By how much did the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street race overshoot the $25,000,000 budget?

NASCAR’s bold step into street racing and its future in international markets are under heavy scrutiny following the financial fallout from the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The race, held in downtown Chicago in 2023, was NASCAR’s first attempt at a street circuit and has become a talking point as the series now prepares for its first modern-era points-paying Cup Series event outside the U.S., in Mexico City.

The race overshot its budget by more than double. NASCAR initially planned to spend between $15 million and $25 million on the Chicago event. But the actual costs spiraled to around $50 million, according to Jeff Wohlschlaeger, NASCAR’s former head of sales, who confirmed the figure to BlackBook Motorsport.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race - Source: Imagn

The Chicago race was designed to be a landmark—NASCAR’s first street race, a televised spectacle with urban appeal, and a possible blueprint for future events in new markets. Instead, it exposed gaps in planning, logistics, and budgeting. The original budget range proved to be far too optimistic.

“We failed to anticipate the level of work that would be required,” Wohlschlaeger said.

Cost overruns included everything from construction and safety installations to local permits, security, cleanup, and marketing. Because NASCAR promoted the event directly, it had to shoulder the full financial burden — something it’s not repeating with the Mexico City race.

The Mexico City race, the Viva México 250, will be promoted not by NASCAR but by Oseca, the same group that handles the Formula 1 event at the same venue. That shift reduces NASCAR’s financial exposure while tapping into a partner with on-the-ground expertise.

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NASCAR’s Cup Series moves to Mexico — but not any further yet

The Cup Series' move into Mexico is a historic one. But don’t expect NASCAR to leap across oceans anytime soon. Executive VP Ben Kennedy explained that the sports' logistical demands limit how far it can go — and how quickly.

NASCAR may be expanding, but it's doing so cautiously. Speaking to BlackBook Motorsport, Ben Kennedy outlined why the Cup Series isn’t planning races in Europe or Asia — at least not yet.

“The amount of inventory that we carry through our Cup Series schedule makes it very difficult for us to travel from the United States overseas, pack our stuff up, and then be back the next weekend, seeing that we have 38 [races],” he said.

In short, NASCAR's packed calendar — 38 events over roughly 40 weeks — leaves little room for international travel. Every week matters, and the sport's equipment, teams, and logistics operations operate on a tight turnaround.

Kennedy confirmed that NASCAR’s international expansion will focus on North America. That includes potential races in Mexico, like this weekend’s Viva México 250, and possibly Canada in the near future.