PHOTOS: NASCAR Chicago Day 1
Attendees watch as NASCAR driver Kyle Weatherman takes the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR made history on Saturday in Chicago, with the first-ever street race on the iconic stock car racing circuit.
While the NASCAR Xfinity Series Loop 121 on Saturday was ultimately postponed (to Sunday morning at 10 a.m.) on lap 26 of 55 because of lightning in the area, fans still got the chance to take in world-class racing in Grant Park.
From racing to concerts by the JC Brooks Band and the Black Crowes (a late-evening show by The Chainsmokers was cancelled due to weather) to food and more, Chicago and NASCAR made quite a pair on this steamy summer day.
Here’s a look at some of the day’s highlights:
Fans walk out during a delay outside the main entrance during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans walk out during a delay outside the main entrance during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Justin Allgaier drives by during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Sammy Smith 18 and Packer Kligerman 48 drive by during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans hold up their phones to record cars racing by near Michigan and Harrison St during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
A spectator walks by with an umbrella as it starts to rain outside the main entrance during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Attendees watch as pit crew members work on the car for NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek after practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Attendees watch as NASCAR drivers take the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR drivers take the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR tires sit stacked in the garage area during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Cole Custer (00) leads John Nemechek (20) during ‘The Loop 121’ NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Chicago, Saturday.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
NASCAR drivers take the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR Xfinity Series holds ‘The Loop 121’ race in Chicago, Saturday.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
NASCAR driver Josh Berry takes the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Daniel Hemric (11) drives in the NASCAR Xfinity Series ‘The Loop 121’ race in Chicago.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
NASCAR driver Anthony Alfredo takes the course during practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR driver John Hunter Nemechek adjusts his gloves before taking the course for practice before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Grandstands line Congress Plaza Dr. for the NASCAR Xfinity Series of ‘The Loop 121’ race.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
NASCAR pit crew members work on race cars before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
NASCAR pit crew members work on race cars before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Cole Custer (00) leads John Nemechek (20) during ‘The Loop 121’ race Saturday.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
NASCAR fans flock to Grant Park before The Loop 121 race at the Chicago Street Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Cole Custer (00) wins the first stage of ‘The Loop 121’ race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun Times
Members of the Next Level Dance Troop from the West Roseland neighborhood dance while bucket drummers play on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Fans of the Huck’s #1 NASCAR race team ride in a pedi-cab while carrying the detach bumper of the Huck’s car, which was lost during the qualifying round of The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
People walk out of Butter Field following the postponement of The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Dark clouds move over downtown at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Fans wait to cross a pedestrian bridge over E. Balbo Dr. after a delay at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
NASCAR race cars drive east on E. Balbo Dr. at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Spectators watch as NASCAR race cars drive by at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Ryan Ellis drives south on Columbus Dr. at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Cole Custer drive south by pit row and the Paddack Club on Columbus Dr. at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Cole Custer drive south by pit row and the Paddack Club on Columbus Dr. at The Loop 121 NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
The Black Crowes play a set at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Nico Bereciartua, left, and Sven Pipien play during the NASCAR Chicago Street Race festival on Saturday.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Cars race down Michigan Ave during NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Bobby Hamilton Jr. drives south on Columbus Dr. During qualifiers at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
NASCAR racer Daniel Hermic crosses the fish line during qualifiers at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
People line up to take pictures at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
People take pictures with a Jordan brand Toyota at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
NASCAR’s first street race in downtown, on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Mustafa Hussain/For the Sun-Times
Spectators line up against a railing to watch NASCAR Chicago Street Race qualifiers on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
NASCAR racer Bubba Wallace in pit row at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Artist Blake Lenoir wears a mask while painting at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
Pit row at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Chicago.
Owen Ziliak/Sun-Times
A young child rides by on a scooter near Michigan and Harrison St during the Xfinity Series Nascar The Loop 121 Race, Saturday, July 1, 2023.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times