Which Chicago course hosted NASCAR Cup's first street race in 2023?

The Chicago Street Course hosted NASCAR Cup Series’ first street race in 2023. The temporary circuit ran through Grant Park and surrounding downtown Chicago streets for the inaugural Grant Park 220.

The 2.140-mile layout used roads including Columbus Drive, Balbo Drive, Lake Shore Drive and Roosevelt Road. Its start-finish line sat on Columbus Drive near Buckingham Fountain, giving the event a distinctive urban setting rather than a permanent racetrack backdrop.

The course was initially developed as a concept on the iRacing platform before NASCAR brought the idea to real Chicago streets. Shane van Gisbergen won the 2023 Cup race, overcoming wet conditions in his NASCAR debut. Watkins Glen, Road America and Circuit of the Americas are road courses, but they are not street circuits and did not host the Cup Series’ first race of this type.