02 July 2023 , 15:54
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NASCAR has arrived in Chicago for a street race on Sunday, the first time the sport has ever been competed on a street circuit.
The NASCAR Cup Series will take place on the Chicago Street Course for the Grand Park 220. The circuit has plenty of unique opportunities for drivers to showcase their skills, with practice and qualifying standing as important sessions.
The televised Cup Series event will see NASCAR drivers weave through the streets of the Windy City, with temporary fences and grandstands set up around Grant Park. Thousands of fans are expected to be in attendance while NASCAR estimates it could generate more than $3million (£2.36m) in tax revenue for the city.
The 12-turn, 2.2-mile course is the first street race in NASCAR history. Drivers will go for 100 laps over 220 miles in total and it will be intriguing to see how they tackle the new event.
Martin Truex Jr. (576 points) enters the event as the series points leader after finishing his last four races with a third place, a fifth place, a win and a second place finish. He has been in scintillating form recently and looks to continue his momentum this weekend.
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Bubba Wallace, the second Black driver to win in the Cup Series, will be well-supported by the Chicago fans as he drives the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, which is owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan. British former Formula 1 driver Jenson Button is set to make his stock-car debut this season in the No. 15 Ford Mustang.
Excitement for the inaugural Chicago Street Course was dampened by a tragic incident on Friday. As final preparations were being made, contractor Duane Tabinski died after accidentally touching electric wires.
NASCAR is set to stage the first street race in the series' history (Getty Images)The race is still set to go ahead - and here is how to watch NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race.
How to watch Grant Park 220
NBC Sports and Peacock will broadcast the race at 5pm ET. The post-race show will air exclusively on Peacock while Motor Racing Network coverage begins at 4:30pm ET.
TV Channel and Stream
After the Xfinity Series Race is broadcast on USA Network, the NASCAR Cup Series race will be shown on NBC 5. You can also stream action live on NBC.com and Peacock.
Chicago Street Race start time
The command to start engines for the Cup Series Grant Park 220 will be given at 4:50pm ET. The green flag is scheduled to wave at 5:05pm ET.
Full Sunday Lineup (all times ET)
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4pm: “Countdown to Green”: NASCAR Cup Series
4:30pm: Cup Series Grant Park 220
8pm: Cup Series Post-Race