NASCAR was awarded ‘Event of the Year’ for the first-ever Chicago Street Race during the 2024 Sports Business Awards, a ceremony hosted by Sports Business Journal.

The event was the first NASCAR Cup Series street race in its 75-year history, resulting in more than 80% of ticket buyers attending a NASCAR event for the first time. 

"We’re incredibly proud of the first-ever Chicago Street Race, and we’re honored to have Sports Business Journal recognize it as the ‘Event of The Year’," said Steve Phelps, president, NASCAR. "Following the leadership of Ben Kennedy, Julie Giese, and many others, the entire NASCAR industry and the city of Chicago banded together to pull off something truly extraordinary that has opened up an entirely new world of possibility for this sport moving forward. We can’t wait to get back to Chicago for the second running this July."

The race also helped NASCAR establish local partnerships, including trophies designed by local artists, relationships with Chicago Public Schools, Special Olympics of Illinois, the Art Institute of Chicago, and more, in addition to opening a new, permanent Chicago office in 2022. Led by longtime executive and track president Julie Giese, the office currently has around 20 full-time employees. 

Joining the Chicago Street Race as finalists for the 'Event of the Year' award were the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, NHL Stadium Series, Super Bowl LVIII, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, and the World Baseball Classic.

For more information, visit nascar.com.