Shakeia Taylor: NASCAR brings out new fans in Chicago, from a ‘cultural exchange’ at South Side museum to jumping over puddles at Grant Park
CHICAGO — NASCAR arrived in Chicago this past week — and with it, opinions on the historic street race.
Some were excited about it, others were skeptical. In the days leading up to the races around Grant Park, a common refrain was “Chicago isn’t a NASCAR crowd.” So I set out to see just how true that was.
From Wednesday through the weekend, anticipation and excitement for the races climbed until it reached its full throttle with the culmination of the final race Sunday night.
Traffic was maddening, as people did not heed any warnings to avoid the areas near the course. There were crowds of people attending the race festivities, while others just wanted to be close to the action and sneak a look. There was bad weather, and an unauthorized person on the course. Old fans got to enjoy the motor sport in a new location, while new fans got an unexpected experience.
