NASCAR Chicago Street Race weather leaves mixed feelings in second year

NASCAR's second Chicago Street Race yesterday was again dampened by rain, but the spectacle also “showed up again in 2024 as a pretty cool thing," according to according to Steve Greenberg of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. A year ago, the conceit in much of the local media coverage of the first Chicago Street Race weekend was that it “was so new and different from the types of sporting events we were used to, we barely knew what the hell we were looking at and, thus, really couldn’t get the stories wrong as long as we were there trying.” Despite the “out-and-out messiness” of that inaugural race, it was NBC’s most-watched Cup Series competition in six years. Now in Year 2, though fans "got soaked again," at least they "made a little more sense of things.” Saturday’s Xfinity race and all the scheduled concerts got in under “stellar weather conditions," a "taste of how such a weekend might unfold under ideal circumstances.” But things got wet again at the onset of yesterday’s race, and “eventually the skies really opened up -- less so than last year, mind you, but enough to gum up the works with a prolonged delay.” Greenberg: “Here’s to drier luck next time. ... Here's to an end of viewing NASCAR as being of a different world and of viewing a stock-car race in Chicago as some sort of a sports mutant" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/7).

FAN EXPERIENCE: In Chicago, Sheridan & Morrow noted amid the rainy conditions, hordes of people left the Grant Park grounds "early despite the high ticket price." Many in the "soaked crowd" headed for the exit during the race's longest delay, not wanting to stick around in the "gloomy, wet conditions."  Race attendee Jose Fernando, who was among those who left early, said, “I’m not trying to experience that from last year. Hopefully it turns out better next year. I really had high hopes for this.” Race attendee Andrew Salbego, who stayed to see the finish, said, “It was good. It’s just kind of a shame that it’s been two years of rainouts. It’d be really nice to see what they can do without the rain" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/7). In Chicago, Kaitlin Washburn wrote for some fans, rain during a NASCAR race is "nothing new." Race attendee Janie McDaniel, who also attended last year's race, "loves that the city has a chance to shine during NASCAR.” McDaniel said, “This really is the best of both worlds. And there’s no other NASCAR race that’s like this. ... We will come back every year it’s here" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/7).

PARTY TIME: In Chicago, Kyle Williams noted 23XI driver Bubba Wallace held his Bubba's Block Party event in Douglass Park for the second consecutive year. Wallace said, “It’s nice to be able to look out into the crowd and see a lot of different faces than what I see at a NASCAR race." Williams noted the free event was a national initiative launched by Wallace and NASCAR -- the community-focused event "intends to bring awareness and accessibility of NASCAR to minorities." Events such as Bubba’s Block Party "put actions behind his words." Wallace: “It’s still not as diverse as we’d like to see, but we’re making efforts.” Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese said that through the food, music and activities, NASCAR is “not only showcasing its sport to Chicago but also bringing the community together.” Giese: “Being able to engage with people throughout the city, the name that always comes up is Bubba Wallace. Bubba is such a tremendous ambassador for our sport, and doing events like this is spectacular. We’re so grateful that he does that. He loves them.” Williams noted for NASCAR to "stir up excitement among minority viewers, ingraining itself in the community is a solid start" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/6).