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Chicago Tribune
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Edward Keegan: NASCAR has embraced the Chicago backdrop, but will it return?
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race. If it sounds a bit edgy, that's certainly by design. And the race has had its challenges. First it was the smoky haze of Canadian wildfires. Then it was rain. And finally, it was the darkness of nightfall. And that was just the inaugural race in 2023. Oh, and the noise and the street closures that lasted for weeks before and after the race. And most folks who live in the immediate vicinity of the Grant Park racecourse were not NASCAR fans before the race and probably aren't now either. Like architecture, much of the appeal of motorsports is aesthetic. The cars are sleek, or at least as sleek as purpose-built vehicles molded to resemble Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs and Toyota Camrys can be. And they are as bright and colorful as each sponsor is willing. And the speed and the sound add to the spectacle. With each of these elements, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race is an exceptionally well-conceived and packaged design mirror of ourselves. Chicago's history with auto racing stretches back to the earliest automobile race held in the United States on Thanksgiving Day in 1895. Fun fact: The Jackson Park to Evanston course traversed Michigan Avenue and included two blocks that are part of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race course. Nearby Soldier Field hosted races from 1935 to 1970, including NASCAR in 1956 and 1957. More recently, the now-defunct Chicago Motor Speedway in Cicero fielded IndyCars and some of NASCAR's minor league series from 1999 to 2002, and both major series have raced at Joliet's Chicagoland Speedway, which is now owned by NASCAR. But what these races lacked was the Chicago backdrop to the racing — something NASCAR has completely embraced during the last three years. Because what's most important is how it looks on TV. Almost every sporting event held in the city, whether it's at Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Rate Field or the United Center, will show Grant Park and the Loop from a helicopter-mounted camera sometime during the event. But holding NASCAR's race in the park allows them to spotlight the city in a very particular way. Chicago's image is no longer just Willis Tower and the building formerly known as John Hancock Center. Newer tall buildings, including Trump Tower and the St. Regis, are more dominant from NASCAR's Grant Park perch. The Michigan Avenue street wall, long the classic Chicago skyline scene, has been extended in recent years by new development south of Ida B. Wells Drive including Helmut Jahn's striking 1000M, Krueck + Sexton's folded glass-faced Spertus Institute and Rafael Viñoly's distinctive, if mediocre, NEMA. And there are the older buildings along Michigan Avenue as well: Adler & Sullivan's Auditorium Building, Solon Beman's Fine Arts Building, Burnham and Root's Railway Exchange Building, and John Moutoussamy's Johnson Publishing Co. building, to name just a few. NASCAR and the Chicago Street Race highlight all of these distinctive — and very Chicago — buildings in a way that will endure. The best-known street course in the world has been in use for almost a century: the Grand Prix of Monaco in Monte Carlo. That enclave of wealth on the Mediterranean certainly doesn't need the grand prix in much the same way that Chicago doesn't need the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. But it's interesting to consider them together. The backdrop in Monaco includes the Belle Epoque Casino, the Mediterranean harbor, small shop fronts for luxury good purveyors and concrete cliffs filled with the pied-à-terre of the uber-rich. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race's background is, let's say, different. But it's just as compelling. And while Formula 1's multimillion-dollar bespoke cars reflect Monaco's place in the world economy, NASCAR's 'stock' cars are probably the best expression of Chicago. A bit brash, a bit ordinary, a lot noisy and prone to wrecks. Monaco is so good at its build that traffic navigates the racecourse within hours of on-track activity each day of the race weekend. It's too early to expect that here, but the build-out of the track and its support structures has become shorter with each year, reflecting NASCAR's efficiency and learning from experience. Finally, there's the racing itself. I had my doubts about how NASCAR's full body cars would race on this layout. But even with dreadful weather both years, it's proved to be a very entertaining track. The wide straightaways along Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore drives promote good side-by-side action and passing. Although the two one-block-long stretches on Michigan Avenue are good for photography, they are far too narrow to be either challenging or conducive to racing. But while the portion of track between them, the semicircular stretch through Congress Plaza, doesn't promote much passing, it is a great place to see up close how difficult these cars are to drive. The change in elevation — up and then down — while navigating a broad left turn really gets these cars to the edge of control, and it's quite entertaining to watch them skate through this section. And unlike the open wheel cars of IndyCar and Formula 1, not every contact between cars is likely to slow the race with a full-course yellow flag. Stock cars can often take some bumping and continue on without major incident. And it's proved to be a safe track as well. It will not be surprising if NASCAR announces in the coming days that it won't be back in Chicago next year. The initial contract runs its course with next week's race, although there are options for two additional years if NASCAR and the city agree to continue. The sanctioning body has let several other nontraditional races lapse after just a few years, and they're reportedly in talks with San Diego about a street race for 2026. Presumably there would be a lot less grit involved, but probably a lot better weather in store. Edward Keegan writes, broadcasts and teaches on architectural subjects. Keegan's biweekly architecture column is supported by a grant from former Tribune critic Blair Kamin, as administered by the not-for-profit Journalism Funding Partners. The Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content.
