All eyes will be on Chicago as NASCAR looks to add another tradition.
Street circuits may be all the rage in other motorsports. But for NASCAR, a competition whose history continues to manifest in the present day (just think about all those racing dynasties), change can prove intimidating.
That’s why makes this week’s Grant Park 220 is so valuable. For the first time in NASCAR history, a race will take place on the streets. Downtown Chicago will double as a living, breathing Cup Series track. And no matter what side of the spectrum you lie on, you’ll be watching.
So, who has the advantage? That’s a loaded question. None of these drivers has ever experienced the joy of racing a stock car on city-grade asphalt. Sunday’s race could share some similarities with races at Sonoma, COTA, Road America and Watkins Glen.
However, that would mean passes are hard to come by, not to mention the pileups that can occur at a moment’s notice.
Racing is hard. Racing in a city is even harder. But it’s that challenge, coupled with the spectacle that is the Windy City, that could prove so enticing.
MORE: Watch the Grant Park 220 with Fubo (free trial)
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from the Grant Park 220 in Chicago. Follow below for highlights and live results as the Cup Series makes its street debut.
NASCAR at Chicago live updates, highlights from 2023 race
(All times Eastern)
7:37 p.m.: CAUTION! Gragson in Turn 6 again! Tough day for the youngster, who finds himself wedged in between the tire barrier on 6 for the second time in as many stages.
Noah Gragson involved in another crash in Turn 6. #NASCARChicago | NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/BABlAlcPKy
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2023
7:31 p.m.: Bell back out in front. Van Gisbergen took the lead for a bit, but was unable to hold on after rolling into pit road. Still, strong Cup Series debut by the No. 91 driver.
7:28 p.m.: Lots of challenges over the past few laps. Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Todd Gilliland among those to lose their footing while twirling around the course.
7:25 p.m.: Slick tires coming out on the track. Jenson Button nearly rams into Joey Logano on pit road spinning out. That could’ve been much worse.
Chris Buescher spins Jenson Button!
The 2009 F1 champ goes for a loop.
📺 : NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/LNsKUdY4TC
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2023
7:20 p.m.: 20 laps down, one to go. Bell on his way to his first stage victory of the season. Strong showing in the opening 21 laps by the Joe Gibbs Racing talent.
7:14 p.m.: LaJoie proving extremely belligerent with Bowman. Into the back of Bowman once more. Things are getting testy.
7:13 p.m.: Green flag waved signaling the restart of the race. Bell leading things off well. Reddick just behind him in P2.
7:05 p.m.: CAUTION! Gragson with a collision in the tire barrier, much like Busch. Tow truck coming out. Doesn’t look like too much damage, all things considered.
Not the kind of burnout @NoahGragson wanted to do. #NASCARChicago pic.twitter.com/jRgOZMXu15
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2023
7:03 p.m.: Van Gisbergen pushing hard on Reddick for second. Looks like the No. 45 car is losing speed while others are getting used to the conditions around them. Gotta see if Reddick can arrest the struggles.
7:02 p.m.: Corey LaJoie slips past Alex Bowman for P14 with an aggressive pass on the corner. Compelling stuff here.
6:57 p.m.: Bell takes the lead on Lap 9! Big mistake for Reddick, who lost his spot after a wider than necessary turn. Joe Gibbs Racing sits in first. Just 11 laps to go until the end of Stage 1.
6:55 p.m.: Bell making a run for first. The No. 20 car has been exceedingly aggressive on turns. Reddick and Bell already have plenty of dirt racing experience. Perhaps that expertise on the slickness of soot is helping them do their thing in the wet.
6:53 p.m.: Michael McDowell and Suarez putting on a great go for things in P4 and P5. Both are driving each other to the edge of each turn. At the moment, it’s McDowell with the advantage. A lot of distance between P4 McDowell and P3 Shane Van Gisenbergen.
6:51 p.m.: Back to green. Reddick handling things smoothly through six laps. Got himself a one second edge over Christopher Bell.
6:43 p.m.: CAUTION! Busch’s car wedges into the tire barrier. Slick as anything on this surface. Busch thinks he’ll be able to continue, but he needs help getting pulled up off the track. A tow truck is headed on the course.
‘@KyleBusch SLIDES into the tire barrier! #NASCARChicago
📺 : @NBC and @Peacock pic.twitter.com/nP5LIzlatE
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2023
6:40 p.m.: Things are proving chaotic through three laps. Already Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski, Erik Jones, Noah Gragson and Denny Hamlin have made contact, either with themselves or, in Hamlin’s case, the tire barrier on Turn 6. Unreal stuff here.
