CHICAGO — There’s no telling if the cars will set any speed records this summer, but the setup for the Chicago Street Race is projected to go a lot faster.
NASCAR and the city announced the traffic plan for the third Chicago Street Race, with buildout and breakdown of the pop-up racecourse in Grant Park reduced to 25 days, shaving nearly two weeks off last year’s construction schedule for the July Fourth weekend event.
Street closures have been reduced to 18 days, one day less than last year and a 28% improvement from the inaugural event in 2023. The first shutdown is set for June 19, with all streets to be reopened by July 8, according to a news release Monday.
“The city of Chicago has been working with NASCAR in the planning and execution of the 2025 race to further minimize the impact to residents and visitors,” Frank Velez, acting executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said in the release.
NASCAR is gearing up for a more streamlined race weekend event July 5-6, with a smaller concert lineup, downsized hospitality buildout, reduced ticket prices and an accelerated setup/breakdown schedule. The Cup Series race is also moving from broadcast to cable TV.
The Chicago Street Race will once again feature a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue, which will be closed off and lined with fences, grandstands and hospitality suites. But a relocated concert stage will replace the Skyline, a mammoth temporary structure along Columbus Drive that last year housed the most expensive suites overlooking the start/finish line at Buckingham Fountain.
The downsized buildout and consolidation of the premium seating areas enabled the reduced setup and breakdown schedule, minimizing traffic disruption and keeping the park open as long as possible before the event, the city said in the news release.
The first street closure is scheduled for June 19 — nine days later than last summer — with Balbo Drive shutting down from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. In addition to several lane and temporary closures, Ida B. Wells will be the next full street closure from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive beginning June 23.
Street closures will pick up speed in and around Grant Park in the week before the event, culminating with the complete shutdowns of DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Randolph Street to McFetridge Drive, and Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street, beginning July 3.
Michigan Avenue is expected to be fully reopened by morning on Monday, July 7, along with northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The southbound lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive are scheduled to reopen before midnight on July 8.
The last trace of the street course is scheduled to be removed by July 14, also days ahead of last year’s timetable.
A more detailed street closure and traffic plan is available at www.nascarchicago.com/local-info/.
“In keeping with our desire to be as responsive as possible to our neighbors, we’re proud of the work that we’ve been able to do with OEMC and the city of Chicago to further reduce the build schedule in 2025,” Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race president, said in a statement.
The Chicago Street Race features an Xfinity Series race on Saturday, July 5, and the Grant Park 165 Cup Series race on Sunday, July 6.
In 2023, the inaugural Fourth of July weekend event navigated record rainfall that curtailed races, canceled concerts and left remaining fans soaked. Last year, while sunny skies prevailed for the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, the Cup Series race was once again shortened when rain delays forced officials to call the race after 58 laps as darkness fell on the unlit street ...
