For the second time, NASCAR heads to the "Second City."
In 2023, drivers started their engines on the streets of Chicago. As is the case with best-laid plans, the 2023 Grant Park 220 had a bit of a monkey wrench thrown into it: Mother Nature got involved, with the start of the race delayed due to rain, and darkness led to the shortening of the race to 75 laps.
In his NASCAR Cup Series debut, Shane van Gisbergen took home the checkered flag, holding off Justin Haley and Chase Elliot en route to his first podium and his first win. "SVG" became the first driver in modern NASCAR history to win his debut.
This year, van Gisbergen will have an opportunity to defend his win, as he starts fifth on the grid, behind pole sitter and 2024 points leader Kyle Larson.
USA TODAY Sports will be covering highlights, updates and more from today's the Grant Part 165 below.
What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago start?
The Grant Park 165 starts at4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. local)on the streets of downtown Chicago.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago on?
NBC is broadcasting the Grant Park 165 and will have a pre-race show at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. local).
NASCAR Chicago live stream
The Grant Park 165 can be live streamed on Peaco*ck, theNBCSports websiteand the NBC Sports app. The race is also available to stream onFubo.
Engines fired for NASCAR street race in Chicago
Former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte gave drivers the command to start engines for the Grant Park 165. The two-time NFL Pro Bowler played eight seasons in Chicago and two with the New York Jets before retiring in 2017.
Nine cars forced to rear of field for NASCAR Chicago street race
Reigning series champion Ryan Blaney is among nine drivers that will drop to the rear of the field before the green flag waves for the Grant Park 165 in Chicago. Eight of the nine needed to make repairs to their cars following Saturday's on track-session, which NASCAR considers unapproved adjustments.
Aside from Blaney, the other drivers who made repairs are Chris Buescher, Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski, Corey LaJoie, Harrison Burton, William Byron and Erik Jones. Josh Bilicki's car failed pre-race inspection three times, invalidating the team’s qualifying time while also resulting in a pass-through penalty down pit road at the beginning of the race.
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
The Grant Park 165 is 75 laps around the 2.2-mile street course for a total of 165 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) − Stage 1: 20laps;Stage 2: 25laps;Stage 3: 30 laps.
NASCAR Chicago starting lineup
Kyle Larson is in pole position as drivers gear up for Sunday's race. Here's the lineup:
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 Ford
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 Chevrolet
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Ford
- Justin Haley, No. 51 Ford
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Ford
- Ryan Preece, No. 41 Ford
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Chevrolet
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
- Austin Hill, No. 33 Chevrolet
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 4 Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 13 Chevrolet
- Joey Hand, No. 60 Ford
- Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Ford (did not attempt qualifying lap)
- Kaz Grala, No. 15 Ford
NASCAR Chicago weather update: Forecast for Grant Park 165
The forecast in Chicago Sunday for the Grant Park 165 is mostly favorable, though a chance of thunderstorms nonetheless looms.
The National Weather Service is projecting a 30% chance of precipitation at 3 p.m. local time, half an hour before the start of the race, with the chance of rain peaking at 4 p.m., at 31%. The NWS is also forecasting the chance of thunderstorms at that time between 30% and 50%.
As a band of storm clouds rolls through the area, traveling east, the chance for rain and thunder will gradually decrease as the afternoon wears on, with the chance of rain falling to 21% by 6 p.m.
Per the NWS, the temperature is expected to hover around the mid-to-low 80s, with a projection of 86 degrees at 3 p.m. Wind gusts of up to 17 miles per hour are expected throughout the afternoon.
What is the layout for the street course for NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
Drivers will cruise down iconic streets like Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive and past famous landmarks like Buckingham Fountain during the Grant Park 165. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile circuit will start on Columbus Avenue and wind through the downtown streets before it hits the start/finish line in front of Grant Park.
Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup race at Chicago?
Shane van Gisbergen won his NASCAR Cup Series debut, chasing down Justin Haley and Chase Elliott on July 2, 2023, in a memorable finish to the series’ first street race. The New Zealand native and three-time Supercars champion led the final eight laps and pulled away from Haley by 1.259 seconds to become the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
How many drivers have won NASCAR Cup races in the 2024 season?
Seven races remain in the regular season, including Sunday’s race in Chicago, before the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin on Sept. 11. A regular-season win virtually locks up a playoff berth, but the possibility still remains that there could be more race winners than available playoff spots since 11 drivers have a least won victory this season.
2024 winners (points in parentheses): Kyle Larson 3 (664); Denny Hamlin 3 (621); Christopher Bell 3 (576); William Byron 3 (570); Chase Elliott 1 (644); Tyler Reddick 1 (611); Ryan Blaney 1 (560); Brad Keselowski 1 (531); Joey Logano 1 (470); Daniel Suarez 1 (383); Austin Cindric 1 (367).
