After the 2023 Experiment, Chicago Street Course Gets Special Privilege as Schedule Updated for 2024

NASCAR’s 75th anniversary involved several adventures on and off the track. One of them included the introduction of the first-ever street race contested in the NASCAR Cup Series. While the race on the Chicago Street Course turned out to be an interesting affair, it recently got a special privilege for the 2024 season.

The race in Illinois became the most-watched Cup Series race on NBC in six years, with a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 4.795 million viewers. While poor weather hampered the race, it certainly showed promising signs for the future.

Chicago Street Course gets a massive boost as NASCAR updates the 2024 tentative schedule

Shane van Gisbergen made history in the Cup Series’ first-ever street race. He became the first driver of the modern era to register a victory on his NASCAR debut as he took the checkered flag. While it gets interesting to see what will happen next year, NASCAR has made it more exciting. As reported by Fox journalist Bob Pockrass, the governing body has updated its tentative schedule for 2024. This sees extended practice time at the Chicago Street Course. In addition to that, Cup Series practice & qualifying will take place after the Xfinity Series race on the Saturday of that particular weekend.

Given how the race was cut short to 75 laps from 100 due to unfavorable weather conditions, drivers struggled to get a clear idea of the track. This move from NASCAR certainly helps their cause and most importantly, entices the fans for plenty of drama in the Grant Park 220.

WATCH THIS STORY: How Shane Van Gisbergen’s Chicago Victory Became an Embarrassing Nightmare for Cup Drivers?

It is no secret that it took some time for the drivers to get used to the untraditional course. At times, plenty of drivers took the lead, but only to give it away on the tight 90-degree turn. However, it was a race that gathered a lot of unexpected responses. Interestingly, NASCAR President Steve Phelps thought the same, but it came at a cost.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps remains hopeful of a promising future for street courses

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There is no doubt how many believed trying out a street course in the NASCAR Cup Series would backfire. While that was the notion, the Chicago Street Course silenced quite a few critics. The sport’s president, Steve Phelps, believes the Chicago race yielded several benefits despite a heavy commercial loss.

As reported by SpeedSport, Phelps said, “Having a calculated risk like having the Chicago Street Race is a risk that I felt we should take. We lost a ton of money on that race, but that was the best money we spent.” He added, “It was the second highest-rated race we had all year.”

It was then that he stressed how the local fans made a difference. Phelps said, “People were interested in tuning in to see what was going to happen, particularly the casual fans. Our hardcore fans are going to tune in anyway. They are the best fans in the world, but the casual fans that drive those numbers.”

While he sees a big positive there, Phelps mentioned there is room for improvement and certainly a scope for street courses in NASCAR. He said, “I’m not suggesting that we are going to have five street races. I do foresee in the future that we are going to have one street race, maybe two?”

READ MORE – Where Did the Chicago Street Course Succeed in NASCAR, Compared to the Growing Pains of the Las Vegas Street Circuit?

Indeed, Phelps gave a positive impression of how things could pan out soon. It all depends on how the race at Chicago Street Course turns out next year. Hopefully, we get to see the entire 100 laps without any weather interference.