NASCAR: 3 upcoming races fans should circle on their calendars

NASCAR events to circle: No. 2 – Grant Park 250

The Grant Park 250 will be unlike any race in NASCAR’s long history. The race is set to be run on the streets of Chicago, marking the first street race in Cup Series history.

Outside of the groundbreaking street course layout, the event marks NASCAR’s return to the Chicagoland area. This race is set to be the first event in the region since the 2019 race at Chicagoland Speedway.

The 12-turn, 2.14-mile (3.444-kilometer) course near Grant Park has actually been used in the past in iRacing, with the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series running an event at the track in 2021.

This event sparked rumors about the potential for such an event happening in real life, and those rumors came true last summer with the official announcement of the race.

As for the overall racing product that the event will see, many unknowns remain. Some have been concerned that the overall layout won’t allow for many passing zones, while others have stated the opposite.

But regardless of what the racing product looks like, it doesn’t change the uniqueness and spectacle that comes with such an event. It marks a new chapter in NASCAR’s history with the introduction of street courses, and if the race is a “success,” then there is a possibility that more could be added to the schedule.

In addition, there is a strong possibility of some new faces on the grid who generally aren’t seen on the NASCAR circuit.