The third and potentially final NASCAR Chicago Street Race made a few firsts during the Fourth of July weekend. Rain stayed away, the races ran to completion and two new networks broadcast the events to a national TV audience.

Shane van Gisbergen, who won the inaugural Cup Series race in 2023, took the checkered flag once again this year, but far fewer people saw it.

While attendance figures for the event have yet to be released, TV ratings for the Grant Park 165 on July 6 were down for the third consecutive year, averaging 2.1 million viewers on cable channel TNT, according to Nielsen.

The races were broadcast on NBC during the first two years. In 2023, the debut Cup Series street race averaged nearly 4.8 million viewers despite a torrential rain delay. Last year’s race, also plagued by rain delays, averaged 3.87 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.

Whether declining ratings for the Cup Series event reflect the shift from a broadcast to a cable network or perhaps waning interest in NASCAR’s first urban street race, it does represent diminished media value for Chicago, which provided the telegenic backdrop for the pop-up street course.

Last year, the street race generated $128 million in total economic impact and drew 53,036 unique visitors, according to a study commissioned by Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm. The nationally televised Cup Series race also generated $43.6 million in media value for Chicago, according to a companion report.

Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports marketing consultant, said the media value of the street race is hard to quantify, but potentially irreplaceable for the city.

“What is really going on is the ability to showcase your city in a way that you really can’t do any other time,” Ganis said. “They’re able to show the downtown area, the aerial shots, the lakefront, the architecture, the parks in ways that you can only show in a tourist reel that very few people watch. So it has tremendous value in that way.”

TNT is in the first season of a new seven-year rights agreement with NASCAR, carrying a five race “in-season challenge” that began June 28 with the Quaker State 400 from Atlanta. Ratings for the Chicago Street Race were up 31% over the previous week’s traditional oval race.

The Xfinity race on July 5, which was also won by van Gisbergen, averaged 1.1 million viewers on its new TV home, the CW broadcast network, according to Nielsen. That was up 95% compared to the previous week’s Xfinity race from Atlanta.

In Chicago, CW affiliate WGN-TV saw 51% audience growth over last year’s Xfinity race, which was broadcast locally on NBC 5, according to Nielsen data provided by the CW.

The CW Network began carrying NASCAR’s 33-race Xfinity Series this year, the first of a seven-year agreement.

Meanwhile, the city just completed its three-year agreement with NASCAR to host the street race. The deal, struck during former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration, includes a two-year renewal option.

The media value and a forthcoming economic impact report may well play into the city’s willingness to renew the street race under Mayor Brandon Johnson. A decision is expected within 90 days.

“Conversations are ongoing with NASCAR about future Street Races,” a mayor’s office spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. “The Mayor is interested in exploring potential dates outside of the 4th of July weekend because of the strain large events pose to our law enforcement resources.”

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has revealed his views on the pit lane clash during the Cup Series race at Sonoma. A conflict erupted between the pit crews of RFK Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing after Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski had pitted.

The pit stalls of both teams were next to each other, a point that contributed to the conflict. When Keselowski’s crew awaited his arrival, Gibbs came into the pits before him and grazed tire changer Telvin McClurkin while passing through the RFK Racing stall.

Keselowski came in a few seconds later. Once he set off, McClurkin confronted the JGR crew members, which escalated into a fight. NASCAR officials intervened to settle the dispute. The sport stated that Gibbs was not at fault for grazing the tire held by McClurkin, considering the lack of sufficient space.

Now, Hamlin has revealed his take on his Actions Detrimental podcast, concluding that both teams were “trying to gain an advantage.” He said:

“You can see where he came in one way one time, came in another way a different time, but he is in front. So, he has the right to use the pit box. It’s just bad timing, is the best I can explain it.

“Whenever you’re pitted in front of someone and then you’re barely in front of them on track, what happens is you have their tire carriers and their jackman kind of standing at the wall. They’ve changed the rule recently over the last year or two to where they don’t want these guys jumping off the wall. That’s too much weight, you’ll create injuries. So, they let them kind of get ready in their pit box.

“Well, they’re trying to get around to the right side of the car before it stops. Brad’s team is trying to get their advantage, which is get to the right side as soon as possible. But they’re not able to run out there till after the 54 passes, which that definitely does slow them down.

“I didn’t see the carrier move from his position, but I think Ty was trying to get the best angle into his box — which he’s entitled to — and the contact happened. Who’s fault? I don’t know. Both sides were trying to gain an advantage.”

RFK put its case forward to NASCAR by submitting footage that offers an overhead view of the incident. However, the sport did not accept RFK’s argument.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Legacy Motor Club on Wednesday sued the broker who helped negotiate its purchase of a charter from Rick Ware Racing, accusing him of tortious interference for now trying to buy Ware’s NASCAR team.

Legacy alleged in its filing in North Carolina Superior Court that T.J. Puchyr, acting as a consultant for the Cup Series team owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, violated the state Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act by using “insider knowledge and position of trust to interfere with Legacy’s Agreement with RWR.”

Legacy also accused Puchyr of making public personal attacks against Johnson when he announced last month his plans to purchase Ware’s tiny race team.

The dispute began not long after Legacy entered into an agreement for Johnson and his partners at Knighthead Capital Management to purchase one of Ware’s two charters. Legacy says the deal is for next season, when it plans to expand to three full-time Cup cars.

RWR maintains the deal was for 2027 because it already is under contract with RFK Racing to lease that organization a charter next season. Ware says he didn’t read the contract closely when he signed it to note that it read 2026, and that honoring the RFK contract and selling a second charter to Legacy next year would put the NASCAR team out of business.

