NASCAR Cup Series raced on temporary tracks on airports at Linden Airport, NJ in 1954, Kitsap Airport, WA in 1957, and Montgomery Air Base, NY in 1960. In addition, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series raced at Edmonton City Centre Airport along with IndyCar up until 2012.
  • There are many recorded instances of the NASCAR Cup Series, and especially NASCAR’s defunct Convertible division, racing at converted football and baseball stadiums. These include – Philadelphia Municipal Stadium (Convertibles 1957), Soldier Field in Chicago (Convertible 56-57, Cup 56), Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City (Convertibles 1956), McCormick Field in Asheville (Cup 58, Convertibles 56-57), Civic Stadium in Buffalo (Cup 58, Convertible 56), Canadian Exposition Stadium in Toronto (Cup 58, Convertible 56), Oakland Stadium in Oakland, CA (Cup 51,54; K&N West 54), and the L.A. Coliseum, the latest host of the Busch Clash.
  • The NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR’s Canadian series, has two street courses on their calendar – in July, they will share the streets of Toronto with IndyCar for the Grand Prix of Toronto for the 8th time, while in August, they headline the legendary Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R), the longest running street race in North America, having taken place since 1967. The Pinty Series has been the headliner event at GP3R since 2007.
  • The NASCAR K&N Series raced at Caesars Palace as a support event for the 1983 IndyCar race. Originally built for Formula 1, the Caesars Palace circuit was built in the parking lot of the famous resort; unfortunately, the course is remembered for being one of the worst race tracks of all time.
  • While not exactly a street course, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, which the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Pinty’s Series visited on numerous occasions, is often considered a street course as the race track is used as a public road for the majority of the year.

Landmarks on the Chicago Street Course Route:

Grant Park:

  • City park, 310+ acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city’s busiest attractions
  • Bordered by Lake Michigan and Monroe Harbor
  • Named for President Ulysses S. Grant , originally known as Lake Park
  • Referred to “Chicago’s Front Yard”
  • Location of President Barack Obama’s election day victory speech in 2008
  • Includes Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute and Museum Campus
  • S/F line of the Chicago Marathon
  • Over 4 miles for walking paths
  • 16 softball/baseball fields and 12 tennis courts

Major Events in Grant Park:

  • Regular schedule of concerts
  • Lollapalooza
  • Chicago Blues Festival
  • Taste of Chicago

Buckingham Fountain:

  • One of the world’s largest fountains using as much as 15,000 gallons of water per minute
  • Was a gift to the city from Kate Sturges Buckingham (American art collector and philanthropist) in memory of her brother Clarence in 1927 at a cost of $750,000.
  • Operates from April to October with water displays every 20 minutes and a light and water display

Turn 4: Field Museum,

  • State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Hutchinson Field – 

  • Softball fields – Between Columbus and Lake Shore Dr.

Off Turn 11: The Art Institute of Chicago – 111 S Michigan Ave

  • Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works of art from all over the world, spanning many centuries with pieces from Van Gogh and Picasso

Turn 12 off to left: Butler Field – S Lake Shore Dr & E Monroe St

  • Park and Music Venue
  • Final Straight before S/F off to the right on Columbus Dr. is Abraham Lincoln, Head of State -Landmark on 337 E Randolph St just off Columbus Dr.
  • It is a Bronze of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens & set in a leafy park.

Chicago Sports History

  • Chicago is one of three cities with two MLB teams: The Chicago Cubs, founded in 1876 and located in the North Side, and the White Sox, founded in 1900 and located on the South Side. Both teams hold three World Series titles each and have hosted numerous hall-of-famers
  • The Chicago Bears, founded in 1919, have nine NFC titles, won the 1985 Super Bowl championship, have more Hall-of-Fame members than any other team, and the second most victories of any franchise
  • The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the original six NHL teams.  The Blackhawks won six Stanley Cups, including three between in 2009 and 2015 under the ownership of Rocky Wirtz.
  • The Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships in the 90s, helmed by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and coach Phil Jackson. During the 1995-96 season, the team became the first in NBA history to win over 70 games in a season (72), a record that would take 20 years to be surpassed (Golden State won 73 in 2016)
  • The MLS team, Chicago Fire FC, was founded in 1997 and has won four U.S. Open Cups, including a fairy tale first season, where against all odds the team pulled off “The Double” – the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup.
  • The Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors, is the fourth-largest Marathon in the world, and Grant Park serves as the center of the action as runners start and finish the race on Columbus Drive, right where the street course is located. The marathon starts from S Columbus and E Monroe near Butler Field, looping through 26.2 miles of Chicago before returning to S Columbus Dr. for the finish, in between NASCAR’s turns 5 and 6.

