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[Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2025 Racing Annual magazine. Order your copy online today, or buy one at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
There were plenty of doubters when NASCAR announced it was going to race through the streets of Downtown Chicago, but the Chicago Street Race has been a hit. 2025 marks the third straight year Cup will race there on July 4th weekend.
The 2.14-mile street course around Grant Park was designed using iRacing. It may be much narrower than the typical NASCAR road course, but that seems to have only amplified the passing and action throughout its races. The length of this event has also been shortened both years, due to weather and darkness. With the 2025 event starting earlier (2:00 pm EST) Chicago should finally be able to go the distance (we hope).
The first race at Chicago was marred by heavy rain, and that played right into the hands of Shane van Gisbergen, who was one of the few in the field accustomed to racing a street course in wet conditions thanks to his Australian Supercars background. SVG came from 18th to first in the final run to win in his Cup debut.
SVG had the pace to defend his win in 2024 but was involved in a wreck just 24 laps in. Instead, Alex Bowman used strategy to get to the front, and he stayed there, winning for the first time since going through two different injuries in 2022 and ’23.
Three drivers have finished in the top 10 in both Chicago races thus far: Michael McDowell, Ty Gibbs, and Kyle Busch. Each one also has o ne top 5, so they’re all fast and consistent at this course. Christopher Bell may have been the best car in both Chicago races, posting a track-high 51 laps led, but bad luck has produced finishes of 18th and 37th.
Chicago Street Race track info
Site: Chicago, Illinois
Laps: 2.14-mile, 12-turn street course
2025 Dates: July 6
Distance: 165 miles
2024 winner
Alex Bowman
Scouting report
Really, when you break down the Grant Park Street Circuit, it’s two Martinsville Speedways bolted together with some right-hand turns thrown in for good measure; it’s a short track that requires the same discipline as the Virginia half-mile. Shane Van Gisbergen called Martinsville his favorite oval and it’s easy to see why when you draw the comparison. And while the racing is generally technical and close-quartered, the neatest thing about the experience is walking out of the track on foot and having no shortage of dining options available without having to get in a car.
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Erik Jones takes issue with Kyle Larson shoving him in closing laps at Daytona: ‘It was just too much’
Erik Jones wants to speak to Kyle Larson after being sent sideways by him during the final laps at Daytona on Saturday night. While speaking with Toby Christie of Sports Illustrated, Jones was asked if the shoves by Larson were fair. “I don’t know. I got to ask Kyle,” Erik Jones said. “The run before, you can see the seven (Justin Haley) and I working really well together and pushing to the lead. Even the 22 (Joey Logano), the 17 (Chris Buescher), all of us were working really well together and pushing the lead when we could and taking the runs for what they were. “The five (Larson) there got behind us and was just super aggressive, just kind of bulldogging through us. He kept getting me a little more and a little more out of shape, and it was just too much at one time. Fortunately, we didn’t wreck but I gotta ask him. I dont know what his thought was. It wasn’t really helping us go forward, it was kind of slowing us down before I got to far out of shpae. I just got to see what his thought was.” It was a challenging regular season for Erik Jones Jones bounced back and finished fifth at Daytona, but it’s possible he could have won the race and clinched a playoff spot had Kyle Larson not have shoved him during the final laps. Ultimately, Ryan Blaney rallied from 13th place to win at Daytona, and Jones will have to wait another year to reach the postseason. The regular season was a challenging one for Jones as he earned just four top-10 finishes. The last time the 29-year-old has won a race was in 2022 when he placed fifth in the Southern 500. Earlier this season, Jones was disqualified from the Martinsville race after his No. 43 car failed a post-race inspection. At the end of the 2024 season, Jones signed a contract extension with Legacy Motor Club. “Erik is one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR, I’ve had the chance to race against him and have had a chance to watch him drive for other teams and the Club,”Leagcy co-owner and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson said at the time. “I admire his talent and am glad we will have him race for us for the upcoming years. Erik will be a key to helping us turn our program around and we look forward to giving him the tools he needs to go out on Sundays and race for wins and eventually a championship someday.”
