Australian Supercars champion Will Brown is set to make his second appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series at the upcoming Grant Park 165 street race in Chicago. This marks a significant moment for Brown, who clinched the 2024 Supercars title.
Brown made his NASCAR debut earlier this month, competing at the Save Mart 350 in Sonoma, California. Unfortunately, he faced electrical issues during the race, causing him to drop from 24th to a disappointing 31st place.
In Chicago, he will be partnered with fellow Australian Shane van Gisbergen. Van Gisbergen made headlines by winning the inaugural Grant Park race last year and recently captured his second Cup Series victory at the first Mexican street race on June 15.
The Chicago event takes place in the South Loop and is significant as it is the final race under the city’s original three-year contract with NASCAR. There has been no announcement regarding a contract renewal, leaving the future of the race in uncertainty. However, event organizers remain optimistic and believe a deal could be reached soon.
During the recent Mexico City race, van Gisbergen demonstrated his skill by expertly navigating challenging wet conditions on a narrow track designed for Formula One. This race was particularly notable as it was NASCAR’s second event to overlap with the F1 calendar, following the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Early on, the race experienced crashes involving prominent drivers Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch.
In Mexico City, Alex Bowman also impressed by finishing in 4th place, which marked his best result of the season despite struggles following a serious accident in Michigan the previous week. His determination paid off, highlighting the resilience required in such demanding races.
As preparations for the Chicago street race unfold, street closures began on Thursday, June 19, with the closure of Columbus Drive to Lake Shore Drive near Columbia’s campus. Additional road closures are expected in the coming days as the event approaches.
Interestingly, the street closures for this year’s event will be shorter than in previous years. In fact, traffic and street closures have been reduced to 18 days for 2025, which is a full week less than 2023 and one day shorter than 2024. Overall, both the building and breakdown of the course have been condensed by two weeks.
While the course layout remains unchanged, modifications have been made to the park seating structures. Premium hospitality areas have been consolidated to the east side of Columbus Drive at Buckingham Fountain, allowing for a more organized spectator experience.
Local residents have mixed feelings about the street closures affecting their daily lives. Irene Lankin-Duffy, a resident of Lincoln Park, mentioned that last year’s NASCAR-related closures had made commuting difficult for a week, although she felt it was manageable due to compensation from her employer.
Conversely, Andy Patel from Schaumburg expressed concern about the disruptions caused by the race but remains hopeful that officials will find a way to manage access effectively.
Meanwhile, Ed Luczak from Humboldt Park noted that public transportation remains unaffected for him, as he relies on the bus system, which operates smoothly except for some minor interferences.
Ultimately, as the city prepares for the Grant Park race, the interplay between race festivities and the daily lives of residents continues to be a topic of discussion.
image source from：columbiachronicle