Chicago Motorsports History

  • Chicago hosted the nation’s first ever auto race on Thanksgiving Day, 1895, the Chicago Times-Herald Race. Only 6 cars out of an expected 80 entrants ended up starting the race, which consisted of a 54-mile course between Chicago and Evanston, with the start-finish near where the Museum of Science and Industry now lies. J. Frank Duryea was the eventual winner and one of only two entrants to finish the race, clocking an average speed of 7 miles per hour. Both the Chicago Street Course and the original course for the Chicago Time-Herald Race share the same portion of Michigan Ave between Balbo and Jackson.
  • Several tracks started to pop up around the city in the early days of motor racing – A two-mile oval opened in Maywood, hosting open wheel roadsters from 1915-1918; Chicago Raceway Park opened in 1938 and became a major stock car destination during the 50s; Midgets were a popular event at the indoor International Amphitheater during the 40s. Santa Fe Speedway, a quarter mile clay oval, opened in 1952 and immediately hosted a wide range of oval racing activities; even Soldier Field hosted major stock car races during the 40s and 50s, including a NASCAR Cup Series race in 1956 won by Fireball Roberts. Waukegan Speedway and Rockford Speedway also drew impressive crowds during this time, and many Indy 500 legends would hone their skills around Illinois, including Pat Flatherly and Jim Rathmann
  • In 1998, construction was completed on the dirt oval Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. Later, approval was given for a full-scale NASCAR Cup Series track to be built next to Route 66, leading to the opening of Chicagoland Speedway in 2001. Chicagoland would be a part of the Cup Series calendar until 2019.

NASCAR History at Chicago:

  • Santa Fe Speedway- Cup Series 1954
  • Soldier Field – Cup Series 1956, Convertible Division 1956-57
  • Chicago Motor Speedway (Cicero) – Truck Series 2000-01
  • Chicagoland Speedway – Cup Series 2001-2019, Xfinity Series 2001-2019, Truck Series 2009-2019
  • Chicago Street Course – Cup Series 2023-2025, Xfinity Series 2023-2025

Joey Logano Nominated For the 2025 ESPY’s Best Driver Award:

  • Team Penske driver and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, from Middletown, Connecticut, has been nominated for the 2024 Best Driver Award at the ESPYs. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen from Formula One and IndyCar’s Alex Palou were also nominated for the award
  • The 35-year-old Cup Series champion, Logano, could join the likes of Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson as NASCAR drivers who have taken home the hardware during the annual ESPY Award show. Visit ESPN.com to vote. 

Recent Chicago Street Course Storylines:

  • Together with ABB, Chevrolet, and Ford, NASCAR will bring a first-of-its-kind electric vehicle showcase to the streets of Chicago during the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend. Featuring exhibition track laps, ABB, Chevy, and Ford will showcase their electric vehicle prototypes to the public, with live track laps driven by current and former NASCAR drivers on Sunday, July 6.
  • Electric Vehicles Schedule: 10:15 – 10:25 a.m. CT – Staging and Practice and 10:25 – 10:45 a.m. CT – Track Laps
  • The vehicles will also be on static display throughout the race weekend, giving attendees an up-close look at the concept cars. ABB – the official electrification partner of NASCAR – debuted The ABB-NASCAR EV Prototype on the streets of Chicago in 2024, piloted by former NASCAR Cup Series driver David Ragan. Ragan will return to Chicago, this time to drive the Ford Mustang Mach-E NASCAR EV Prototype, with rising stars of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Brent Crews (part-time driver of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage) driving the ABB-NASCAR EV Prototype and Rajah Caruth (driver of the No. 71 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports) piloting the Chevy Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype.
  • NASCAR and Xumo formally announced today that Xumo will take to the streets of Chicago this Independence Day Weekend as a Founding Partner of the Chicago Street Race Weekend, taking place July 5-6 in Chicago’s iconic Grant Park. This news brings together two dynamic brands committed to delivering premium experiences to fans through innovation, access, and technology.
  • NASCAR announced the National Anthem lineup for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend, July 5-6 in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park. Aaron Nelson, cast member from Disney’s The Lion King, which returns to Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre October 3-19—will sing the National Anthem before Saturday’s Xfinity Series race on July 5. The internationally acclaimed Soul Children of Chicago will open the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, July 6.
  • NASCAR Chicago Street Race announced that Cuervo® Tequila – the world’s first and number one tequila brand – is increasing its commitment to NASCAR’s only street race, with an expanded footprint throughout Grant Park during the July 5-6 race weekend. As a cornerstone of their growing partnership, Cuervo will return as the naming rights partner of the Cuervo Fountain Club and serve as the presenting sponsor for the all-new Devil’s Turn viewing area, offering fans a fun and engaging race experience.
  • NASCAR will return to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center on Thurs., July 3 from 5-8 p.m. to host the first-ever “Speed and Sound Fest,” a unique community celebration that brings together Chicago food, music, and culture in the leadup to the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend. The event, which is free with registration, will also feature a one-of-a-kind conversation between Chicago Historian and social media influencer Shermann “Dilla” Thomas (who also serves as Brand Ambassador and Chief of Social Media at The DuSable Museum) and NASCAR drivers including Rajah Caruth (driver of the No. 71 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports) and rising stars Cassidy Keitt and Lavar Scott of Rev Racing.

