New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen wins the Inaugural Chicago Street Race in his first NASCAR Cup Series debut.
CHICAGO – July 2, 2023 – Anthony Holbrook
NASCAR Cup Series race teams’ storm to Downtown Chicago, Illinois for the Inaugural running of the Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race, debuting the first Street Race appearance in the 75-year history of the Nascar.
Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, the Loop 121, eventually postponed to Sunday morning after running 25 laps as tenacious weather blanketing the Chi-Town – Street Course vicinity.
With Sunday showers interrupting the rescheduled Xfinity race to proceed, Nascar had no option under circumstances to call the race and awarded Cole Custer the Xfinity Inaugural win at the Windy City.
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race – Recap:
Stage 1
JGR / 2311 Driver/ Owner Denny Hamlin brought the field to green with team member Tyler Reddick at shotgun. The young gun duels the seasoned veteran completing the pass in Turn 4 turning over the lead to Tyler Reddick.
Tire barrier wall /structure issue will slow down both Denny Hamlin in Lap 2 and Kyle Bush one lap later. The composite body on the new Gen car display resilience as both drivers were able to continue racing.
A braking error going into Turn 6 allows Christopher Bell to profit gaining the top spot from Reddick in just 9 circuits of the race.
Noah Gragson will join the musketeers crashing into the Turn 6 Tire barrier wall / structure, inviting a final Stage 1 Caution.
Christopher Bell wins the inaugural Cup Stage honors at the Chicago Street Race.
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race – Results:
Stage 1
1. Christopher Bell
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Shane Van Gisbergen
4. Martin Truex Jr
5. Michael McDowell
6. Daniel Suarez
7. Kyle Larson
8. AJ Allmendinger
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Jenson Button
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race – Recap:
Stage 2
A reenactment of the previous Stage, spotlights road course ringer Chase Elliott and Noah Gragson tangling with the Tire Barrier Wall on lap 25 and 29, respectfully.
New Zealand native, Shane Van Gisbergen marks his first Nascar Cup Series competition race and is focused make History as he sits second behind race leader C. Bell. An Alex Bowman’ spin out will cease any advancement for the New Zealander as the Caution waved as laps dwindle down in Stage 2.
When it rains it pours as Alex Bowman is snakebit once more as his engine retires inviting the final Stage Caution.
Christopher Bell collects Stage 2 win under Caution at the “Second City”.
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race- Results:
Stage 2
1. Christopher Bell
2. Kyle Larson
3. Tyler Reddick
4. Shane Van Gisbergen
5. Michael McDowell
6. Ty Gibbs
7. Daniel Suarez
8. Martin Truex Jr
9. AJ Allmendinger
10. Chase Briscoe
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race – Recap:
Final Stage
Stage 2 Winner C.Bell hits the pits inviting the greater of the field along with him for service and stay on the same pit cycle. Austin Dillion and previous Daytona winner Justin Haley gamble to stay out while other opt for pit service for track position.
William Byron introduces his Hendrick’ Chevy to the Tire Barrier Wall in which presents a domino collision with Corey LaJoie and retiring Cup Champ Kevin Harvick enticing the Yellow Flag.
Austin Dillion quest for the lead would be obstructed after nailing the inside barrier wall, counting 18 laps remain. Justin Haley secures the lead as competitors advance.
Patiently progressing forward, Shane Van Gisbergen utilizing fresh slicks assisting his charge to the front.
Shane Van Gisbergen dives inside Justin Haley in Turn 2 for lead, Haley retaliates and sharpshoots to regain back his lead. Optimizing his tire tread wear, Shane van Gisbergen Haley recaptures the lead in Turn 3.
Bubba Wallace’s brake issues, excels Wallace’s Camry into Turn 1 barrier wall catapulting his Toyota into the door of 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The Completion and Inaugural Winner of the Inaugural Cup event will be sent into overtime.
Shane van Gisbergen wards off approaching danger as Justin Haley diminishes in SVG rear view mirror.
Shane van Gisbergen wins the Inaugural Chicago Street Race.
No stranger to competition Van Gisbergen won his first Supercars championship in 2016 accumulating two additional titles the last two years.
The 34-year-old New Zealand native Shane van Gisbergen unites with Marcos Ambrose, Mario Andretti, Earl Ross, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Daniel Suarez as the sixth Foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race. Remarkable accomplishment for SVG for this embarks his first competitive race in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race – Results
Final Stage
Pos | Driver
1. Shane Van Gisbergen
2. Justin Haley
3. Chase Elliott
4. Kyle Larson
5. Kyle Busch
6. Austin Cindric
7. Michael McDowell
8. Joey Logano
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Chris Buescher
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Aric Almirola
13. William Byron
14. Corey LaJoie
15. Ryan Preece
16. Erik Jones
17. AJ Allmendinger
18. Christopher Bell
19. Todd Gilliland
20. Chase Briscoe
21. Jenson Button
22. Ross Chastain
23. Josh Bilicki
24. Brad Keselowski
25. Noah Gragson
26. Andy Lally
27. Daniel Suarez
28. Tyler Reddick
29. Kevin Harvick
30. Harrison Burton
31. Bubba Wallace
32. Martin Truex Jr
33. Ryan Blaney
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
35. Ty Dillon
36. Austin Dillon
37. Alex Bowman
NASCAR Cup Series
Playoff Points Standings
(After Grant Park 200
Chicago Street Race)
Pos | Driver | Wins | Playoff Points
1. Martin Truex Jr – 591 | 2 Wins | 11PP
2. William Byron – 582 | 3 Wins | 17PP
3. Ross Chastain – 573 | 1 Win | 10PP
4. Christopher Bell – 570 | 1 Win | 7PP
5. Kyle Busch – 560 | 3 Wins | 17PP
6. Denny Hamlin – 538 | 1 Win | 9PP
7. Kevin Harvick – 523 | 1PP
8. Kyle Larson – 521 | 2 Wins | 12PP
9. Ryan Blaney – 506 | 1 Win | 7PP
10. Joey Logano – 491 | 1 Win | 7PP
11. Chris Buescher – 476 | 1PP
12. Tyler Reddick – 463 | 1 Win | 8PP
13. Brad Keselowski – 463 | 1PP
14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 418 | 1 Win | 5PP
15. Bubba Wallace – 387
16. Ty Gibbs – 378
17. Daniel Suarez – 372
18. Michael McDowell – 268
19. AJ Allmendinger – 354
20. Alex Bowman – 352 | -5PP
21. Justin Haley – 333
22. Austin Cindric – 333 | 1PP
23. Corey LaJoie – 331
24. Chase Elliott – 323 | 1PP
25. Ryan Preece – 312 | 1PP
26. Todd Gilliland – 299
27. Aric Almirola – 297 | 1PP
28. Austin Dillon – 248 | -5PP
29. Harrison Burton – 242
30. Erik Jones – 241 | -5PP
31. Chase Briscoe – 207 | -25PP
32. Noah Gragson – 166
33. Ty Dillon – 153
34. BJ McLeod – 88
35. Cody Ware – 65
36. Shane Van Gisbergen – 55
NASCAR Cup Series locates to Hotlanta for the annual running of the Quaker State 400 hosted by the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
July 9, 2023, 7:00 pm ( USA / MRN / SiriusXM – NASCAR 90)