Race Overview
Track: Chicago Street Course (Grant Park, Chicago, IL)
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Start Time: 2:00 PM ET
Broadcast: TNT Sports, truTV, HBO Max
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 75 laps (165 miles)
Event Type: NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge Round 2
The Grant Park 165 marks the third annual NASCAR Chicago Street Race and serves as Round 2 of the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, a five-race midseason tournament with a $1 million prize on the line. The 2.2-mile, 12-turn temporary street circuit winds through Chicago’s iconic Grant Park, offering a unique blend of tight corners, elevation changes, and urban scenery.
Key Storylines Heading into Chicago
Shane van Gisbergen: The Street King Returns
Team: Trackhouse Racing
Why He’s Favored: Van Gisbergen won this race in his NASCAR debut in 2023 and dominated the Mexico City road course earlier this season. His Supercars background gives him a massive edge on street circuits.
Odds: +210 (favorite)
Christopher Bell: Fast but Snakebitten
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Why He’s Dangerous: Bell has led 51 laps across two Chicago starts and ranks top 3 in Speed Rating, Long Run Speed, and Restart Rating on road courses in 2025. Despite bad luck here in the past, he’s due for a breakthrough.
Last 4 Finishes: 16th or worse – needs a rebound
Alex Bowman: Defending Champion
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Why He’s a Threat: Won the 2024 Grant Park 165 and is heating up with two top-5 finishes in his last three starts.
Odds: +1900
Other Drivers to Watch
| Driver | Team | Why They Matter |
| Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Arguably the best road racer in the Next Gen era; 3 wins, 206 laps led on road courses since 2022 |
| Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Leads all drivers in points scored at Chicago; still seeking first Cup win |
| Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Top 10 in both Chicago races; 11 top 10s in last 19 road-course starts |
| Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Road-course ace with 7 career wins on twisty layouts; still winless in 2025 |
| AJ Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Road-course specialist; upset potential in In-Season Challenge bracket |
Track Breakdown: Chicago Street Course
Length: 2.2 miles
Turns: 12
Surface: Temporary street circuit
Notable Features:
Front straight along Lake Shore Drive
Tight hairpins and 90-degree corners
Bumpy braking zones and narrow passing lanes
This course rewards precision, braking control, and track position. Pit strategy and restart execution will be critical, especially with limited passing zones.
In-Season Challenge Update
Format: 32-driver bracket, now down to 16
Prize: $1 million
Notable Eliminations: Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe (wrecked at Atlanta)
Top Seeds Remaining: Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott
Dark Horses: Ty Dillon (32-seed), AJ Allmendinger (22-seed)
Fantasy Picks
Winner Prediction:
Shane van Gisbergen – unmatched street course skill and momentum from Mexico City
Top 5 Finishers:
Shane van Gisbergen
Christopher Bell
Tyler Reddick
Alex Bowman
Ty Gibbs
Fantasy Sleepers:
Michael McDowell
AJ Allmendinger
Chris Buescher
DRIVER ODDS
Shane Van Gisbergen + 185
Kyle Larson + 650
Christopher Bell + 750
William Byron + 1200
Tyler Reddick + 1200
Ty Gibbs + 1200
Chase Elliott + 1400
Will Brown + 1800
Michael McDowell + 2200
Chris Buescher + 2200
Alex Bowman + 2200
AJ Allmendinger + 2200
Ross Chastain + 2200
Chase Briscoe + 2500
Kyle Busch + 2800
Daniel Suarez + 2800
Ryan Blaney + 3500
Denny Hamlin + 4000
Carson Hocevar + 4000
Austin Cindric + 5000
Joey Logano + 9000
Justin Haley + 10000
Corey Heim + 10000
Brad Keselowski + 10000
Ryan Preece + 10000
John Hunter Nemechek + 13000
Cole Custer + 13000
Bubba Wallace + 13000
Austin Dillon + 13000
Zane Smith + 13000
Todd Gilliland + 13000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 17000
Erik Jones + 17000
Noah Gragson + 20000
Josh Berry + 20000
Austin Hill + 25000
Riley Herbst + 30000
Josh Bilicki + 40000
Ty Dillon + 40000
Katherine Legge + 50000
Cody Ware + 50000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, July 5, 2025