NASCAR PR



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NASCAR This Week – Patriot Publishing LLC

NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Grant Park 165 The Place: Chicago Street Course Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course The Date: Sunday, July 6 The Time: 2 p.m. ET The Purse: $11,704,450 TV: TNT, 1 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90) Distance: 165 miles (75 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20), Stage […]

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July 3, 2025

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NASCAR This WeekNASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Grant Park 165

The Place: Chicago Street Course

Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course

The Date: Sunday, July 6

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Purse: $11,704,450

TV: TNT, 1 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 165 miles (75 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 45), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 75)

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: The Loop 110

The Place: Chicago Street Course

Track Length: 2.2 Mile Street Course

The Date: Saturday, July 5

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,651,939

TV: CW, 3:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 110 miles (50 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 15),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 30), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 50)

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: TSport 200

The Place: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Track Length: 0.686 Mile Asphalt Paved Oval

The Date: Friday, July 25

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Purse: $782,900

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)



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NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying order for Chicago Street Race

The NASCAR Xfinity Series hits the streets of Chicago on Saturday for The Loop 110 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The CW App will air Xfinity Series qualifying at 11:30 a.m. ET. QUALIFYING ORDER: Cup Series | Xfinity Series The qualifying order below is determined via metric that combines the […]

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July 3, 2025

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The NASCAR Xfinity Series hits the streets of Chicago on Saturday for The Loop 110 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The CW App will air Xfinity Series qualifying at 11:30 a.m. ET.

QUALIFYING ORDER: Cup Series | Xfinity Series

The qualifying order below is determined via metric that combines the previous race finish by owner (70%) and current owner points position (30%).

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Saturday’s qualifying session will be just one round, but drivers will be split into two groups with 20 minutes to turn a lap.

MORE: How to watch on The CW | Weekend Schedule

# denotes series rookie
(i) denotes ineligible for driver points

Pos.

Car No.

Driver

Metric Score

Group

1

50

Preston Pardus

42.5

1

2

9

Shane van Gisbergen (i)

39.8

1

3

24

Kaz Grala (i)

35.9

1

4

32

Austin Green

35.8

1

5

4

Parker Retzlaff #

34.

1

6

11

Josh Williams

33.2

1

7

18

William Sawalich

32.7

1

8

53

Sage Karam

29.7

1

9

91

Josh Bilicki

29.2

1

10

5

Kris Wright

27.7

1

11

42

Anthony Alfredo

27.2

1

12

14

Connor Mosack (i)

26.6

1

13

00

Sheldon Creed

26.3

1

14

07

Alex Labbe

25.2

1

15

39

Ryan Sieg

25.2

1

16

8

Sammy Smith

25.2

1

17

35

TBA

24.3

1

18

31

Blaine Perkins

24.1

1

19

45

Brad Perez

23.9

1

20

71

Ryan Ellis

23.7

1

21

7

Justin Allgaier

22.0

2

22

21

Austin Hill

19.4

2

23

16

Christian Eckes #

18.1

2

24

44

Brennan Poole

17.9

2

25

70

Thomas Annunziata

17.7

2

26

99

Matt DiBenedetto

17.7

2

27

27

Jeb Burton

14.2

2

28

28

Kyle Sieg

14.1

2

29

25

Harrison Burton

13.6

2

30

51

Jeremy Clements

13.3

2

31

26

Dean Thompson

13.1

2

32

20

Brandon Jones

12.2

2

33

10

Daniel Dye #

10.7

2

34

19

Jack Perkins

8.2

2

35

54

Taylor Gray #

6.2

2

36

2

Jesse Love

5.7

2

37

48

Nick Sanchez #

4.3

2

38

88

Connor Zilisch #

3.4

2

39

1

Carson Kavapil #

3.2

2

40

41

Sam Mayer

3.0

2



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Keanu Reeves series documenting the birth of the Cadillac F1 team

Filmmaker and longtime motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves today announced a new multi-part, unscripted documentary series produced in partnership with North One, part of the All3Media group, that showcases the behind-the-scenes story of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s effort to join the pinnacle of world motorsport. Made possible by exclusive access from the Cadillac Formula 1 […]

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July 3, 2025

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Filmmaker and longtime motorsport enthusiast Keanu Reeves today announced a new multi-part, unscripted documentary series produced in partnership with North One, part of the All3Media group, that showcases the behind-the-scenes story of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s effort to join the pinnacle of world motorsport.

