Chicago Street Cours
Sunday, July 6, 2025
2.14-Mile Road Cours
2 PM ET
Location: Chicago
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (Race 19 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: 17th (Atlanta)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 3rd

No. 5 Valvoline Chevrolet

• Kyle Larson leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers with nine top-five finishes and 12 top 10s in 2025. That marks his second-highest total of top 10s in a season’s first 18 races (2021).
• The 32-year-old is tied for the most road course wins in the Next Gen era with Tyler Reddick (three).
• Larson has the third-best average finish this season at 12.67.
• On 36 laps on road courses this season, Larson turned in the fastest time. That’s the highest total in the series, 13 more than the next-closest driver, Shane van Gisbergen (23).
• Larson has won two of his last six starts on road courses. His most recent road-course victory came at the 2024 Charlote ROVAL.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 29 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: 1st (Atlanta)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 2nd

No. 9 NAPA Gold Filters Chevrolet

• With his victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend, Chase Elliott is now second in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season points standings, 37 markers behind teammate William Byron.
• The triumph was his second at Atlanta and his 20th career Cup Series win, making him the fourth driver to reach 20 victories with Hendrick Motorsports.
• The 29-year-old advanced to the second round of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge. Elliott will be up against John Hunter Nemechek in the Chicago Street Race. Elliott has finished better than Nemechek in 14 of 18 events this season, including both road course races.
• Elliott’s average finish of 10.23 in 2025 leads the series and is also his second best ever in the first 18 races of a season. He is the only driver to finish in the top 20 in every event so far.
• His three consecutive top-five finishes account for the longest active streak in the series and his longest of the season.
• Heading into Chicago this weekend, Elliott is tied for the longest active streak of top fives on road courses with three.
• The 2020 Cup Series champion has the most road course wins among active drivers and the third all-time behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight). His average finish of 8.84 leads active drivers (minimum four starts).
• In the Next Gen era on road courses, Elliott has led 147 laps – the most by a driver without a win so far. His average finish of 9.83 in that span ranks second and his 585 points earned rank third.
• Elliott’s autographed race-winning Desi9n to Drive uniform is up for grabs as part of a sweepstakes fundraiser that runs through July 9.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 27 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: 37th (Atlanta)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st

No. 24 All-Pro Chevrolet

• William Byron is in the midst of a remarkable 2025 season, leading the driver points standings for 15 out of 18 weeks including presently by 37 markers. He has also collected the most stage points (188).
• The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has paced the field in a NASCAR Cup Series-leading 13 of 18 events for a total of 769 laps (second most).
• The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet has an average starting position of 11th (second best) this season and an average finish of 12.78 (fourth best).
• In the Next Gen era on road courses, Byron has a 12.74 average finish and has collected 541 points.
• In the last nine road course races, Byron has two wins, two second-place finishes, five top-five finishes and seven top 10s, all tied for the most. He also has led 110 laps which ranks second.
• Currently, the 27-year-old driver has three consecutive top-10 finishes on road courses which is tied for the second longest active streak. Byron is one of six drivers who finished in the top 10 at both Circuit of The Americas as well as in Mexico City this year.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 32 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: 3rd (Atlanta)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 12th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

• After a third-place finish in Atlanta last weekend, Alex Bowman enters this weekend 15th in the playoff standings, 39 points above the elimination line.
• The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet returns to the Chicago Street Course as the defending race winner, having captured his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series victory there in 2024 after leading the final eight laps. Bowman remains the only driver to win on both the Chicago Street Course and the Chicagoland Speedway oval.
• The Tuscon, Arizona, native will return to the Windy City on Thursday, July 3, for a full day of community events and media appearances. Bowman’s schedule includes visits to the South Side YMCA for The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics Fun Day Festival and to Chicago Animal Care and Control for a pet adoption event. He will also appear at NASCAR’s Speed and Sound Fest at the DuSable Black History Museum where he’ll take part in a fan panel alongside historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas.
• Chicago marks the second race of the five-race NASCAR In-Season Challenge. After defeating Joey Logano in Atlanta, Bowman advanced into the second round and will face Bubba Wallace.
• For this weekend’s Chicago race the Best Friends Animal shelter partner is One Tail At A Time in Chicago.
• Ally and HENDRICKCARS.COM are teaming up again to give fans the chance to win prizes with this year’s “Open Road Sweepstakes.” Fans can win VIP experiences at various races throughout the season and one lucky winner will hit the open road in a Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss with an Airstream camper. Fans can stop by the Ally Fan Zone to enter the sweepstakes in-person and check out the camper. Fans can also enter at ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar.

