The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the streets of Chicago on Sunday for the second running of the Chicago Street Race. Last year’s event was the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race in the sport’s 75-year history.
Sunday’s second running of the race will once again take competitors through many of the city’s most renowned downtown landmarks.
Last year, Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen became the first driver in nearly 60 years to win in his first Cup start when he claimed the victory on the Chicago streets. Driving the No. 91 Chevrolet under the team’s PROJECT91 program, the three-time Supercars champion won the race in overtime.
Trackhouse drivers Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain should be two of the favorites this weekend as will Van Gisbergen, who is now a Trackhouse development driver and driving the No. 97 Wendy’s Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing on Sunday.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will join the Cup Series this weekend as part of a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival with global music headliners Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, The Black Keys, Lauren Alaina and a special House Music 40th Anniversary Showcase.
- Busch Light Peach: At this weekend’s Chicago Street Race, Ross Chastain will carry the Busch Light Peach paint scheme on the No. 1 car to celebrate the return of the brand’s limited-edition flavored lager, Busch Light Peach. The Busch Light Peach paint scheme is an ode to the brand’s commitment to flavor innovations and marks the nationwide release of Busch Light Peach, which is also available on draft in 21 states including Illinois! With a classic taste of cold, smooth Busch Light and a refreshing hint of peach flavor, Busch Light Peach is the perfect summer sip to be enjoyed out at the lake, camping in the great outdoors or at a NASCAR race!
- Busch Light Sweeps: Busch Light will be giving fans another chance to win this week with their #BreakForBusch #Sweepstakes. Follow @BuschBeer on X and tweet using the hashtag’s #BreakForBusch #Sweepstakes for the chance to win $500.
- Busch Light In-Car Camera: Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy watching Chastain take on the twists and turns of the Chicago street course on Sunday via the Busch Light Peach in-car camera.
- Chastain and NASCAR Foundation: On Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT, Chastain will attend the Gear Up for Good charity dinner at Steak 48, 615 N. Wabash Ave. Media interviews begin at 5:15 p.m. CT.
- Last Year at Chicago Street Race: Chastain hit the track for his first street race along with his Cup Series competitors for a rainy weekend in Chicago. Between wet conditions, a new course and a unique layout, Chastain is looking to improve on his 22nd-place result from last year. Then PROJECT91 driver Shane van Gisbergen and now fulltime teammate, went on to win the event. Chastain has spent time with SVG learning how to maneuver the unique course for this year’s race. “He’s just such a great guy and he’s got little tidbits here and there. It’s intentionally placing the car where he wanted to place it, and I was trying to place it kind of between the walls and he was placing it at the wall, maximizing left and right. It’s easy to say it, but really hard to do it.”
- Season Stats: Chastain has earned seven top-10s in 19 races so far this season along with 163 laps led. He’s currently 11th in driver points.
- NASCAR: Full Speed: Catch Chastain in the five-episode docuseries NASCAR: Full Speed on Netflix. The series documented portions of Chastain’s 2023 season on and off the track. All five episodes are currently available on Netflix.
- Last Weekend at Nashville: Chastain looked to repeat a visit to victory at the Tennessee track Sunday. After a red flag for rain, Chastain worked his way forward through the field and led 45 laps in the final stage. In the closing few laps he slipped back to second but was still chasing down the leader. A caution with just a couple of laps to go came out and set the field up for a restart. Chastain restarted second but shortly after the green flag, Kyle Larson bumped into Chastain sending his car spinning into the wall and ended his day. He was relegated to a 33rd-place finish.
- 2023 Season Recap: Chastain won at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in June and at the Phoenix Raceway season finale in November. He posted 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in his third full time Cup season. The Alva, Florida native finished ninth in points.
Chastain Quotes:
Is there anything you, Daniel or the organization can take from SVG’s Chicago win that will transfer over?
“Well, he’s a machine when it comes to preparation. I would say he’s kind of leading the charge for us in the simulator and getting it how he thinks it will be. But, the streets up there will have changed and we’re all honest with each other that the simulator is a tool. At least I’ll have that to go off of though. Last year, I’ll be honest, that I didn’t put enough stock in his simulator prep but this year I definitely have.”
Do you think SVG will has as much of an advantage in on a dry street course and now that you all have one race there under your belt?
“He is an animal when it comes to road courses and we’ve seen that with his two Xfinity wins already this season. He’s that good.”
What are you most looking forward to at Chicago?
“Getting another crack at it as SVG would say. Definitely not the result I wanted last year. Didn’t feel comfortable, didn’t make a lot of speed, couldn’t pass and really struggled. It was a concrete canyon feeling and the walls were really close to the left and right of the racing line. Looking forward to getting another shot and seeing if I can do better.”
Having notes and data now, how does that change going into Chicago this time?
“Its definitely more than last year (laughs). I just have no idea what it would be like but the street could’ve totally changed with regular traffic out there and what’s getting dropped on it, gouges, new paint here and there. I know NASCAR will try to and make it the most similar but still, it’s another level of unknown.”
Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 will honor Officer Chase Lee Maddox at second annual Street Race
Continuing its commitment to honoring the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes, Jockey International Inc. (Jockey) is again partnering with Trackhouse Racing and Folds of Honor in a powerful display of remembrance on the race track. As the stars of NASCAR navigate the streets of Chicago on Sunday Daniel Suárez’s No. 99 Chevrolet will serve as a heartfelt homage to the family of a fallen Georgia police officer over Independence Day weekend.
