The Chainsmokers, Keith Urban and others announced as NASCAR Chicago Street Race festival headliners

The rain played spoiler last year, but in 2024, the Chicago Street Race could be a massively successful event. Everyone LOVED the racing last year. Even those who were skeptics from Chicago were convinced otherwise.

Think about how much better the reception will be as Chicago takes in great music, great food, and fun. Then, sit back and take in American motorsports at its highest level on the streets of The Windy City.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race should be an experience

While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about why this year’s Chicago Street Race will be so good for NASCAR. For starters, there shouldn’t, for all that is good in this world, be eight inches of rain dumped on the city in a matter of hours.

So, if we even have a cloudy summer day in July, it will be better than the torrential downpour that everyone endured last year. If we’re being honest, the city of Chicago and NASCAR fans both deserve this weekend to go smoothly in 2024.

If we thought two shortened races without any fanfare or concerts or festival atmosphere were good, wait until we get two full races (shorter than last year’s scheduled events but still) and all of the extras.

NASCAR on the streets of Chicago delivered on a great presentation. Both in person and on TV, and the ratings backed that up.

If NASCAR is going to take the sport to new audiences and go to new places, then they should make it an event. Make it feel like a parade, a celebration. The racing is good enough, the cars are loud enough to get new fans hooked. That’s how you get a Chainsmokers fan who has never watched a race to turn into a long-term fan.