NASCAR Representative Bubba Wallace Reveals the Major Issue With Chicago Street Course

With the Chicago street race coming up next year, it won’t be the first time NASCAR would be racing in the streets of Chicago. Previously, iRacing hosted a sim racing event based on the upcoming Chicago Street Course.

The race featured a lineup of real drivers from the likes of Bubba Wallace. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Denny Hamlin, and many more. The event was not without its blatant problems. We saw multiple accidents that would create a pileup since there was nowhere else to go on the track.

According to a tweet, Bubba Wallace mentioned, “The one thing that stood out from the iRacing thing is one car went off course and kind of blocked the track and they all piled in. So, we have to have an escape route. I’m sure that’s all being taken into consideration.“

NASCAR has recently confirmed the street race will be taking place on July 1-2, 2023. Singing a 3-year deal with the city, we’ll get to see the race in 2023, 2024, and 2025. But cutting out historic oval circuits to replace them with street races is something the fan base is not pleased with. Regardless, the street circuit is a go now and we can only wait and see if the racing is any good in a street venue such as Chicago.

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NASCAR provided a proposed map of how the circuit will pan out in real life.

Chicago Street Course proposed layout

Track Information:

• Turns: 12
• Length: 2.2-Miles
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Track Type: Street Course
• Dates: July 1-2, 2023

According to the NASCAR press release, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy said, “Monumental day in the history of our sport at NASCAR.” This is the first ever street race that also coincides with the sport’s 75th anniversary in 2023. The circuit will incorporate parts of Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Columbus Drive on its 12-turn 2.2-mile layout. It will also feature a start-finish line along South Columbus Drive against the backdrop of the famous Buckingham Fountain.

The course will include portions of Grant Park and even pass by the iconic Soldier Field. Which was home to the only other NASCAR Cup Series race in downtown Chicago held back in 1956.

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What are your thoughts regarding the introduction of a street race in NASCAR? Do you think racing will entertain? Let us know what you think in the comments below.