Chase Lee Maddox proudly served the community of Locust Grove, Georgia, about 35 miles southeast of Atlanta, for over five years. Maddox graduated from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in May 2013 and was the first officer hired by the Locust Grove Police Department straight from the academy. Before joining the Locust Grove Police Department, Maddox completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and continued his service for six years in the Army Reserve.
On February 9, 2018, Officer Maddox was dispatched as backup on a call for a failure to appear in court warrant. Upon arriving at the home, Officer Maddox and two deputies encountered gunfire. Maddox was shot three times and passed away en route to the hospital. Chase Lee Maddox was only 26 years old.
Four days after Maddox passed away, his son Bodie was born.
Maddox and his wife, Alex, welcomed their first child, Bradin, in June 2010. Bradin was born with a rare congenital brain abnormality and sadly passed away on October 11, 2020, at just 12 years old.
Alex says she and Bodie honor Chase and Bradin in living by the mantra that Chase taught them, “The good will always outweigh the bad.”
The collaboration between Jockey, Trackhouse and Folds of Honor exemplifies a shared commitment to honor the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes and to support their families in tangible and meaningful ways. The trio partnered earlier this year during the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte to celebrate the life of Marine Master Sgt. Aaron C. Torian, who passed away serving his country on February 14, 2014, in Afghanistan.
“We are profoundly honored to work with Folds of Honor and Trackhouse Racing to utilize our collective voices to commemorate the lives of those who serve our nation with unwavering dedication, like Officer Chase Maddox,” said Tom Hutchison, VP of Marketing at Jockey. “Together, we aim to advance Folds of Honor’s mission of providing educational support to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members and first responders, creating pathways for their success and brighter future.”
Folds of Honor, founded in 2007, has been instrumental in providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled service members and first responders. With a mission to honor their sacrifice by educating their legacy, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships, ensuring that the children and spouses left behind have the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams.
“We are once again grateful to Jockey International, Inc. and Trackhouse Racing for honoring America’s heroes and providing their families with a life-changing education,” said Lt Col Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Both organizations clearly understand the importance of an education, and are doing something about it. While helping to provide necessary funds is vital, remembering those who have sacrificed so much is equally important to the families.”
Suárez Notes
- Double Duty at Chicago: Suárez returns to the Xfinity Series this weekend for his second start of the season in the No. 92 Chevrolet for DGM Racing. The 2016 Xfinity Series champion made his lone start this season at Daytona.
- Suárez is Now a Dual Citizen of Mexico and the United States: Suárez took the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony on June 18 in front of media, friends, the NASCAR industry and NASCAR President Steve Phelps who gave the keynote address to the 48 new citizens from 28 countries who joined Suárez at the ceremony. The 32-year-old, Monterrey, Mexico native came to America about 13 years ago without speaking English. He passed the United States Citizenship test on April 29 in Charlotte before taking the final step on June 18. He is now a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States.
- Atlanta Victory: At Atlanta, he and runner-up Ryan Blaney were separated by 0.003 seconds at the finish line. It was the fourth-closest finish in series history, and with third-place Kyle Busch just 0.007 seconds behind the winner, it also stands as the closest finish among three cars in the history of auto racing.
- Trackhouse Victories: Atlanta marked Trackhouse Racing’s seventh win in the NASCAR Cup Series, and first at Atlanta. Chastain owns four victories, Suárez two and one for Shane van Gisbergen.
- Mexico Series Victory: Suárez won the 150-lap Mexico Series race at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Feb. 3. It was his 11th victory.
- First Mexican to Win in Cup: Suárez became the first driver from Mexico (Monterrey) to win in the NASCAR Cup Series on June 12, 2022, at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.
- International Driver: He is one of six drivers not from the United States to win a NASCAR Cup Series race: Shane van Gisbergen (New Zealand), Marcos Ambrose (Australia), Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia), Earl Ross (Canada) and Mario Andretti (Italy). Ambrose, Montoya, and Suárez own two victories each.
- Cup Career Highlights: Suárez owns two victories (Sonoma 2022 and Atlanta 2024) and three Busch Light Pole Awards – Pocono (Pa.) Raceway July 2018, Kentucky Speedway July 2019, and on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway August 2023.
Suárez Quotes:
What are your thoughts on Sunday’s race in Chicago?
“I am very optimistic. We were good there last year. It was frustrating because we had a really good car and I thought we were going to be there at the end, but we ended up having too many issues. We had a good car all weekend and I think everyone knew we were there. I know we are good enough to win this race on Sunday.”
What is the key to winning?
“You have to survive. Stay out of trouble. You do that by qualifying well, making good pit stops, good strategy and having a little bit of luck.”
How important is Chicago to NASCAR?
“I think Chicago is very important. We need as many new markets as possible. We came up here two weeks ago for a Daniel’s Amigos and I was pleased with how enthusiastic everyone was about the upcoming race. The Amigo’s program is about bringing new fans to the sport and going new places is one of the best ways to do that.”
What are your thoughts on running a Jockey paint scheme honoring a fallen Georgia police officer?
“Jockey and Folds of Honor have come up with a great paint scheme to honor Chase Lee Maddox who lost his life in the line of duty. I’m honored to meet his family this weekend and thank them for his service in the military and as a police officer.”
Trackhouse Racing PR
