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The $55.2 billion Illinois budget signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker
on Monday includes $5 million to Chicago for costs associated
with operating expenses for NASCAR races July 5 and 6.
State Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, questioned the Illinois
Senate Appropriations Committee on May 31, hours before the
General Assembly passed the record-high spending plan.
“So if it’s such a wonderful economic development program to
bring these folks into town every year and it brings so much
economic income to the city, why do we need to subsidize it?”
DeWitte asked.
State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said NASCAR weekend in Chicago
has an economic impact worth tens of millions of dollars.
“These are investments in communities. There’s our investments
in our tourism. These are investments in showcasing our state,”
Sims responded.
DeWitte noted that lawmakers also appropriated $1 million for
2026 Presidents Cup golf at Medinah Country Club and suggested
that there were much more significant priorities for the state.
Chicago’s three-year deal with NASCAR ends after the races next
month.
Mayor Brandon Johnson did not say what might happen next when he
was asked at a recent media briefing, but he did thank NASCAR.
“They’ve done an incredible job working with the community all
over the city of Chicago. The programming that they have
provided, the investments that they have made have been solid,”
Johnson said
NASCAR driver and Springfield native Justin Allgaier said
transitioning to downtown Chicago in 2023 was interesting.
“Especially the first year, it wasn’t as easy or as seamless as
ourselves or I’m sure that the folks who live in downtown
Chicago would have liked, right? There were definitely some
headaches with it, but I felt like last year, the event was
extremely good,” Allgaier said.
Street closures and lane closures are scheduled to begin
affecting downtown Chicago this week. NASCAR officials say they
have reduced the total build time for the event from 43 days in
2023 and 38 days in 2024 to 25 days this year.
NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series races in Chicago are
scheduled July 5 and 6. NASCAR returns to Illinois Sept. 6 and 7
for Craftsman Truck Series and Cup Series races at World Wide
Technology Raceway in Madison.
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