Hendrick Motorsports

*Most all time
**Tied for most all time

• With Chase Elliott winning and Alex Bowman coming home third at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports pushed its organizational record for consecutive races with a car in the top five to 26 events dating back to last season. It remains the only team to have a top-five finisher in each of this season’s races.
• The Hendrick Motorsports engine shop has won 15 combined poles (seven in the NASCAR Cup Series and eight in the Xfinity Series) and 16 combined races (five in the Cup Series, 10 in the Xfinity Series and the preseason Clash) this year.
• Hendrick Motorsports has led 40% of all laps raced through 18 events this season. Its 1,913 circuits paced are the third most through a season’s first 18 races in company history. The team has led at least one lap in each of the last 33 races, the longest active streak by any organization and Hendrick Motorsports’ third-longest streak all time
• The organization’s 15 combined stage wins are tied for the most ever through 18 races in a season.
• Hendrick Motorsports enters this weekend’s race at the Chicago Street Course with Bowman as the event’s defending winner. Kyle Larson sat on the pole for last year’s race. The organization’s three top fives and four top 10s are the most in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Five of the last nine road course races have gone to Hendrick Motorsports. The company leads all teams in poles, wins, top fives, top 10s, laps led and average finish on serpentine tracks in the Next Gen era.

QUOTABLE /
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on the Chicago Street Race: “It’s a really fun event. I love it. I hope the weather is good, rain has kind of come out of no where the last couple of years. I hope it goes good. The fans deserve to see a good race there. I love being in the city and walking to the race track and good food, it’s fun.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on the performance of the team: “We’ve just been doing this long enough to know it all kind of starts and ends with us. We have to make sure we’re doing our part and I’m doing my part. Just bringing everything I can possibly bring every single week. It’s the honest conversations that we have on Monday mornings that are either going to make us better or make us fail. All of the pieces of the puzzle are there. We’re working on the right things. I think I’m asking for the right things out of the car. I’m really proud of our team for just sticking together. I think there’s been so many times that we could have thrown in the towel and really kind of fractured from the inside. It’s a really important thing for me to have climbed that mountain and stood on top of it with AG (Alan Gustafson) and we’ve kind of fallen off that hill. Getting back to the top with him and with our group and doing it together, I think is a really important thing to do. We have so much respect for one another as a team that we’re going to continue to make each other better as we push forward.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on the Chicago Street Race: “Honestly, I’m just hoping we have good weather this weekend in Chicago. The last two years it has rained, and it really changed the dynamic of how the race goes and who is a factor. It would just be cool to see how the race plays out when that element isn’t involved. But even if it is, we have two years of experience with it. I just love the vibe the race brings, racing downtown through the city. It’s unlike the other venues we go to, and I think it brings an element that we need.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on returning to the Chicago Street Race after winning last year: “Going back to Chicago is pretty special. That win last year was huge for me and this 48 team it was one of those races where everything came together at the right time. The street course is such a unique challenge, and the atmosphere is unlike anything else we see all year. I’m excited to get back there, defend that win, and hopefully keep building momentum for the playoff push.”

