Where is the NASCAR course in Chicago? A look at how the Grant Park 220 will work

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1970-01-01 08:00

Here is the layout of the first-ever NASCAR race taking place in Chicago around Grant Park this weekend for The Loop 121 and Grant Park 220.NASCAR, onstreets? This may be either the most innovative thing NASCAR has tried to do, or atotal disaster. Either way, you're going to want to see it ...

Here is the layout of the first-ever NASCAR race taking place in Chicago around Grant Park this weekend for The Loop 121 and Grant Park 220.

NASCAR, on streets? This may be either the most innovative thing NASCAR has tried to do, or a total disaster. Either way, you're going to want to see it unfold this weekend for the Xfinity race on Saturday and the Cup Series race on Sunday.

The course constructed in Chicago has instantly become the most unique circuit on the schedule. It joins Watkins Glen and the Clash at the Colesium as the most characteristically vibrant tracks. It bests the Glen's 11 turns with a total of 12.

Since the course cuts through streets that are normally filled with commuter cars and recreational areas in the city, it's difficult to envision just how this might look until you actually see it for the racing this weekend.

That said, here's how the course is laid out.

Grant Park 220: NASCAR Chicago Street Race map

Below is a look at the map NASCAR has provided for the race this weekend.

Pit lane and the start of the race runs along Columbus Drive just west of Buckingham Fountain between Jackson Street and Balbo Drive.

Turn one takes cars east (left) toward Lake Shore Drive on Balbo, which the cars turn right (turn two) to travel on for a gradual turn three (right) and then another gradual turn at four (right) onto Roosevelt Road.

Turn five is a hard right turn back onto Columbus. They travel that to turn six (left), which nearly touches turn one, to take Balbo again, this time west until Michigan Avenue. Turns seven (right), eight (right), nine (left), 10 (right), and 11 (right) go down Michigan Avenue and Congress Plaza Boulevard (turns eight, nine, ten).

A right turn at 11 takes the cars back east toward the start of the race down Jackson, and turn 12 ultimately brings it all back to Columbus.

For the city of Chicago, that means plenty of road closures throughout the weekend. The worst of which includes Lake Shore Drive being shut down, a road normally used to quickly connect the northern and southern parts of the city without having to move too far into city traffic.