2025 NASCAR Cup Series Challenge Round 2 Preview - Grant Park 165: Can Bowman get back-to-back wins at Chicago Street Course? July 3, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

The 2025 Grant Park 165 marks the third running of a NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of downtown Chicago. Scheduled for Sunday, July 6, at 2:00 PM EDT, the event is part of the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series Challenge and takes place on the unique and scenic Chicago Street Course.

Race Overview and Course Layout

Spanning 165 miles over 75 laps, the Grant Park 165 unfolds on a 2.2-mile temporary street circuit that weaves through Chicago's historic Grant Park. The course features 12 sharp corners, including multiple 90-degree turns, creating a technical layout that limits top speeds and challenges driver precision. The race is split into three stages, ending on Laps 20, 45, and 75. A total purse of $11,704,450 is up for grabs.

The track incorporates parts of iconic Chicago streets such as Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, with Buckingham Fountain serving as a centerpiece. Notable landmarks along the route include the Field Museum (Turn 4), the Art Institute of Chicago (Turn 11), and Butler Field (Turn 12). Practice and qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday, July 5, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT.

2025 Grant Park 165 Sports Bet Odds

Shane Van Gisbergen is the favorite to win the Grant Park 165. Here are our latest odds:

• Shane Van Gisbergen is favored to win outright +155 odds, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick are at +700 and +1200, respectively.
• Chase Elliott is favored to win outright the NASCAR In-Season Challenge at +300 odds, followed by Tyler Reddick at +350 and Alex Bowman at +450 odds.

Drivers to Watch

Top Contenders

Christopher Bell
A proven road racer with three wins on Cup road courses, Bell boasts a 58% Top-10 finish rate in 26 starts. He is qualified well in Chicago previously but has yet to secure a strong finish—something he will look to change this year.

Shane van Gisbergen
The winner of the inaugural 2023 race in his Cup Series debut, van Gisbergen owns an impressive 83% Top-10 rate on road courses and a career average finish of 7.7.

Tyler Reddick
With three road course victories and a runner-up finish in Chicago last year, Reddick enters with momentum. His average start in two Chicago races is an impressive 3.0.

Chase Elliott
A seven-time winner on road courses, Elliott continues to be a threat on these tracks. He placed third in the 2023 Chicago race and is fresh off a win at Atlanta.

Strong Picks

Alex Bowman
Last year's Grant Park 165 winner, Bowman has been a consistent road course performer with multiple Top-10 finishes in 2024. His recent efforts include Top-5s at COTA and Mexico City.

Ty Gibbs
He has finished in the Top 10 in both prior Chicago races, including a third-place finish in 2024 where he led 17 laps.

William Byron
After steady improvement on road tracks, Byron has logged a win and a runner-up finish in his last six road course starts. He placed eighth in Chicago last year.

Kyle Busch
While his oval performance has dipped, Busch remains competitive on road courses, finishing in the Top 10 twice in his last six outings. He placed fifth and ninth in his first two races on the Chicago layout.

Dark Horses

Kyle Larson
A high-risk, high-reward driver on road circuits, Larson finished Top 5 in the first Chicago race and started on pole in 2024 before crashing out.

Chris Buescher
His consistency stands out, with five Top-10 finishes in his last six road events. He climbed from 24th to seventh at COTA and finished 10th in Mexico City.

Chase Briscoe
Coming off a win at Pocono and a Top-10 in Mexico City, Briscoe makes his first Chicago Street Course start under Joe Gibbs Racing.

Michael McDowell
His road course prowess includes a 50% Top-10 rate over the last two seasons and fifth-place finishes in both prior Grant Park 165 races.

Final Thought

As the third and final year of the current agreement, the 2025 Grant Park 165 may be the last NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago—at least for now. NASCAR officials are exploring new venues, including a potential street race in San Diego, with a decision on the event's future expected by early fall.

With the future of the Chicago Street Race uncertain, Sunday's Grant Park 165 could mark the end of a bold chapter in NASCAR's efforts to bring racing into the heart of urban America. Whether it is a farewell or another thrilling edition in an ongoing tradition, fans can expect a dramatic showdown through the streets of Chicago.

NASCAR CUP SERIES TOP 10 DRIVER STANDINGS

POSITION	DRIVER	POINTS	WINS	TOP 5s	TOP 10s	PLAYOFF POINTS
1	William Byron	631	1	7	10	12
2	Chase Elliott	594	1	6	10	5
3	Kyle Larson	589	3	9	12	23
4	Denny Hamlin	551	3	8	9	19
5	Christopher Bell	551	3	7	11	16
6	Tyler Reddick	533	0	4	6	1
7	Ryan Blaney	504	1	7	8	8
8	Ross Chastain	458	1	3	8	5
9	Chris Buescher	457	0	3	10	-4
10	Chase Briscoe	452	1	6	8	6