Jenson Button has a good view of Chicago as he starts eighth for Sunday’s Grant Park 220. (Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
CHICAGO – If there is a race that epitomizes the innovation and forward thinking that NASCAR has long wanted to embrace for its 75th anniversary, Sunday’s Grant Park 220 is its crowning example.
The 2.2-mile, 12-turn mile street course is the first of its kind for the NASCAR Cup Series. Moreover, it represents a great opportunity for stock cars to race in major metropolitans in the U.S. and world.
Despite lightning reshuffling the final moments of the NASCAR XFINITY Series race to Sunday morning, the buzz is genuine and interest is very much vivid. From Grant Park to the surrounding locales typically occupied by passerby and cars on weekdays, for this weekend, it is a stock car venue for all to enjoy.
Precision is key and a balance between aggression and patience may be the difference between a good Sunday afternoon or a race to forget. Likewise, for any driver competing in Sunday’s 100-lap race, it is an honor and memory to possess for eternity much like the 1994 Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
With 37 drivers and teams vying for the inaugural Cup race win, there is no telling with how this event will turn out for the competitors. Will it be a true exhibition of stock car talents racing at 110%? Or will it be something of a Sunday afternoon commute experience?
Time will tell, but based on the looks of things, the usual favorites may have to contend against the occasional cup of coffee drinkers like Jenson Button and Shane van Gisbergen. Likewise, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson and AJ Allmendinger will have their say in Race No. 18 of the 2023 Cup season.
Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.
This weekend, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Stephen Conley and yours truly ruminate over the potential success stories emerging from the Chicago Street Course, those who can challenge the quick Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas and formidable contenders for Sunday’s Grant Park 220!
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Question 1
Kyle Busch knows what it is like to win an inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race. (Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Over the years, NASCAR has broadened its horizons with the Busch Light Clash in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and this weekend’s Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course. How special will this first ever street course race be for NASCAR and the industry?
Sisoler : I think it’ll be pretty special. The qualifying session already had an air of something special in it on Saturday afternoon, and it’ll definitely be a spectacle. NASCAR has been aiming for the spectacle these past few years (Clash at LA Coliseum, All-Star Race at reborn North Wilkesboro are a couple examples) and the show of these big, heavy V8 race cars on the streets of Chicago are definitely a spectacle that they’re shooting for. As long as there are no unforeseen issues, this will be something that proves that NASCAR can run on a street course, even if they don’t end up back in Chicago.
Tiongson : This seems like it could be as big as the 1994 Brickyard 400 in terms of NASCAR Cup Series competition being elsewhere. Sure, we didn’t have the high stakes of drivers being bumped out of the field. But think of it. Stock cars racing in a major U.S. metropolitan. It is absolutely fascinating and something I never imagined seeing in my lifetime.
If Chicago is deemed as a successful venture for NASCAR as a whole, this could be a way to bring it to other cities around the U.S. and possibly internationally. As a journalist, it is an honor to cover this event and I know the rest of The Podium Finish team feels the same way too. Above all else, as long as the race is good and everyone is safe and sound from what will be a difficult track to conquer, the stories will take care of themselves.
Question 2
Denny Hamlin has been one of the fastest Toyotas in the past month. (Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Toyota has been on the rise in the past two months with Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin tallying victories. Who can respond to the bell especially with the Toyota camp picking up momentum and pace?
Lambeth : Toyota certainly seems to be figuring things out lately, but I still think Chevrolet has an edge over the competition. While it’s been a competitive season across the board, Chevy is in a really good spot as we get deeper into this summer stretch. Hendrick Motorsports is leading the charge as Richard Childress Racing and Trackhouse Racing have been able to make some noise in Victory Lane this year. In the meantime, Ford still has a little catching up to do, with only two wins in 2023 from Joey Logano (Atlanta) and Ryan Blaney (Charlotte).
Torres : If we look at races coming up in the instant future, I look at Trackhouse Racing. Momentum is paramount in NASCAR and following Ross Chastain’s win at Nashville, I can see them step up their game and put on clean efforts which has been their weakness.
Hendrick Motorsports should also be a team to keep an eye on, but I see them saving their best stuff during the playoffs. Otherwise, I don’t see anyone else being on par with Toyota.
