Sports

NASCAR Winner Shane Van Gisbergen Masters Chicago's streets

New Zealand born Shane van Gisbergen, three time Australian Supercars champion, speaks to the press after his historic win in the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race Sunday June 2, 2023. He reflects on how he handled the rain and the unusual race track created from Chicago streets. Lightening and flash flood warnings marked the two-day event and resulted in cancelled concerts and an abrupt ending of the Xfinity race on Saturday June 1st.

Bears QB Justin Fields Observes Race Car Driver Challenges

Among celebrities attending the NASCAR Chicago Street Races was a Justin Fields., who gained fame from his stellar performances as Chicago Bears‘ quarterback. He noted similarities between the sports of football and car racing, in that both sports require speed and strategy, but also observed that race car driving requires different kinds of skills.

NASCAR Street Race Drivers Speed Around The Curves

Navigating wet pavement, changes from asphalt to concrete and unusual twists and turns, drivers in the NASCAR Chicago Street Races held Sunday June 2, 2023 spun around the curves at high speeds with a roar from powerful engines, trying to avoid hitting walls. There were a few crashes during the race but no injuries to the drivers reported.

“Bubba’s Block Party” Featuring Bubba Wallace Brought NASCAR to The Neighborhood

Bubba Wallace, driving car #23 for McDonald’s, attracted new fans to the sport of auto racing with a big block party held at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center at 740 E. 56th Place on Wednesday June 28, 2023. Music and entertainment drew crowds of admirers and gave Chicagoans a chance to meet race car driver Bubba Wallace and learn more about the sport. Community leaders and black owned businesses joined with DuSable Black History Museum President and CEO Perri Irmer, Esq. to promote the two day NASCAR Chicago Street Racing Event held Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, 2023. The NASCAR Cup Series Race, held Sunday, called the "Grant Park 220" and the Xfinity Series Race, held Saturday, named the "Loop 121" were run along the specially sectioned off streets of downtown Chicago past some of the city's most notable landmarks. Drivers sped along Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive with the Start and Finish line along South Columbus Drive directly in front of Buckingham Fountain. The event, which attracted fans from around the world, once again promotes Chicago as a tourist city that benefits greatly from its summer festivals and special events. Bubba's Block Party was another effort to bring positive attention as well as a piece of the NASCAR Street Race revenue to the Chicago's South Side. Photo Credit -Crystal Wiley-Brown/via CAAAP

Speed is the Key to Winning, Both Behind the Wheel and in the Pit

As many fans who came out to BUbba's Block Party observed, the sport of auto racing also creates jobs and career opportunities, not just as race car drivers but as mechanics who work on cars. Each car has a crew prepared to quickly handle repairs during the race. When drivers experiece a crash or fee that the car is malfunctioning, they must exit the race track and enter the Pit, where a crew rapidly accesses and fixes the problem so the driver can return to the track. Members of the automotive crew for car #23 demonstrated the speed and skill with which they can change all four tires. Video Credit - Crystal Wiley-Brown/via CAAAP

GLOBAL MEDIA NETWORK