NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Can Master the Windy City’s Winding Street Circuit?
What might be the most unpredictable race of the NASCAR calendar returns for its second year. Following last year’s water-logged inaugural event that saw a generational upset win, the Chicago Street Course returns for round two. Following the new and unknown of 2023, who can stand tall among the skyscrapers in 2024? Here are some drivers to watch out for in Sunday’s Grant Park 165.
Shane van Gisbergen
12 months ago, Shane van Gisbergen pulled off an unthinkable feat not seen in 60 years. The New Zealander won in his NASCAR Cup Series debut, stunning everyone at Chicago. The three-time SuperCars champion has added two Xfinity Series victories in the time since Chicago, and will be chasing both checkered flags this weekend.
“Chicago is a special place for me and I am excited to get back there,” van Gisbergen said. “The event last year was so impressive, and it was the first-ever street race for NASCAR plus my first time racing in the series. I’m looking forward to seeing what my Wendy’s Saucy Nuggs Chevrolet can accomplish this weekend. It’s not going to be easy; it’s going to be a challenge but it’s going to be fun and hopefully better weather! Thankful for everyone at Trackhouse Racing, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet and Wendy’s for making this all possible.”
SVG comes back defending his maiden stock car win listed as a co-favorite. Max track time this weekend between Xfinity and Cup Series action will only make him better for Sunday. Lightning could easily strike twice in Grant Park. The revered circuit racer hopes to stay perfect in Chi-Town.
Kyle Larson
Can one of NASCAR’s best road course talents conquer Chicago? Kyle Larson was fourth in last year’s maiden street course run, and has five past road course victories. The most recent of these was the last road race at Sonoma in June. Larson is excited to possibly better his top-five run from last year and go toe to toe again with SVG.
“I thought we had a good race there last year, but we need to improve in some areas to battle for the win,” Larson said. “Shane (van Gisbergen) was super fast, so we need to make some gains. The fans in the Midwest are incredible and they braved the elements to support Cup Series racing there last year. It was a cool event — one that we all hope is better this year with better weather.”
Many see Chase Elliott as NASCAR’s road course king. An argument could be made that Larson’s taken this crown though. The No. 5 has won four road courses since Elliott’s last triumph, including two of the last three at both Watkins Glen and Sonoma. Larson is also competing in Saturday’s Xfinity race, ideally getting more comfortable for Cup. Larson should quickly adapt between both races and be in contention for Sunday’s closing laps.
Tyler Reddick
Another driver who can never be counted out at any road course is Tyler Reddick. A year ago, the 23XI Racing driver started second and led the first eight laps in Chicago. Hoping for similar pace but a better result in year two, Reddick chases his fourth Cup victory on a road course. Reddick said teams aren’t flying in nearly as blind this year, and expects a very tight, competitive race.
“The transition of a track on a street course, just understanding how it’s just going to continue to pick up grip all weekend long, getting faster, those sort of things that knowledge is beneficial to have,” Reddick said. “But we’ve raced it once in real life and obviously you have the ability to sim it to death (now). So I expect everyone to be a lot closer together speed-wise when we go back.”
While Reddick hasn’t closed out a road course in victory lane in over a year, he has shown great pace this season. The No. 45 was fifth at COTA and a career-best eighth in Sonoma. Rain or dry conditions on Sunday, Reddick’s road racing prowess may end up with another Toyota banner win.
Michael McDowell
One of very few drivers with a street racing background, Michael McDowell eyes a Playoff-upsetting win. The Chicago streets were very kind to team 34 last year, with McDowell starting sixth and finishing seventh. It will likely take a win this weekend however to seal McDowell’s fate as a postseason contender. The former open wheel star goes to the Windy City with his head held high.
“I think we can be as confident as possible going into the weekend,” McDowell said. “The Street Course is a really fun track, definitely a challenge. We need to be smart and execute, but I think we can have a good weekend. Also, I’m excited to have the Chicago White Sox on the car, especially with family ties to the Chicago area. So it will be a fun weekend for us and the fans for sure.”
McDowell is currently in win-at-all-costs mode for a Playoff berth, as shown with his restart bonsai move at Loudon. Following three top-10s in a five race stretch, the No. 34 has been outside the top-10 the last three weeks. Chicago is a prime opportunity for Front Row Motorsports to send their most decorated driver out a winner.
Christopher Bell
Had Chicago not been shortened by darkness last year, Christopher Bell was en route to a very dominant win. At one point the No. 20 Toyota paced the field by nine seconds, being fast in the wet and dry. Opting to pit short of their fuel window however doomed their strategy once the race was abbreviated. The winner of another recent rain race at Loudon, Bell is aiming high once again on this tricky track.
“Last year going into the Chicago Street Race, we had a really good practice and I was looking forward to a dry race,” Bell said. “And then the wet, and when we started the race, we just took off and were really good. The track is very, very technical, very high risk and high reward. You have to push the car hard and be right on the edge. I’m looking forward to going back this weekend to see what we can do this year and it’s always an honor to race the Craftsman Racing for a Miracle scheme, hopefully we can get them a win.”
Chicago was one of a few regular season races that escaped Bell’s grasp a season ago. Arguably the fastest car in the series since May, the No. 20 may blow the competition away again as the top dog. Bell’s series-leading nine Stage wins could only be the start of a huge summer for team 20.
Chase Elliott
Even amidst his down 2023 season, Chase Elliott endured Chicago’s carnage for one of his best results. NASCAR’s active winningest road course driver was within eyesight of another checkered flag, finishing third. Reflecting back on the trials and tribulations from the inaugural event, Elliott had high praise for NASCAR and the entire Chicago Street Course team.
“I have nothing but good things to say about that event as a whole,” Elliott said. “I thought they did a really good job with it last year. I thought the track was laid out really well. The logistics and everything flowed. It took a little time to learn (the course). I spent some time on iRacing, just trying to learn the turns, just because nobody had ever seen it before, so it took me a little time to memorize it. Usually when you get out on track in real life it comes pretty quick, and I was a little nervous about that going in. But it really came pretty fast and once you kind of get in the rhythm, things flow well.”
Elliott said after last year’s run that he couldn’t ever quite figure out how to maximize time under braking. A full race’s distance should only increase Elliott’s comfortability and speed around the street course. Elliott is shockingly still winless on road courses in the Next Gen car, this trend could change on Sunday.
The second running of the Grant Park 165 goes green Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. A guaranteed Playoff berth hangs in the balance for several drivers around the cut line. The Chicago Street Course remains very daunting and treacherous; one missed corner could end a driver’s day. It will be fun to see how this year’s race compares to 2023, and if anyone new can rise up for the victory.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images