6:37 p.m.: We’re green in Chicago! Finally! Hamlin and Reddick lead things off!
RETWEET if you’re watching #NASCARChicago!
The FIRST street course race in @NASCAR Cup Series history is underway on @NBC and @Peacock! pic.twitter.com/FYQrCqGubn
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2023
6:25 p.m.: Interesting to see how Cup Series competitors handle facing odd with drivers more used to street circuits. Will the quality of car (or less thereof) make a major difference? Or could a Cup Series unknown make a major impression in the big city?
6:15 p.m.: Green flag set to be waved quite shortly. Bears quarterback Justin Fields delivers a timid, but potent rendition of the drivers’ commands. We are almost back to business from the Windy City.
6:10 p.m.: Daniel Suarez is optimistic. Not only is the Trackhouse star confident. But he’s also excited about the prospect of whirling around in slick conditions.
5:55 p.m.: Track conditions improving rapidly. Looks like we’ll be back to green in about 20 minutes.
NASCAR says drivers to their cars and going to roll off at 6:15 ET
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
5:40 p.m.: Here’s how the agreement between the city of Chicago and NASCAR is worded. Note how the two parties have to reach a mutual decision on just when the race can be rescheduled.
FYI this is the way the contract reads for a postponement: pic.twitter.com/GGkMBTlqS9
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
5:35 p.m.: More drying equipment headed onto the track, per Pockrass. Not a great sight for those hoping to witness a race on Sunday evening.
5:20 p.m.: Things are not looking very good in the Windy City at the moment. Will be interesting to see at what point NASCAR makes a call (if at ever).
⚠️⚠️330 PM: Rainfall reports are eye-catching to say the least. Since 7AM.
Berwyn: 8.21″
Chicago-Lincoln Park: 7.23″
Chicago-Garfield Park: 6.85″
A FULL July typically sees 3.71″. @MikeJanssenWX updates your forecast on @WGNNews beginning at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/X9Bp2O1mUq— Bill Snyder (@billyweather) July 2, 2023
5:10 p.m.: All cars are suited and booted at the moment, protected from the tempest that is opening up above it.
Those surveying track say right now is worst puddling of the entire day.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
4:55 p.m.: Drivers headed back to their haulers. The weather here is abysmal at the moment.
Drivers told they can go back to their haulers.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
Current conditions in Turn 8 of the Chicago street course. #HotPass pic.twitter.com/2PAIejwFdO
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
4:48 p.m.: Strong words by Denny Hamlin, who is adamant that the race should not go on today.
We cannot control god. What we can control is our decisions and reactions to unforeseen circumstances. Please @NASCAR . Do not do this. We have too much positive momentum around this weekend to change the narrative now.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 2, 2023
4:40 p.m.: By hook or by crook, this race will go down. Teams equipping their wet tires. Get ready for a wild day in the Chi-Town.
Teams told to put on wet tires and make final adjustments.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
4:38 p.m.: Not looking too good for Sunday’s race at the moment. Raining cats and dogs thus far.
Raining as hard as it has all day pic.twitter.com/mFKAiQnXSK
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 2, 2023
What channel is the NASCAR race on today?
- TV channel: NBC (U.S.) | TSN5 (Canada)
- Live stream: Peacock, Fubo
The Grant Park 220 will be broadcast on NBC in the United States. Canadian viewers can follow the action on TSN5.
Veteran broadcaster Rick Allen will lead NBC’s coverage, serving as the race’s lap-by-lap announcer. He’ll be joined in the booth by Steve Letarte and on the course by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Mike Bagley.
Fans can watch online via Peacock or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
MORE: Why NASCAR is on NBC instead of Fox
NASCAR start time today
- Date: Sunday, July 2
- Start time: 5:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR has moved up the start time for Sunday’s race by almost 50 minutes because of the threat of thunderstorms in Chicago. The green flag will now drop at 5:05 p.m. ET (4:05 p.m. local time); the race originally was scheduled to start at 5:54 p.m. ET (4:54 p.m. local time).
MORE: Date, time, TV channels for every NASCAR Cup Series race in 2023
NASCAR at Chicago starting lineup 2023
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 3 | Shane Van Gisberger | 91 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 4 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 5 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 6 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 7 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 8 | Jenson Button | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 9 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 10 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 11 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 12 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 13 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 14 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 15 | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing |
| 16 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 17 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 19 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 20 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
| 21 | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 22 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 23 | Noah Gragson | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 24 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 25 | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 26 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 27 | Josh Bilicki | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
| 28 | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 29 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 30 | Andy Lally | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 31 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske |
| 32 | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 33 | Ty Dillon | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 34 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing |
| 35 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 36 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 37 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing |
