Welcome to the wild streets of Chicago, where this vibrant city has always been at the forefront of pushing boundaries - the birthplace of the first skyscraper, the pioneer of the Ferris wheel. And now, brace yourselves, because history is about to be made once again.
NASCAR CUP Series GRANT PARK 220 stage - the inaugural street race for Chicago is about to ignite the asphalt of this iconic city.
- Name: NASCAR Chicago Street circuit
- Stage: GRANT PARK 220
- Series: NASCAR Cup Series / NASCAR Xfinity Series
- Length: 2.140 miles (3.444 km)
- Turns: 12
Here we are, right in the beating heart of Grant Park, where the action unfolds. It's time to dive headfirst into the madness of this exhilarating course.
Stand with us on the corner of Columbus and Balboa, where the asphalt twists and turns, revealing the essence of turns 1 and 6. Picture it vividly: the roaring engines, the pounding hearts, the full field hurtling down from the start-finish line, slamming on the brakes, executing a thunderous left turn.
Now, let's venture towards turn 2. Feel the adrenaline surge as the cars surge straight up Balboa Avenue, aiming for the glittering waters of Lake Michigan. And then, in a heartbeat, a hard right turn propels them toward the majestic museum campus.
Turn 3 approaches rapidly, demanding unwavering focus and unwavering nerve. The cars dive down into a sweeping curve, embracing the museum campus in their rearview mirrors, as they surge forward, chasing the thrill towards Roosevelt and the impending turn 4.
Look up and witness the strategic battlefield of the braking zone for turn 4, right here on the corner of Grant Park. This is where courage and precision collide in a symphony of screeching tires and determined ambition.
Turn 5 beckons, as the cars descend Roosevelt, gripping the asphalt with a powerful right-hand maneuver. They then set their sights on Columbus, forging ahead towards the ultimate challenge of turn 6 at Balboa.
The anticipation builds as turn 6 approaches. Cars ascend Columbus, hungry for victory, and then execute a daring left-hand turn onto Balbo, towards the bustling Michigan Avenue. It's a battle against time and physics, weaving through the veins of the city.
At turn 7, we descend from the slight elevation of the Balboa Bridge, hurtling towards the legendary Michigan Avenue. The engines roar in unison, propelling the competitors northward, defying the majestic Chicago skyline.
Turn 8 emerges as a captivating spectacle, where the track takes an intriguing twist at the Congress Plaza. This trifecta of turns, comprising 8, 9, and 10, demands finesse, precision, and nerves of steel. The cars charge down Michigan Avenue, executing a fierce right-hand maneuver, only to navigate through the Plaza en route to the ultimate challenge of turn 10.
A surge of energy accompanies the drivers as they descend Congress Plaza, embracing the rapid elevation change before diving back onto Michigan Avenue. A sharp right turn at Jackson marks the entrance to turn 11, where the warriors of speed demonstrate their mastery in the face of relentless forces.
Accelerating up Michigan Avenue, they make a resolute right-hand swing around Jackson, propelling themselves back towards the center of the park.
And now, we approach the grand finale: turn 12. The drivers surge up Jackson, a crescendo of power and determination, as they charge towards the ultimate goal - the start-finish line at Buckingham Fountain.
And just like that, we find ourselves back in the heart of Grant Park, the epicenter of this thrilling race. The start-finish line awaits, a gateway to glory and the embodiment of dreams realized.
That, my friends, is the Chicago Street course - a testament to the unyielding spirit of NASCAR, and an occasion that has our hearts pounding with excitement. We're ecstatic to witness NASCAR's first-ever street race in Chicago.
