NASCAR returned to the streets of Chicago for the second time yesterday, Sunday, July 7th at the Grant Park 165.
The race was to be a 75-lap race around a 2.2-mile track that featured 12 turns on the famous streets of Chicago’s Grant Park. However, due to heavy rain that put the race under red flag for one hour and forty-three minutes, the race was rescheduled for 20:20 local time. When the leader crosses the start-finish line after that time, the next flag will be the white flag followed by the checkered flag. There would be no overtime. This was necessary because there were no running lights on the street in Chicago after dark.
Last year’s inaugural Chicago Street Race winner Shane Van Gisbergen was one of the drivers favored to win this year’s race. Kyle Larson was the other favorite to fight for the win. Shane was the winner of the first leg of the race. However, he crashed and was forced out of the race on lap 25. Kyle Larson locked up his tires on lap 34, slid under the tire barrier and hit the wall in a spin to end his day.
That left the race open to strategy and other drivers to have a chance to win. Some drivers opted to install racing covers as the track dried out. Some drivers chose to wear new wet weather tires. Some drivers chose to stay on track with wet weather tyres, forcing them to take positions on the track.
Alex Bowman was the one who decided to stick with the wet weather tires he fitted. He was able to pull ahead and take the lead on lap 51. Alex was able to maintain the race lead for the final eight laps of the race due to the time limit. The win snapped Alex Bowman’s 80-race win streak. It was his first win of the 2024 season and his 8th career win in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Tyler Reddick charged in the final lap of the race to win. However, a small mistake caused him to slide into the wall and slowed his pace so much that he had to settle for second place. Ty Gibbs was able to take third place. See complete race results for the Grant Park 165 Chicago Street Race here.
Kyle Larson still managed to stay in the lead in points. In second place is Chase Elliott. Tyler Reddick moves up to third. See the full NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
Next on the schedule is a trip to the Rogue Triangle. The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VisitPA.com at Pocono Raceway is Sunday, July 14th.
Author: Buck Stevens