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Rasmussen Air & Gas Energy Ford Team
Chicago Street Race Competition Notes
Grant Park 165

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Event: Race 21 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (2.2-miles)
#of Laps: 75
Time/TV/Radio: 2:00 PM ET on TNT/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

Following last Saturday’s race at the EchoPark Speedway, Noah Gragson advanced to Round 2 in NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, beating his former Stewart-Haas Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe. He will face another former SHR teammate this weekend in the Challenge, going head-to-head with Ryan Preece at the Chicago Street Race. In two previous starts at the 2.2-mile street course, Gragson has one top-15 finish, finishing 14th in 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Rasmussen Air & Gas Energy (RAGE) returns with Front Row Motorsports to partner with Gragson and the No. 4 team for the 165-mile event. RAGE proudly manufactures, rents, sells, and services industrial air compressor systems and compressed gas equipment. Proudly based in Waterloo, Nebraska, RAGE has grown into a national operation with employees across the country and regional offices in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky.

“At RAGE, we believe compressed air and gas deserve a seat at the table, right beside water, electricity, and natural gas, that’s why we call it the Fourth Utility,” said Larry Rasmussen, CEO, RAGE. “Compressed air powers nearly every product made today – and we engineer the systems that keep it flowing. Our return to NASCAR and FRM is more than visibility – it’s a celebration of what powers performance: speed, teamwork, and the technology behind the scenes.”

“I spent time with Larry this week and was educated on the Fourth Utility – on race day, air powers our tools in the pits,” said Gragson. “What we do in a pit stop, RAGE does in plants across America. There’s something special about running an American company on the car, even more so over the fourth of July weekend – it just feels right.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo

Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride

Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

RASMUSSEN AIR & GAS ENERGY

Rasmussen Air & Gas Energy was created and began doing business on March 1, 2013. We had the opportunity to take on a product line and ran with it. The name “RAGE” came from combining a few core words that make up our business- air, gas and energy. Adding in Rasmussen made the acronym, RAGE that has taken on a life of its own. Everyone wants “swag” to represent RAGE and you can spot our logo on vehicles driving down the road all over the United States.

What is RAGE? Compressed air systems and compressed gas systems are our core competence. The technologies range from fractional HP to 5,000 HP. Our territory is constantly expanding, and we have the top service technical team that travels to you. We feel our competition does a really good job, but RAGE takes it to the next level.

Why RAGE? At our core, we have an add value mentality. Not only do we provide efficiency and uptime for our customers, but we also have the best of the best within our organization. Without good people, there is no success. There is no doubt that RAGE is victorious because of our people. For more information, visit rage-energy.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles Ford Team
Chicago Street Race Competition Notes
Grant Park 165

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Event: Race 21 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (2.2-miles)
#of Laps: 75
Time/TV/Radio: 2:00 PM ET on TNT/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Following last Saturday’s race at the EchoPark Speedway, Todd Gilliland will head to Chicago, Illinois where he will have to navigate the turns of the Chicago Street Course. In two previous starts at the 2.2-mile street circuit, Gilliland has one top-10 finish, finishing seventh in 2024.

Grillo’s Pickles will partner with Gilliland for the 75-lap event, debuting a new “Hot Pickle” scheme on the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. “It’s been hard keeping this scheme a secret,” said Gilliland. “It’s been a work in progress all season, so I’m excited to show it off in Chicago and hopefully drive it up front.”

Grillo’s Pickles will host their “Grillo’s Pickles 500” pop-up event at the Vault Gallerie in Chicago from July 3–6, open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. The first 100 fans on July 3rd will receive a Grillo’s Pickles hero card signed by Todd Gilliland. On July 4, fans can enjoy a free Chicago-style hot dog until 12:00 PM or while supplies last. On July 5, the event will feature a live art show from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, followed by an appearance from Front Row Motorsports drivers, Gilliland, Noah Gragson and Zane Smith, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.