Sharpe : The answer might not be with the big name teams, but the smaller ones. Let us not forget that Toyota is also associated with 23XI, another team to not be toyed with. Both of its drivers, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallce Jr., have also been quite strong this season.
If any teams were to size up with the Toyota manufacturer as a whole, my eyes have locked into three. Two work with Chevy while one is paired up with Ford.
The two teams with Chevy would be Trackhouse and RCR. Ross Chastain has improved a great deal since last season and clearly is not to be messed with. Over at RCR is Kyle Busch, prior member of JGR. He has the wisdom, experience, and Championships to aid with this endeavor.
Over in Ford we have RFK, with veteran Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher. Both have improved stat-wise since last year and Chris has been able to ride up front for several races.
The smaller teams seem to have the advantage overall this year and should not be overlooked.
Conley : I’m not sure if special is the right word for this race. It will certainly be unique. As the first of anything, there’s always a lot of eyes on it, so, in that aspect, there’s some specialness to it. But, this race has not been advertised or marketed as much of a race as it has an event.
We already have fans upset because the concert was canceled. Some of the drivers seem to be a little surprised by how well the track layout is and how well it races. As far as special, I don’t think will know that until after the race is run. There are certainly a lot of eyes on it, and opinions will be drawn by a majority of race fans after it is run. I know, for me, I am curious.
With two laps around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course more like driving around “The Windy City” with our fast stock car, let us catch our breath for a moment! Before we consider more about the Grant Park 220, let us rewind to last Sunday evening’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, Race 17 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, reflecting on our race and points reports!
A trio of panelists left Nashville as winners.
Still, it is a very close points race.
Next, let us consider the top 10 starters for Sunday’s Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course!
Row 1 – Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick
(Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Row 2 – Shane van Gisbergen and Christopher Bell
(Photo: Kevin Bowman and Trish McCormack | The Podium Finish)
Row 3 – Daniel Suárez and Michael McDowell
(Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Row 4 – Kyle Larson and Jenson Button
(Photo: Maddie Skidan and Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Row 5 – Joey Logano and AJ Allmendinger
(Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
As always with the final portion of the preview, here are our picks for Sunday’s Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Street Course!
This is a quartet of legitimate contenders. (Photo: Kevin Bowman | The Podium Finish)
Lambeth : Entering the Chicago Street Course coming off a pair of top 10s at Sonoma and Nashville, I think AJ Allmendinger being one of the most experienced street-course racers will give him a slight advantage over the competition and put Kaulig Racing in Windy City Victory Lane!
Tiongson : I’m going in a different direction. AJ Allmendinger will be a factor but if anyone can challenge him, Kyle Larson has the makings if he can keep clean and gain positions. I look for Larson and the No. 5 team to make a good case to win their third race of the 2023 season.
Torres : It hasn’t happened since 1963 with three-time Indy 500 champion Johnny Rutherford, but that’s gonna change. By change, I do mean a driver winning in their NASCAR Cup Series debut and I’m looking at Shane van Gisbergen making a huge splash in Chi-Town.
SVG is a natural in Supercars and what I’ve seen thus far, I do see him really impressing folks. Something I’ve not seen out of a Cup driver in YEARS, maybe ever. It’ll take some circumstances, but unlike many left and right circuits, I genuinely feel a road specialist will deliver and pull off the unthinkable Sunday.
Sisoler : I may come to regret this, but I just can’t say no to this opportunity. The time-time and current defending V8 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has been very impressive in his first time driving these NextGens for Trackhouse Racing.
He is one of a few drivers that have proper green flag racing laps on street courses, so he knows how to deal with this type of close quarters dogfight racing. Starting from the 3rd position, which is already a fantastic accomplishment given his lack of time in these cars, I think he has a chance to put the Project 91 team, if not in victory lane, then in a great spot when the checkered flag falls at the end of Sunday’s race.
Conley : Shane van Gisbergen has had the pace in practice and qualifying, he understands this style of racing, and he’s got guts. While he did not get to make a qualifying lap until three minutes to go, he has one of the fastest cars.
Sharpe : Tyler Reddick is a pro at driving on road courses. He’s spent more hours on the Sim for this race than his other Toyota teammates/associates. I think his work will pay off and he will bring a well deserved victory to his team.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of operations!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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