Made possible by exclusive access from the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, TWG Motorsports and General Motors (GM), the series traces the creation of the sport’s newest and uniquely American team as it prepares for its debut at the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season opener in Melbourne.

Reeves rejoins the production team from North One with his own KR+SH production company for this new series, serving as host and executive producer mere months after his International Emmy-award win for the acclaimed Disney+ docuseries Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story. Developed by Emmy-award-winning director and executive producer Simon Hammerson and three-time BAFTA-winning executive producer Neil Duncanson, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team docuseries brings together a powerhouse of creative talent to capture the ultimate story of sporting jeopardy in the high-octane world of Formula 1 and offer audiences a trackside seat for the whole ride.

“I’m very honored and excited to be a part of telling the remarkable Cadillac Formula 1 Team story and its incredible journey into the world of Formula 1 racing,” said Reeves. “Our goal with the docuseries is to bring audiences into the heart of this journey and showcase what it takes to participate in one of the most exclusive sports arenas in the world.”

The documentary follows the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, launched by TWG Motorsports in partnership with GM, as it embarks on the formidable task of building a Formula 1 organization from the ground up. Audiences will get an intimate look at the unique challenges of assembling a competitive team on an accelerated timeline and receive a first-hand account of the vision behind establishing a distinctly American presence in a sport long dominated by European powerhouses.

By documenting the challenges, setbacks, drive and determination required to build a new contender in Formula 1, the series will captivate both motorsport fans and viewers interested in stories of resilience, cultural aspiration and the pursuit of ambitious goals. The story will also explore the journey to build the first American-based team amidst the backdrop of Formula 1’s continuing growth with audiences in the US and around the world.

“This is a story of bold ambition and relentless drive,” said Dan Towriss, CEO of TWG Motorsports and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. “We’re honored to work with Keanu, whose passion and knowledge of racing runs deep, and proud to partner with GM on this incredible story. We have an opportunity to welcome a new generation of fans to Formula 1 and Keanu’s creativity is the perfect spark to ignite that journey.’’

“General Motors and TWG Motorsports joined forces on a bold mission—to build a uniquely American Formula 1 team,” said Mark Reuss, GM President. “It’s a thrill to have Keanu Reeves document the Cadillac Formula 1 Team’s journey to our first season in the FIA Formula One World Championship™.”



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Derrick Rose to serve as Grand Marshal, give engine command for NASCAR Chicago Street Race

NASCAR announced on Tuesday that former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Chicago Street Race. Before the start of the race, which is called the Grant Park 165, Rose will give the famous command, “Drivers, Start Your Engines.” Derrick Rose, who played high school basketball in Chicago, was […]

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July 3, 2025

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NASCAR announced on Tuesday that former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Chicago Street Race. Before the start of the race, which is called the Grant Park 165, Rose will give the famous command, “Drivers, Start Your Engines.”

Derrick Rose, who played high school basketball in Chicago, was selected by the Bulls at No. 1 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He spent seven seasons in Chicago and was named an All-Star three times and won the MVP award in 2011.

“It’s an honor to be part of such an incredible event in my hometown,” Rose said. “Chicago has always supported me throughout my career, and I’m excited to give back to the fans and be part of this amazing racing weekend in Grant Park.”

More on Derrick Rose and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race

“Chicago is one of the best sports towns in the world, and NASCAR is proud to be a part of that historic Chicago sports culture,” Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race President, said. “Derrick is one of the most beloved sports icons in the city’s history, and we look forward to having him get NASCAR’s only street race underway.”

After Rose played seven seasons with the Bulls, he spent time with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. He announced his retirement in September, the Bulls announced in January that they plan to retire Rose’s No. 1 jersey during the 2025-26 season.

“Derrick is both a hometown hero and a symbol of an entire era of Bulls basketball,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in January, per the Chicago Tribune. “Retiring a jersey recognizes a player’s impact beyond on-court achievements. It honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the organization and forged deep, lasting connections with fans. It recognizes that emotional bond and the great influence a player has had on the team and organization’s identity.“

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is the first-ever street race in the NASCAR Cup Series. It began in 2023, and Shane van Gisbergen won he inaugural race. Last year, Alex Bowman took home the checkered flag at Grant Park.



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