The NASCAR Cup Series‘ July schedule kicked off Sunday with a race unlike anything we’ve seen thus far this season, as Shane van Gisbergen won the highly anticipated Grant Park 220 in the streets of Chicago.
The Chicago Street Course is a 2.14-mile asphalt street circuit through major city roads like Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, taking them along Lake Michigan and around the city’s iconic Grant Park.
It was a 220-mile race over 100 laps and is the first street race in NASCAR history, and we’ve got you covered with all the action from start to finish!
You can find a full list of winners so far this year, as well as the season’s remaining schedule here.
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Here are the top moments.
Here we go!
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields served as the grand marshal for Sunday’s race. He gave the command for drivers to start their engines after the start of the race was delayed by a historic amount of rain that flooded the downtown area.
Green!
Denny Hamlin won the pole for the inaugural street race. “It’s a lot of fun when you can have days like today,” said Hamlin, who claimed the 39th pole of his career in Saturday’s qualifier.
Running behind Hamlin to start was Tyler Reddick, followed by three-time Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen in third, Christopher Bell fourth and Daniel Suárez fifth.
Seeing yellow
Kyle Busch lost control and went blasting through the tire barrier on Lap 3, bringing out the first caution of the race.
They’re battling!
It was neck and neck right out of the gate, as the field went straight to work finding a rhythm in Chicago.
Tire barrier strikes again
Noah Gragson lost control and crashed into the tire barrier on Lap 13, bringing out another caution.
He was later able to drive away.
Stage 1 in the books
Bell took the opening stage — his first stage victory of the season — after leading 12 of the first 20 laps.
Pit road spin
Jenson Button got spun around after getting bumped by Chris Buescher on pit road. Both drivers kept racing.
Put it in reverse – or try to
Hamlin bumped Alex Bowman, and the latter struggled to get back on track. Bowman’s day would ultimately end due to engine issues.
Stage 2 concludes
Bell won Stage 2 and led 34 of the first 45 laps.
Race shortened
Due to the combination of the start time being delayed, cloudy conditions and daylight running out, NASCAR announced that the drivers will run just 75 laps, instead of the scheduled 100 laps.
This lane closed – and this one, too
William Byron and then Kevin Harvick losing control and going into the wall led to multiple lanes of traffic being blocked off by two cars and 12 other cars having to stop on a dime and wait for the storm to clear.
Brutal blow
Justin Haley was out in front, but Austin Dillon was right on his tail before driving through the side of the tire barrier and having to drive off the course.
Movement at the front!
Van Gisbergen climbed up to second place behind Haley before Martin Truex Jr. went into the tire barrier on Lap 68. Chase Elliott was in third.
New leader!
Van Gisbergen passed Haley to take the lead on Lap 71.
NASCAR OT time!
Bubba Wallace slid and hit Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on Lap 74, triggering a caution and forcing NASCAR Overtime. Van Gisbergen was still in first, with Haley and Elliott behind him.
Van Gisbergen wins!
Van Gisbergen drove away from the field on the final lap, cruising his way to victory.
PRE-RACE
Setting the stage
Ahead of the action, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass broke down what and who to watch out for in Sunday’s race.
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