A new challenge awaits the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend. What can drivers expect on the streets of Chicago?
NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will be battling on a street circuit for the first time ever this weekend. Over the last several years the NASCAR schedule has evolved to include markets and tracks other than the usual locations. The Chicago street race is the epitome of that evolution. Not only will drivers be racing on a street circuit, but the track is also located in the heart of the city.
NASCAR has made a big push to introduce the sport to new fans and bringing the race directly to a major city has proven to work. In the first two years of The Clash at The Coliseum, a large portion of the crowd was attending their first NASCAR event. With plenty of concerts and events surrounding the race, NASCAR expects the same this weekend. The race may become wild but the weekend as a whole is a great achievement for NASCAR.
The Track
Nobody is quite sure what to expect when the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars hit the streets of Chicago. The track layout consists of city avenues turned into straightaways and plenty of 90-degree turns. The biggest concern leading up to this weekend has been how narrow the track is at certain points. Drivers are concerned about the track becoming blocked if as much as one car is turned sideways. The Chicago street circuit was built to provide entertainment which may also result in lots of wrecked race cars.
Prediction
The Loop 121 is easily the most unpredictable race on the NASCAR Xfinity Series calendar. Will the race turn into a slugfest similar to Portland or will it be strung out and single-file like Sonoma? NASCAR’s first race on a street circuit raises many questions and very few answers. A driver in the field with experience on similar tracks is Sheldon Creed. Creed is a two-time champion in the Stadium Super Trucks Series which also races on street circuits during IndyCar weekends. The experience of handling a high-power and top-heavy vehicle around a tight track like Chicago could be a benefit. I’m picking Sheldon Creed to use his aggression and experience and win The Loop 121.
How To Watch – The Loop 121 (All times EST)
- Practice: Saturday, July 1, 11 a.m. on USA
- Qualifying: Saturday, July 1, 12 p.m. on USA
- The Loop 121: Saturday July, 1, 5 p.m. on USA
