
via Getty
Credits: Getty Images

via Getty
Credits: Getty Images
When NASCAR announced the Chicago Street Race, it was considered a big deal, literally and figuratively, which it must’ve been and it was. The sport has been doing all it can to broaden its wings and tap into markets and areas it’s never been to before.
So overall, it was a win-win for a sport that wants to have a bigger audience, racing in a city that’s known as a sports-loving community of different kinds of people.
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However, in a recent interview, Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins suggested that NASCAR and Chicago City’s deal was perhaps a mismatch.
“It’s embarrassing. … They got fleeced, absolutely. The NASCAR people probably went and lit a big cigar and laughed after they signed the contract,” he said according to journalist Adam Stern.
Chicago alderman Brian Hopkins would've supported a NASCAR race but wanted the city to get a better deal: "It's embarrassing. … They got fleeced, absolutely. The NASCAR people probably went and lit a big cigar and laughed after they signed the contract." https://t.co/NfKOvwzZTU
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 12, 2022
Naturally, this led to reactions from the fans, some of whom made a point of agreement with Hopkins, while some didn’t necessarily share his views on the subject of a stock car race on the streets of Chicago.
NASCAR fleeced them and they should be the ones ashamed for letting it be. The deal to make it better for the city should've been ground rule #1 but instead they just let the sport get their way and ended up missing out on staking a good claim.
— Theel (@Theel48) August 12, 2022
Why? NASCAR literally got an amazing deal.
— grant (@glman99) August 12, 2022
They aren't wrong! The deal is unbelievable for NASCAR
— Sean Dunham (@SeannyDMode12) August 12, 2022
If he thinks I’m going to feel bad for the city of Chicago not making money, he really doesn’t get how much people don’t like the city of Chicago as an institution.
— Zax (@ZaxCal) August 12, 2022
Street races rarely work out for the city they are staged in outside of f1. For every Long Beach, there’s countless others that go kaput. Sounds like Chicago is already having buyers remorse
— Neal Lawson (@Imfoolsgold) August 12, 2022
As a lifelong resident of the Chicago area, NASCAR spent more than what published reports indicate. Plenty of rather thick brown envelopes were handed out to help the process along
— gel29 (@MostlyGlory) August 12, 2022
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NASCAR feels there’s no better place than Chicago to stage the street-course race
In a press release after the announcement of the event, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development and strategy, Ben Kennedy described how there’s perhaps no better place than Chicago to experience stock car racing on the streets.
“Really excited about announcing that for the first time with our national series that we’ll be bringing it to a street course, and what better place to do it than downtown Chicago, such an iconic city,” he said.

USA Today via Reuters
Aug 7, 2022; Brooklyn, Michigan, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) and driver Christopher Bell (20) lead the pack at the beginning of the race at Michigan International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Kennedy mentioned the history of sports, the iconic monuments and facilities around Chicago, and the support that they’ve had around Chicago, which when mixed with the great racing that has been on display in the Next Gen era, will result in “a very special moment” next summer.
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