When NASCAR announced two years ago that they would be running their first ever street course race in Chicago, NASCAR and Chicago were excited about the event. NASCAR fans…not so much.
Despite rain delays and a shortened race due to darkness, the fans came out in droves and were hanging from trees, fences, and light posts to get a glimpse of the action.
In the end, a new comers from New Zealand took home the checkered flag in three time Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen.
While some NASCAR fans still are not conviced of the success of the Chicago Street Race, the Sports Business Awards are.
On May 22, at their annual event in New York City, the Chicago Street Race was named the Event of the Year!
The two day racing and entertainment event had over 80 percent of the ticket holders attending the races despite the rain, brought NBC the most watched Cup Series race in six years, and had an economic impact of nearly $110 million for Chicago.
The race is set to return to the street of Chicago during the Fourth of July weekend.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps spoke on the receiving the award saying, “we’re incredibly proud of the first-ever Chicago Street Race, and we’re honored to have Sports Business Journal recognize it as the ‘Event of The Year’. Following the leadership of Ben Kennedy, Julie Giese and many others, the entire NASCAR industry and the city of Chicago banded together to pull off something truly extraordinary that has opened up an entirely new world of possibility for this sport moving forward. We can’t wait to get back to Chicago for the second running this July.”
In what became more than “just a race”, the event was also a showcase of Chicago with a trophy designed to represent Chicago. NASCAR partnered with a number of organizations throughout the city and established an office in Chicago with some 20 employees.
This year Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, The Black Keys, Lauren Alaina, and a 40th Anniversary House Music celebration will provide the entertainment while the drivers in the Xfinity and Cup Series will race along Lake Michigan and the streets of Chicago on July 6 & 7.
NASCAR beat out the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the NHL Stadium Series, Super Bowl LVIII, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and the World Baseball Classic for the award.
NASCAR was also recognized as a finalist for League of the Year and Deal of the Year.