Jets coaches try to calm situation in wake of Justin Fields' comments
According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, New York Jets starting quarterback Justin Fields did not throw a pass that traveled 10 yards in the air during his two preseason appearances. Some have voiced concerns about the Jets' passing attack with Fields in the lineup, but he insisted while speaking with reporters on Tuesday that he's "fine with taking eight-yard completions every play." On Wednesday, Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand addressed Fields' comment. "He's going to play the play the way the defense allows him to play it," Engstrand said about Fields, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "So if they're going to allow him to take a shot down the field, he's going to take it. If they don't allow him, he's going to check the ball down, and we'll move on to the next play. We're all good with that." Fields completed just one of five passes for four yards in the Jets' 31-12 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday. According to Fox Sports, he connected on four of nine pass attempts for 46 yards across his first two preseason appearances of the summer. Despite such lackluster numbers, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn suggested on Tuesday that he is ignoring "the noise that happens on the outside" regarding the team's passing offense. On Wednesday, Jets passing game coordinator Scott Turner praised Fields for knowing when to take a checkdown and when to challenge an opposing defense. "I think you've seen a lot of quarterbacks in this league, Josh Allen pops into mind, who really cut down his turnovers last year and won MVP by not always trying to make the big huge play, but make the right play. Justin has done a nice job with that," Turner said. ESPN stats show that Fields averaged 6.9 yards per pass attempt over six starts and 10 appearances with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Per Pro Football Reference, 22 qualified quarterbacks had a better yards per pass attempt average for the 2024 campaign. Dan Graziano of ESPN noted Wednesday that the $10M guaranteed that the Jets owe Fields for 2026 "won't prevent them from" looking for an upgrade at the position next year if he doesn't make "a major leap as a passer." It's still early into this experiment, but there's no sign that such a leap is coming anytime soon.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur Makes ‘Bittersweet Admission After NFL Preseason Win Against Seahawks
Browns HC, Shedeur Sanders clear air on controversial benching during two-minute drill
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to be frustrated with Kevin Stefanski when the head coach took him out for the final offensive drive of Saturday's preseason game. The Browns made a curious decision to put in Tyler Huntley to lead the offense in the final two minutes of their final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Huntley, who has almost no chance of making the 53-man roster, engineered a six-play, 46-yard drive that ended in a game-winning field goal to give the Browns a 19-17 win. Following the game, Stefanski was asked about why Sanders approached him before Huntley went in. Stefanski claimed the rookie quarterback was just being a competitor, and there was nothing more to it than that, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Sanders told reporters he didn't know the Browns were benching him for the two-minute drill. "I didn't know I was out, Sanders said via video from ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. "I was on a bike that was powering up... I was powering up for that two-minute drive. Because that's just a situation every quarterback dreams for... I thought I was in. So then (Stefanski) told me I wasn't in. I was like, 'Ok.'" Sanders left the game after leading the offense to five straight punts. He struggled in his second preseason appearance, going 3-of-6 passing for 14 yards. The fifth-round pick took six sacks for -50 yards. Sanders didn't want to leave on that low note. The Browns shouldn't have let him. Stefanski should have given Sanders the chance to run the two-minute offense and gain valuable experience instead of giving reps to a player who won't be on the roster by Tuesday afternoon.
Commanders veteran blows final audition with future on the line
The Washington Commanders' final preseason engagement against the Baltimore Ravens represented the last chance for players looking to make a big impression before their respective fates are determined. Some thrived under the pressure, but others wilted. And for one veteran whose future was firmly on the line, their status looks all but sealed after another dismal outing. Things looked promising for Chris Moore earlier in the offseason. The wide receiver caught the eye over early workouts, displaying the reliability and contested catch prowess that managed to stand out in a crowded room. Unfortunately for the player, things have taken a downward turn since. Chris Moore blew another shot to impress in Commanders' preseason finale Moore couldn't keep up his initial consistency at training camp. Things got even worse in the preseason, which began with two crucial drops in Washington's opening warmup outing versus the New England Patriots. With several starters and rotational pieces sitting out at Northwest Stadium, this was Moore's chance to silence his doubters and prove worthy of an extended stay. And his final audition arrived when quarterback Sam Hartman delivered a deep ball down the sideline that fell within his catch radius. The former fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati, who began his NFL journey with the Ravens, needed to make this catch. Much to the dismay of fans, the wideout fluffed his lines. Moore dropped the target when it was makeable. He did bring in one reception for five receiving yards after that, but the damage had been done. And any slim hope he had of making the 53-man roster evaporated in the blink of an eye. Competition for places in Washington's receiver group is fierce. While Hartman and Josh Johnson didn't do their pass-catchers many favors, Moore's problems were self-inflicted. It's hard to envisage how he makes the team now, and even sticking around on the practice squad might be a stretch if others also come through waivers. It'll be an anxious wait for Moore. However, the experienced pro has been around long enough to know what comes next. And when his inevitable fate is sealed, he cannot have many complaints. The Commanders gave him chances to excel. Moore didn't take advantage of them emphatically enough, and this won't go unnoticed by general manager Adam Peters when he starts to trim the fat. Whether Moore comes back onto the practice squad or not is anyone's guess. But after a preseason to forget, even that is hanging in the balance now. More Commanders news and analysis
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