Today, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race announced that it will partner with Chicago Loop Alliance and JoRand (founded by local restauranteurs Victor Love and Mark Rand) to expand this year’s NASCAR Village, the free, public experience in Butler Field throughout race weekend. NASCAR Village – which is free with-or-without a Chicago Street Race ticket – will feature a wide array of Chicago restaurants, local retailers, official partners, and interactive NASCAR experiences from 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 6, and 9 a.m. to the Checked Flag on July 7.
“NASCAR Village at Butler Field is an opportunity for all Chicagoans to learn more about NASCAR, enjoy local vendors, and take part in the excitement of the Chicago Street Race Weekend, even without a ticket,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “Our aim is to utilize the Chicago Street Race as a platform to showcase local restaurants, retailers, and partners, and in doing so – help expand their exposure to a broader market.”
As a part of the expanded Butler Field experience, the Chicago Street Race will feature dining options from across the city of Chicago, including Banato, Chef Maurice, Chicago’s Dog House, Churro Factory, Cool and Smooth, Freddie’s, Harold’s Chicken 88, Quang Noodles, Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, Soul Veg City, Tacotlan, and Tandoor Char House.
“We take a tremendous amount of pride in our local food scene, and the Chicago Street Race is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase our culinary talents to tourists from all around the world,” said Victor Love, owner of Josephine’s Southern Cooking, based in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood. “They may be racing around Grant Park, but the Chicago Street Race is going to feature flavors from across Chicago’s distinct neighborhoods.”
“Since day one, NASCAR has been a part of the Chicago business community and has been here to support local businesses throughout the entire city,” said Mark Rand, a thirty-year Chicago hospitality veteran who oversees six restaurant concepts at Chicago’s Midway Airport as an Officer at North American Concessions. “The fact that they’ve expanded the NASCAR Village immensely shows their continued commitment to local business owners, and we are proud to help make year two even more successful.”
In an effort to further support the local business community, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race worked with Chicago Loop Alliance – creators of the award-winning event series, Sundays on State – to feature local retailers and artisans, including: BWYB Products, Dandykingzman, The Purple Unicorn Face Painting, The Stylish Bundt Bake Shop, Twenty Thou, VINTAGE FRILLS, Giveashirt, Brazilian Cultural Center of Chicago, Kingston James and Company, Fashion Mod, Henna By Dija, Poetry By Boots, Afro Funk Wear, Asia’s Way Naturally LLC, Artzone, Maverick Leather LLC, iAmDad365, and Sherman “Dilla” Thomas’ Chicago Mahogany.
“Chicago’s vibrant business community showcases the diverse array of small businesses that facilitate a strong mix of commerce, culture and community, and our organization is proud to collaborate on a display of our city’s diversity at this year’s Chicago Street Race Weekend,” said Michael M. Edwards, President & CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance. “The Chicago Street Race drives global attention and recognition to our city, and our partnership with NASCAR allows Chicago to put our best foot forward.”
In addition to an expanded roster of local food and retail vendors, Butler Field will feature The NASCAR Experience for the first time in 2024, an immersive display that includes racing simulators, appearances from NASCAR drivers, a NASCAR Cup Show Car that does live car starts, and more. The NASCAR Experience is designed to provide interactive educational opportunities to introduce guests to the legacy of the sport and showcase NASCAR’s vision for the future.
Located adjacent to the street course itself within the security checkpoints, NASCAR Village in Butler Field will also feature displays from Chicago Street Race partners, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, and The Field Museum. NASCAR’s radio partners will also be conducting live broadcasts from Butler Field, and long-time Chicago Street Race community partners Paint the City will also be on hand for a live, racing-themed painting demonstration.
NASCAR PR
