As engines roar back to life in Grant Park for the third annual NASCAR Chicago Street Race, the high-octane spectacle once again stirs debate beyond just racing circles. While the event is expected to draw tens of thousands to the downtown area and generate national TV viewership in the millions, questions persist about whether the race truly benefits the city and its residents—or simply inconveniences them.
With street closures, crowd control barriers, and intense noise lasting over several days, the Loop transforms into a temporary motorsport arena. To some, it’s a marketing masterstroke. To others, it’s a disruption that arrives at the height of Chicago’s tourist season. The third and final year of NASCAR’s current agreement with the city has arrived, and what happens next may depend on how both businesses and residents judge this year’s results.
Key Highlights
Last year’s race generated $128 million in local economic impact, up 17% from 2023.
Attendance rose to 53,000 unique visitors, aided by more flexible ticketing options.
Some Loop businesses thrive from the influx; others close due to inaccessible roads and lost delivery traffic.
NASCAR paid $2 million to offset city costs this year, compared to $620,000 in 2023.
This weekend could be the final Chicago Street Race under NASCAR’s current agreement with the city.
Racing Dollars: A Surge in Local Economic Impact
According to estimates, last year’s Chicago Street Race generated $128 million in economic activity—up 17% from its debut year in 2023. Attendance climbed as well, with 53,000 unique visitors reported in 2024, an increase from 47,405 the year prior. Analysts credit that bump to a more accessible single-day ticketing model and expanded festival-style offerings.
Ariella Gibson of the Chicago Loop Alliance said in a statement, “The race has been a highly successful addition to our city’s dynamic summer programming, and we anticipate millions of dollars in direct economic impact to the Loop.”
Major hospitality and event providers like Levy are capitalizing on the opportunity. This year, Levy is hosting over 20 local food vendors inside the Grant Park fan zone, featuring notable names like Mr. Beef, Cloud Cookie, and Bronzeville Winery. Meanwhile, NASCAR has added family-friendly attractions along Monroe Street, including live music and street performers in partnership with the Loop Alliance.
From a tourism and branding standpoint, few events in recent memory have put Chicago’s downtown on display quite like NASCAR. A prime-time broadcast through TNT and extensive media coverage worldwide offer massive exposure for the city. But that spotlight doesn’t shine evenly across all local businesses.
Winners and Losers: Local Businesses Split on NASCAR’s Presence
For some businesses, NASCAR weekend is a financial boon. Miller’s Pub, a long-standing restaurant on S. Wabash Ave., welcomes the traffic.
“We believe the inconveniences they may cause are more than worth it for the financial value and exposure they provide for the businesses and the city itself,” said co-owner Andrew Gallios.
Mindworks, a science exhibit near the course, shares a similar sentiment. Executive Director Amy Boonstra noted, “We are interested in bringing different audiences to Mindworks, and NASCAR engages new groups to explore the Loop.”
However, not all business owners are as enthusiastic. For Exile in Bookville, an independent bookstore in the historic Fine Arts Building on S. Michigan Ave., race weekend means closing shop altogether. “Navigating downtown with street closures presents too many challenges for both authors and customers alike,” co-owner Kristin Gilbert said.
The store will close again this year during the race weekend and avoid holding events for the surrounding two weeks. “It is very unfortunate that we have to close, as the Fourth of July weekend is a big tourist weekend for Chicago as a whole, and Exile in particular,” Gilbert added.
Next door, Osaka Sushi & Fresh Fruit Smoothies will also shut down for the third consecutive year. According to manager Barry Cheung, the closure is less a matter of choice and more a matter of logistics: with delivery drivers unable to access Michigan Avenue, business grinds to a halt.
City Costs and Course Construction: The Other Side of the Equation
Beyond business impacts, the financial math for the city has been under scrutiny since the event’s inception. In 2023, Chicago taxpayers shouldered an estimated $3.5 million in police overtime, road work, and security staffing, while NASCAR paid just $620,000 to the Park District.
Amid criticism, city officials negotiated a new arrangement ahead of the 2024 event. This time, NASCAR agreed to pay $2 million to offset city costs—a significantly improved, though still debated, deal.
The logistical challenges have also grown. Due to a heatwave buckling parts of the pavement near Grant Park, some street closures began ahead of schedule this year. For small businesses, every day counts, and early shutdowns amplify the economic strain.
A Crossroads Year: What Happens After 2025?
This weekend could mark the end of NASCAR’s current agreement with the city. While the three-year deal included options to renew, no official extension has been announced. For some, that decision can’t come soon enough.
Still, with rising attendance, expanded programming, and millions in economic impact, many in city leadership and the hospitality industry may push to keep the race on the calendar.
News in Brief: Chicago Street Race’s Economic Impact
The 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race is more than a motorsports spectacle—it’s a mirror reflecting the tension between tourism-driven spectacle and neighborhood sustainability. While the event has undeniably delivered media exposure and dollars to some, it has also placed stress on local infrastructure and business continuity.
With NASCAR’s contract with the city expiring after this race weekend, the finish line may also serve as a decision point. Will city officials and residents feel the payoff is worth the pit stops? Or will Chicago’s Loop reclaim its summer weekends, free of roaring engines and fenced streets?
As the checkered flag falls on Sunday, the race off the track—between economic opportunity and civic balance—might just be beginning.
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