“Chicago’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Gilliland. “It’s a tough track with very little margin for error, but that’s what makes it so exciting. We’ve got a big weekend with Grillo’s Pickles rolling out the ‘Hot Pickle’ scheme and their pop-up event, so I’m pumped to get there and be part of it all.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Christian Boller

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT GRILLO’S PICKLES

For people who want freshness, Grillo’s is the pickle company that is changing the game. That’s because Grillo’s uses only clean, garden-fresh ingredients to make deliciously simple foods that deliver all the crunchy, tangy, satisfying flavor you’ve been searching for, with none of the junk. How do we do it? Our products are made cold, shipped cold, and consumed cold. You get an incredible crunch, and we never have to mess with artificial preservatives. In fact, the only thing traditional about us is our 100-year-old family recipe. The rest? It’s fresh. Grillo’s offers mouthwatering bites nationwide with their selection of spears, chips, wholes and Pickle de Gallo. For more information, visit GrillosPickles.com or contact grillos@autumncommunications.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Vermeer Midwest Ford Team
Chicago Street Race Competition Notes
Grant Park 165

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Event: Race 21 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Chicago Street Course (2.2-miles)
#of Laps: 75
Time/TV/Radio: 2:00 PM ET on TNT/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

For the third year in a row, the NASCAR Cup Series will take on the streets of Chicago in a 75-lap event. For Zane Smith, this will be his second visit to the street course and first with Ryan Bergenty and the No. 38 team.

Vermeer Midwest will make their Front Row Motorsports debut this weekend with Smith and the No. 38 Ford. Established in 1971 by Junior and Bev Kool in Eureka, Illinois, Vermeer Midwest is a leading dealer of industrial equipment proudly serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri for industries such as utility installation, landscaping, tree care, recycling, and vacuum excavation.

“Partnering with Zane Smith and the Front Row Motorsports crew gives us an incredible platform to connect with our team members and customers,” said Trey Hemming, General Manager, Vermeer Midwest. “Their dedication on the track reflects the same commitment we bring to our customers every day, and we’re proud to support a team that shares a culture of excellence and grit. We’re thrilled to be part of the action at the Chicago Street Race and can’t wait to cheer on the No. 38 car!”

“I’m really excited to have Vermeer Midwest come on board at Chicago,” said Smith. “The energy and excitement they’ve shown since the deal came together has been really cool, and there’s not many better races to have your first than the Chicago Street Race.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty

Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris

Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski

Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Flores

Hometown: Manasquan, New Jersey

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Chris Webb

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

ABOUT VERMEER MIDWEST

Vermeer Midwest is a leading dealer of industrial equipment proudly serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri. Established in 1971 by Junior and Bev Kool in Eureka, IL, Vermeer Midwest has grown to 13 locations. Their commitment to exceptional customer service and high-quality equipment has made them a trusted partner for contractors in industries such as utility installation, landscaping, tree care, recycling, and vacuum excavation. Visit vermeermidwest.com and follow Vermeer Midwest on social media: Instagram at @vermeermidwest and Facebook at facebook.com/VermeerMidwest.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

This Week in Motorsports: June 30 – July 6, 2025

· NCS/NXS: Chicago Street Race – July 5-6

PLANO, Texas (July 2, 2025) – NASCAR heads to the Windy City for its third race on the streets of Chicago this Fourth of July weekend. The Xfinity Series kicks off the racing action on Saturday, with the weekend culminating in the 75-lap Cup Series race Sunday afternoon.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS

Five Camry drivers advance to second round of In-Season Challenge … After a wild race Saturday night in Atlanta, five Camry XSE drivers have advanced to the next round in NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge – Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones and Tyler Reddick. Each will have difficult matchups this weekend in Chicago with Gibbs versus AJ Allmendinger, Wallace taking on Alex Bowman, Nemechek facing Chase Elliott, Jones competing against Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Reddick facing Carson Hocevar.

Jones catching momentum at the right time … Last weekend’s fifth-place finish at EchoPark Speedway continued the recent surge from Jones and the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE team at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Jones has finished inside the top-13 in six of the last eight races, with three of those coming inside the top-10. These solid finishes have catapulted Jones to 16th in the Cup Series driver standings, sitting 49 points back in the current Playoff standings, as he looks to close in on a spot in the postseason.

