IMSA to Race on Streets of Chicago in 2023

Image: NASCAR

An IMSA-sanctioned series will join the NASCAR Cup Series on the streets of Chicago next year.

Announced on Tuesday, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend on July 1-2, 2023 will bring race cars to downtown Chicago in a 12-turn, 2.2-mile temporary road course.

The proposed layout (pictured above) will run on major roads including Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and select surrounding thoroughfares, under the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park.

“This is the ideal setting for the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing development and strategy.

“The NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen cars and the IMSA machines will race along the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, marking a truly historic moment for our sport.

“We are very appreciative of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her team, along with the entire city of Chicago for working with us to make this concept a reality.”

The yet-to-be-named IMSA event will take place on Sat. July 1, with the series to be announced at a later date.

Sportscar365 understands it will likely be confirmed at next month’s IMSA ‘State of the Sport’ address at Road America, where schedules for the majority of the series are released.

The early July weekend has traditionally seen the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge in action at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. However, the status and/or date of next year’s CTMP event has yet to be confirmed.

Outside of the WeatherTech Championship and Pilot Challenge, all of IMSA’s other sanctioned series typically run two races per weekend.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John