NASCAR‘s inaugural In-Season Challenge got off to a chaotic start last week at Atlanta. Chase Elliott won on his home track in what became an event of attrition following multiple big wrecks.
More than one-third of the grid did not finish the June 28 race at EchoPark Speedway, and Elliott passed leader Brad Keselowski on the final lap to take victory by 0.168 seconds.
That victory marked Elliott’s first win since his win at Texas Motor Speedway back in April 2024. It also closed the gap at the top of the drivers’ standings from Elliott in second to points leader William Byron, who was caught in one of the wrecks. Elliott now sits 37 points behind Byron atop the standings.
With many drivers knocked out of contention before the checkered flag, the in-season challenge bracket saw plenty of upsets. Top seed Denny Hamlin’s DNF gave No. 32 seed Ty Dillon the win and eliminated the Joe Gibbs Racing driver from contention. Same goes for Hamlin’s JGR teammate Chase Briscoe, the No. 2 seed.
This week marks the only street course event on the Cup Series calendar in 2025, so there will likely be even more surprises in store. Here’s everything you need to get ready for the Cup Series race in Chicago on July 6:
What time does the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago start?
The Grant Park 165 is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) Sunday, July 6, on the street course in downtown Chicago.
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago on?
The Grant Park 165 will be broadcast on TNT. It’s the second of four races to be broadcast on the network. Pre-race coverage will start at 1 p.m. ET.
Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago?
Yes, the Grant Park 165 will be streamed on WatchTNT, Max and Sling TV.
Stream the NASCAR race at Chicago on Sling
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago?
The Grant Park 165 is 75 laps around the 2.2-mile track for a total of 165 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 20 laps; Stage 2: 25 laps; Stage 3: 30 laps.
Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Chicago last year?
Alex Bowman led the final eight laps, taking the lead on Lap 51 of the shortened race that ended with a countdown clock on Lap 58 instead of the scheduled 75 after weather disrputed the race. When the clock hit zero, Bowman needed to maintain his lead for two laps – taking the white flag and the checkered flag – to earn his lone victory of 2024. Bowman pulled away from Tyler Reddick and won by 2.863 seconds.
NASCAR In-Season Challenge second round matchups
Thirty-two drivers qualified for the inaugural in-season challenge and 16 were eliminated in Atlanta. The 16 winners advanced to the second round and make up the remaining bracket. Here’s how things look entering Chicago:
Top half of draw
No. 17 Brad Keselowski vs. No. 32 Ty DillonNo. 8 Alex Bowman vs. No. 9 Bubba WallaceNo. 5 Chase Elliott vs. No. 12 John Hunter NemechekNo. 20 Erik Jones vs. No. 29 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Bottom half of draw
No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 31 Noah GragsonNo. 23 Tyler Reddick vs. No. 26 Carson HocevarNo. 6 Ty Gibbs vs. No. 22 A.J. AllmendingerNo. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 14 Zane Smith
What is the lineup for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago?
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletCarson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletTyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing ToyotaChase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaKyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletRyan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing FordChris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordTy Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaAustin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJoey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske FordChristopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaKyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordAJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing ChevroletRyan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske FordDaniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWill Brown, No. 13 Kaulig Racing ChevroletTodd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports FordRiley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing ToyotaRoss Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletCole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team FordNoah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports FordJohn Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaZane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports FordAustin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske FordJustin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletJosh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing FordAustin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJosh Bilicki, No. 66 Garage 66 FordRicky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports ChevroletKatherine Legge, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports ChevroletErik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club ToyotaCody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing FordTy Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing ChevroletBubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletDenny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NASCAR race today: Chicago start time, TV, live stream, lineup