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Toyota lands second Supercars team for 2026 season
Toyota have unveiled Brad Jones Racing as their second Supercars outfit, leaving General Motors down to four teams for the 2026 season. Brad Jones Racing joins Toyota's testing team Walkinshaw Andretti United in making the jump to the GR Supra. The outfit currently fields four Chevrolet Camaros, driven by Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones. The Supra model has been redesigned in-house to feature a five-litre V8 engine. "I'm a creature of habit, and so change is not always easy," Brad Jones told Fox Sports. "But once I met with the guys and could spend some time understanding them and they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear that this was a great opportunity I couldn't miss. "I think Toyota will be up there or thereabouts. We need to earn our stripes and there'll be a lot of work, but it's a very exciting time for the group." Brad Jones Racing's defection to Toyota comes amid a General Motors rebuild following competition heavyweight Triple Eight's shock move to rival Ford. The remaining Chevrolet teams are Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and new homologation team Team 18. Out of the four, only Erebus has won a drivers' and teams' championship. General Motors are also pondering the future of the Camaro, after production ceased last year, and a possible extension to 2027 with Supercars. Toyota will be the first manufacturer other than Ford and General Motors to race in the competition since 2019, when Nissan pulled out of the category. The automotive giant is no stranger to Australia's touring cars circuit, with the GR Cup, featuring Toyota 86 coupes, a longtime support category on the Supercars track. The brand also competes in many motorsport events around the world, including NASCAR and Formula Drift in the United States, Super GT and Super Formula in Japan and Formula Three in Europe. Toyota have unveiled Brad Jones Racing as their second Supercars outfit, leaving General Motors down to four teams for the 2026 season. Brad Jones Racing joins Toyota's testing team Walkinshaw Andretti United in making the jump to the GR Supra. The outfit currently fields four Chevrolet Camaros, driven by Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones. The Supra model has been redesigned in-house to feature a five-litre V8 engine. "I'm a creature of habit, and so change is not always easy," Brad Jones told Fox Sports. "But once I met with the guys and could spend some time understanding them and they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear that this was a great opportunity I couldn't miss. "I think Toyota will be up there or thereabouts. We need to earn our stripes and there'll be a lot of work, but it's a very exciting time for the group." Brad Jones Racing's defection to Toyota comes amid a General Motors rebuild following competition heavyweight Triple Eight's shock move to rival Ford. The remaining Chevrolet teams are Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and new homologation team Team 18. Out of the four, only Erebus has won a drivers' and teams' championship. General Motors are also pondering the future of the Camaro, after production ceased last year, and a possible extension to 2027 with Supercars. Toyota will be the first manufacturer other than Ford and General Motors to race in the competition since 2019, when Nissan pulled out of the category. The automotive giant is no stranger to Australia's touring cars circuit, with the GR Cup, featuring Toyota 86 coupes, a longtime support category on the Supercars track. The brand also competes in many motorsport events around the world, including NASCAR and Formula Drift in the United States, Super GT and Super Formula in Japan and Formula Three in Europe. Toyota have unveiled Brad Jones Racing as their second Supercars outfit, leaving General Motors down to four teams for the 2026 season. Brad Jones Racing joins Toyota's testing team Walkinshaw Andretti United in making the jump to the GR Supra. The outfit currently fields four Chevrolet Camaros, driven by Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones. The Supra model has been redesigned in-house to feature a five-litre V8 engine. "I'm a creature of habit, and so change is not always easy," Brad Jones told Fox Sports. "But once I met with the guys and could spend some time understanding them and they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear that this was a great opportunity I couldn't miss. "I think Toyota will be up there or thereabouts. We need to earn our stripes and there'll be a lot of work, but it's a very exciting time for the group." Brad Jones Racing's defection to Toyota comes amid a General Motors rebuild following competition heavyweight Triple Eight's shock move to rival Ford. The remaining Chevrolet teams are Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and new homologation team Team 18. Out of the four, only Erebus has won a drivers' and teams' championship. General Motors are also pondering the future of the Camaro, after production ceased last year, and a possible extension to 2027 with Supercars. Toyota will be the first manufacturer other than Ford and General Motors to race in the competition since 2019, when Nissan pulled out of the category. The automotive giant is no stranger to Australia's touring cars circuit, with the GR Cup, featuring Toyota 86 coupes, a longtime support category on the Supercars track. The brand also competes in many motorsport events around the world, including NASCAR and Formula Drift in the United States, Super GT and Super Formula in Japan and Formula Three in Europe.