Legacy in April sued Ware, but as that fight is playing out, it claims Puchyr struck a deal to buy RWR. Puchyr is a co-founder of Spire Motorsports and now acts as a motorsports consultant.

“Mr. Puchyr was well aware of the parties’ dispute. He knew of the charter purchase agreement between Legacy and RWR that he helped broker,” the suit contends. “Despite Mr. Puchyr’s insider knowledge of the contract, his obligations under his consulting agreement with Legacy, Legacy’s contractual right to a charter … Mr. Puchyr recently announced that he intends to purchase both of RWR’s charters for himself.”

The latest filing is part of two active lawsuits surrounding charters, which are at the heart of NASCAR’s business model. Having one is vital to a team’s survival.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are locked in a prolonged suit with NASCAR over antitrust allegations against the most popular motorsports series in the United States. 23XI, co-owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, and Front Row, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, last September refused to sign the charter agreements offered by NASCAR after more than two years of contentious negotiations on extensions.

The two were the only holdouts out of 15 organizations to refuse the extensions. They instead sued and are awaiting a federal judge’s decision on whether they will be stripped of their six combined charters as the case heads toward a Dec. 1 trial date.

NASCAR has said it has asked multiple times for settlement proposals but heard nothing. NASCAR also has no intention of renegotiating the charter agreements held by 30 other teams.

Johnson, despite his own legal fight, said last weekend that he supported a settlement in the antitrust case.

“I would love to see a settlement of some kind,” Johnson said. “I really don’t think that getting into a knock-down, drag-out lawsuit is good for anybody.”

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400

The Place: Dover Motor Speedway

Track Length: 1 Mile Concrete Oval

The Date: Sunday, July 20

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Purse: $11,055,250

TV: TNT, 1:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 400 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 120),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 250), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: BetRivers 200

The Place: Dover Motor Speedway

Track Length: 1 Mile Concrete Oval

The Date: Saturday, July 19

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,651,939

TV: CW, 4 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 200 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

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)

Kenny Wallace recently credited his legendary brother Rusty Wallace with delivering career-altering wisdom during a vulnerable moment. The NASCAR veteran recently spotlighted Rusty’s unfiltered approach to silencing negativity, linking it to country star Travis Tritt’s revelation about overcoming public criticism.

Wallace’s social media reflection exposed a deeper brotherly dynamic forged through decades of racing highs and fan scrutiny. It highlighted how Rusty’s championship-tested pragmatism became Kenny’s anchor in turbulent times.

Rusty Wallace’s Unfiltered Truth Boosted Kenny Wallace’s Motivation

Kenny recounted the pivotal exchange after resharing Tritt’s podcast clip about Waylon Jennings’ guidance. Jennings had told Tritt to ignore haters if his records sold well and concerts were sold out. “That’s all that matters. You must be doing something right if those people are coming in. So to hell with all those people, ignore them,” Tritt recalled Jennings’ advice.

Kenny recalled Rusty’s version of that philosophy during his own career crisis. “😁 I was telling brother @RustyWallace once that someone hurt my feelings. Rusty looked me in the face and said. ‘Do they pay you?’” Kenny wrote on X. The rhetorical question sliced through emotional noise, refocusing him on measurable success. His caption added humorously: “LOL 😂😂. Straighten me out real quick 💯🕺🏁.”

😁. I was telling brother @RustyWallace once that someone hurt my feelings. Rusty looked me in the face and said. “Do they pay you?” LOL 😂😂. Straighten me out real quick 💯🕺🏁 https://t.co/sM0KQqrXK5

— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) July 15, 2025

The advice became foundational. Kenny now champions its universal application for athletes facing external noise. Rusty’s no-nonsense style mirrored his track reputation, earned through 55 Cup Series wins and a 1989 championship. His credentials lent weight to every word.

The Wallace Brotherhood Forged in NASCAR Racing

The moment reflected their complex relationship. Kenny recently defended Rusty against the “crybaby” nickname some 1990s fans used, clarifying that Dale Earnhardt Sr. actually dubbed him “rubber head” after a fierce collision. Kenny emphasized Rusty’s Hall of Fame legacy while dismissing the label.

“RUSTY was never named that. His nickname was rubber head 😁 and he won a lot and he’s a @NASCAR champion and a Hall of Famer,” Kenny wrote on X, defending his brother.

Their dynamic evolved with NASCAR’s landscape. Kenny revealed earlier this year how Rusty and Kenny Schrader initially mocked his social media focus.

“Brother Rusty, Kenny Schrader, they used to pillage me. They made fun of me. ‘Herman, all over that damn social media? Herman, what are you doing on that social media?’ That’s what they used to say to me,” he recalled on his “Coffee with Kenny” podcast.

That skepticism reversed when sponsors prioritized digital reach. “For the most part, they [sponsors] like the social media. It is the new TV. It is the new media,” Kenny stated. His once-derided strategy became visionary, proving Rusty’s core lesson — validation comes from results, not opinions.

Kenny had recently faced fan scrutiny for defending NASCAR and its decisions. Fans had been calling him a “NASCAR shill,” accusing him of being paid by NASCAR. Now we know how he copes amid all these backlashes.

Kenny now wields that wisdom when defending his brother’s legacy. “Guess who’s the king now? I am,” he declared, referencing his social media influence. Rusty’s advice remains timeless, ignoring unpaid critics and focusing on tangible success. As NASCAR’s sponsorship model evolves, Kenny’s experience epitomizes how thick skin and adaptability define longevity.