NASCAR's Chicago Street Race faces an uncertain future after its current agreement concludes in 2025.
This uncertainty comes as NASCAR's Chief Operating Officer, Steve O'Donnell, reflects on the three-year adventure with Chicago's first street race. This three-year contract, which started in 2023, was a huge move into street racing by NASCAR, yet there is no commitment to continue the event beyond the contract's end. With the future hanging in the balance, speculations arise around alternate venues and the organization's global expansion efforts.
The event is held around Grant Park in a 2.2-mile street circuit. Despite its exciting races, such as Shane van Gisbergen's victory in 2022 and Alex Bowman's win in the rain-shortened Grant Park 165 this year, NASCAR faces local challenges. Community feedback voiced concerns about the event's impact on accessing Grant Park during the July 4th holiday, while financial debates swirl over the race's benefits relative to Chicago's budget constraints.
Steve O'Donnell, in addressing the contract's final year, revealed NASCAR's goal of building momentum and gathering insights from the events held so far. He claimed:
"For us, we're just looking at 2025. It'll be the third year of a three-year run, and each year we've wanted to build upon the momentum that we have.
"We've learned things each and every year — it's our first street race, a lot of learnings came from that."
NASCAR is not only weighing the option of continuing the Chicago race post-2025 but is also exploring alternative locations. San Diego has emerged as a potential candidate, particularly after the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, has closed.
The untapped market and fervent fan base in Southern California present an intriguing proposition for the organization. Though decisions remain unconfirmed, O'Donnell says:
"[There are] a number of folks who are interested at looking at NASCAR from a street race (perspective).
"We are certainly interested in California and the Southern California market, and that will continue to be a focus for us, but nothing to confirm at this point."
Globally, NASCAR is keen to expand its horizons. O'Donnell highlighted interest from several international markets as part of NASCAR's future strategies. He noted:
"I wouldn't put it specifically on Saudi. We've got a finite amount of content we can bring, but I think as you look at NASCAR from an international standpoint, it'll be more around that Mexico model where we want to look to grow the overall sport and build it within the culture wherever we go.
"So we can certainly take a race from an exhibition standpoint or from a national series, but you'll see it coupled if we do go somewhere with a grassroots efforts as well."
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