West Australian
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Toyota lands second Supercars team for 2026 season
Toyota have unveiled Brad Jones Racing as their second Supercars outfit, leaving General Motors down to four teams for the 2026 season. Brad Jones Racing joins Toyota's testing team Walkinshaw Andretti United in making the jump to the GR Supra. The outfit currently fields four Chevrolet Camaros, driven by Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones. The Supra model has been redesigned in-house to feature a five-litre V8 engine. "I'm a creature of habit, and so change is not always easy," Brad Jones told Fox Sports. "But once I met with the guys and could spend some time understanding them and they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear that this was a great opportunity I couldn't miss. "I think Toyota will be up there or thereabouts. We need to earn our stripes and there'll be a lot of work, but it's a very exciting time for the group." Brad Jones Racing's defection to Toyota comes amid a General Motors rebuild following competition heavyweight Triple Eight's shock move to rival Ford. The remaining Chevrolet teams are Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and new homologation team Team 18. Out of the four, only Erebus has won a drivers' and teams' championship. General Motors are also pondering the future of the Camaro, after production ceased last year, and a possible extension to 2027 with Supercars. Toyota will be the first manufacturer other than Ford and General Motors to race in the competition since 2019, when Nissan pulled out of the category. The automotive giant is no stranger to Australia's touring cars circuit, with the GR Cup, featuring Toyota 86 coupes, a longtime support category on the Supercars track. The brand also competes in many motorsport events around the world, including NASCAR and Formula Drift in the United States, Super GT and Super Formula in Japan and Formula Three in Europe.
Perth Now
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Toyota lands second Supercars team for 2026 season
Toyota have unveiled Brad Jones Racing as their second Supercars outfit, leaving General Motors down to four teams for the 2026 season. Brad Jones Racing joins Toyota's testing team Walkinshaw Andretti United in making the jump to the GR Supra. The outfit currently fields four Chevrolet Camaros, driven by Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Bryce Fullwood and Macauley Jones. The Supra model has been redesigned in-house to feature a five-litre V8 engine. "I'm a creature of habit, and so change is not always easy," Brad Jones told Fox Sports. "But once I met with the guys and could spend some time understanding them and they took me through their vision, it seemed very clear that this was a great opportunity I couldn't miss. "I think Toyota will be up there or thereabouts. We need to earn our stripes and there'll be a lot of work, but it's a very exciting time for the group." Brad Jones Racing's defection to Toyota comes amid a General Motors rebuild following competition heavyweight Triple Eight's shock move to rival Ford. The remaining Chevrolet teams are Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport and new homologation team Team 18. Out of the four, only Erebus has won a drivers' and teams' championship. General Motors are also pondering the future of the Camaro, after production ceased last year, and a possible extension to 2027 with Supercars. Toyota will be the first manufacturer other than Ford and General Motors to race in the competition since 2019, when Nissan pulled out of the category. The automotive giant is no stranger to Australia's touring cars circuit, with the GR Cup, featuring Toyota 86 coupes, a longtime support category on the Supercars track. The brand also competes in many motorsport events around the world, including NASCAR and Formula Drift in the United States, Super GT and Super Formula in Japan and Formula Three in Europe.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Car Theft Ring Stole $3 Million in Chargers, Challengers & Other Muscle Cars, Cops Say
A large-scale 'chop shop' auto theft ring in California that specialized in stealing high-performance domestic vehicles, including Chevrolet Camaros and various Dodge Hellcat models, has been shut down, according to the Fresno Police Department. Seven arrests have been made so far, with 110 felony counts levied against them; two additional suspects are still being sought. Over the past six months, the Fresno Police Department's Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCATT) has been investigating an auto theft ring responsible for stealing powerful performance cars, the department said in a Facebook post. The investigation eventually led them to a couple of large-scale 'chop shops' located in Huntington Park and Fresno, CA. Police said they identified 75 stolen cars, including Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Durangos, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawks, Chevrolet Camaros and unnamed Infiniti models. The vehicles are estimated to be worth more than $3 million in total. Multiple firearms, including illegal short-barrel rifles, were also found. According to a 2023 report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Dodge muscle cars were the most stolen vehicles for the 2020-2022 model years. Theft claims for the Charger Hellcat were more than 60 times more frequent than the average for all 2020-22 models, relative to their numbers on the road. The Hemi-powered Charger and Challenger models have been among the top five most stolen vehicles since 2011. The two outstanding suspects still being sought in connection to this recently busted car theft ring are 20 year-old Julian Calderon and 22 year-old Jordan Rios, police say. Anyone with information regarding auto theft in the Fresno area can call the CCATT tip line at 559-621-CCAT (2228), or email CCATT at ccatt@ You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