Heim returns to the No. 67 … For the third time this season, Corey Heim will pilot the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, taking on the streets of Chicago on Sunday. This will be the first Cup Series road course start for Toyota Development Driver. Heim has already shown his road course racing skills in the Truck Series with three career wins – at Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course in 2023, Circuit of the Americas in 2024 and last weekend at Lime Rock Park where he led 99 of 100 laps on the way to victory.

Bell eager to continue road and street course success … Road courses have been circuits of success for Christopher Bell of late, with the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver having three straight second-place-or-better finishes – second at the Charlotte ROVAL last fall and at Mexico City in June, along with his win at Circuit of the Americas in March. Bell also looks for points-paying win number four this weekend as the season inches closer to the Playoffs.

Perkins makes GR Supra debut … Australian Supercars driver Jack Perkins will pilot the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for JGR in this weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Chicago. The Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, native is a previous race winner in the Australian racing series and makes his first of two starts for JGR this weekend as he is also scheduled to drive the No. 19 at Portland International Raceway in August.

Grala makes first Xfinity start of 2025 … NASCAR veteran Kaz Grala returns to the Xfinity Series this weekend in Chicago behind the wheel of the No. 24 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Saturday will be Grala’s 78th career start in the Xfinity Series, his 35th with Toyota, and his second on the streets of Chicago after finishing 10th in 2023.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 32 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Chicago Bulls Legend, 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player, and Hometown Hero to Give the Famous “Drivers Start Your Engines” Command Ahead of the Third Running of the NASCAR Cup Series Race

CHICAGO (July 1, 2025) – Today, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race announced that Derrick Rose will serve as the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 165 on Sunday, July 6 in Grant Park. The Chicago Bulls legend and 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player will give the most famous command in all of sports: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” as a part of a special pre-race celebration that shines a spotlight on the best of Chicago to a global audience.

“Chicago is one of the best sports towns in the world, and NASCAR is proud to be a part of that historic Chicago sports culture,” said Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race President. “Derrick is one of the most beloved sports icons in the city’s history, and we look forward to having him get NASCAR’s only street race underway.”

The Chicago native became the youngest NBA MVP in history when he won the award in 2011 at age 22, leading the Bulls to the best record in the NBA that season. Rose spent the first eight years of his professional career with his hometown Bulls, becoming a three-time NBA All-Star, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year, and capturing the hearts of Chicago basketball fans with his explosive athleticism and unwavering dedication to the city. During the 2025-26 season, the Chicago Bulls will host a ceremony to retire Rose’s jersey.

“It’s an honor to be part of such an incredible event in my hometown,” said Rose. “Chicago has always supported me throughout my career, and I’m excited to give back to the fans and be part of this amazing racing weekend in Grant Park.”

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race – which was named “Sports Event of the Year” by Sports Business Journal – previously announced new ticket options, along with reduced prices throughout the footprint, and a shorter overall build schedule. Guests will also enjoy significantly lower price points on Grounds Pass tickets and reserved seating (which now includes a new single-day option as well). Single-day Grounds Pass tickets start at $123.08, including ALL taxes and fees (35% less than last year), and Frontstretch Premier Grandstands Reserved seats are available at nearly a 50% reduction from 2024 prices.

Fans can subscribe to receive exclusive NASCAR Chicago Street Race emails for ticketing alerts. For a complete listing of ticketing options or to purchase tickets, fans can visit NASCARChicago.com or call 888-629-7223. Follow @NASCARChicago on Instagram, X and Facebook and download the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.

About NASCAR Chicago Street Race

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is home to the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race in the history of the sport. Located in downtown Chicago, the 2025 NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series races will once again take competitors past and through many of the city’s most renowned downtown landmarks on Michigan Avenue, South Columbus Drive, South DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain. Southern rock superstars Zac Brown Band will headline the one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment experience, which will return to Grant Park July 5-6, 2025. For more information, visit NASCARChicago.com.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.