Chicago shooting sparks fan concern ahead of NASCAR street course race

NASCAR is set to return to the streets of Grant Park for its third annual Chicago Street Race this weekend. However, a recent mass shooting outside a nightclub in the city has raised concerns among fans ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR street race in Grant Park.

The drive-by shooting occurred just over a mile from the NASCAR Chicago Street Course. Fans voiced concerns on X, and one referenced the comments surrounding the Mexico race last month, on Kickin' The Tires' Jerry Jordan's post.

"They also had a mass shooting last night, dand they said the Mexico race wasn’t safe. Take your body armor," the fan commented.

"Yes, I am aware. The shooting occurred 1.3 miles from the @NASCARChicago street course. It was at a club where at least one past shooting has occurred per local news. Shouldn’t impact @NASCAR this weekend and there is plenty of security here," Jerry Jordan replied.

The incident, which occurred late Wednesday night (July 2) in the city’s River North neighborhood, left at least four people dead and 14 others injured, as per several media reports.

Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz was celebrating her new album at Artis Lounge when someone shot into the crowd outside. The shooter drove away, and no arrests have been made as of now. According to reports, Buckzz's boyfriend and friends were among those killed in the tragic shooting.

"I don't wish this [type of] pain on nobody. ... Dam* my fu**ing crew," Mello Buckzz wrote on Instagram.

Mello Buckzz's Instagram story on July 3. Source:@mellobuckzz

The same location saw another shooting in 2022 when the venue was called Hush Lounge. Police shut down the club, and it later reopened as Artis Lounge.

Chicago streets on repair before NASCAR race

The Xfinity Series race is expected to begin at 4:30 pm CT on Saturday, (July 5). Meanwhile, the Grant Park 165 Cup Series race is scheduled for Sunday (July 6) with the green flag dropping at 1:00 pm CT on TNT. Zac Brown Band, the Grammy‑winning Southern rock group, will start the event on Saturday evening.

Jerry Jordan also reported on street closures and repair work on the 2.2‑mile Grant Park circuit.

"Local news reporting streets were closed a little early for this year’s @NASCAR @NASCARChicago street race due to repairs being needed for heat-related buckling in certain areas of the course," read Jordon's tweet.

Parts of Columbus Drive and Balbo Drive were also closed last week to fix buckled pavement caused by the recent heat wave. Repairs began around 10 pm on June 25 instead of the originally planned June 27 and June 30 closures.

The inaugural 2023 Chicago race drew nearly 4.8 million viewers despite a rain delay. Last year’s weather-affected event also averaged about 3.87 million viewers.