For the first time ever, the NASCAR Cup Series will take to the streets this weekend. On Sunday, the likes of William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., and Ross Chastain will wind their way in the Windy City for the NASCAR Chicago street race, the Grant Park 220 (5:30 pm ET, NBC).
This season’s NASCAR Cup Series schedule features plenty of normal oval races, but there are five road-course races, the Chicago street race, and the Bristol dirt race. Such races are a nice break from the usual stuff and provide a different challenge for the drivers.
So, it will certainly be an intriguing event, and it should draw a great deal of NASCAR betting interest, given that it is a new race.
Who are the best bets to take the checkered flag in Chicago? Read on for our Grant Park 220 predictions and picks. First though, let’s take a look at the odds for the race.
NASCAR Chicago Street Race Odds – Odds to Win the 2023 Grant Park 220
Odds are via BetOnline as of Friday, June 30, 2023 at 9:40 am ET.
- Chase Elliott +575
- Tyler Reddick +650
- A.J. Allmendinger +750
- Martin Truex Jr. +775
- Kyle Larson +850
- Kyle Busch +1000
- William Byron +1200
- Ross Chastain +1200
- Chris Buescher +1800
- Michael McDowell +1800
- Shane van Gisbergen +2200
- Christopher Bell +2500
- Daniel Suarez +2500
- Austin Cindric +2800
- Denny Hamlin +3300
- Joey Logano +3300
- Ryan Blaney +4000
- Ty Gibbs +4000
- Kevin Harvick +5000
- Alex Bowman +5000
NASCAR Chicago Street Race Predictions and Picks
At last week’s Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, Ross Chastain picked up his first win since his Talladega win in April 2022. Chastain became only the third polesitter to win this season, following Joey Logano in Atlanta and Kyle Busch at the Enjoy Illinois 300.
In the process, he denied Martin Truex Jr. back-to-back wins after Truex took the checkered flag at the Toyota/Save Marto 350 at Sonoma.
Entering the Grant Park 220, Truex leads the NASCAR Cup Series season points standings by 18 over Byron and Chastain, while Byron sits atop the projected playoffs standings, a point ahead of Truex and four ahead of Busch.
NASCAR Cup Series 2023 Standings
Season Points Standings
- Martin Truex Jr. – 576 points
- William Byron – 558
- Ross Chastain – 558
- Christopher Bell – 531
- Kyle Busch – 528
Projected Playoffs Standings
- William Byron – 2027 points
- Martin Truex Jr. – 2026
- Kyle Busch -2023
- Ross Chastain – 2018
- Kyle Larson – 2014
With his win at Sonoma, Truex became just the seventh driver to own five or more wins on road courses, joining Jeff Gordon (nine), Tony Stewart (eight), Chase Elliott (seven), Ricky Rudd (six), Rusty Wallace (six), Bobby Allison (five), Tim Richmond (five), and Darrell Waltrip (five).
Taking a look at the Grant Park 220 odds, the top road racers on the circuit are understandably the favorite to win on the Chicago street course.
Elliott was my pick to win in Sonoma, and he led seven laps and finished fifth, a week after being sidelined for the Enjoy Illinois 300 due to suspension.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion is still chasing his first win of the season–his most recent victory was at Talladega last October–but when he has been on the track this season, he has been closer to the front for the most part.
In ten points-paying races, Elliott has five top-five finishes, two other top-ten finishes, and finishes of 11th and 12th. To date, his lone finish outside of the top 12 is a 38th-place finish at the season-opening Daytona 500.
So, it seems like it is only a matter of time before he wins, but will it be this week? I have picked Hendrick Motorsports drivers for each of the last four races–Byron (Coca-Cola 600), Larson (Enjoy Illinois 300), Elliott (Toyota/Save Mart 350), and Larson again (Ally 400).
But for the Grant Park 220, I’m switching things up and picking someone else, even though Byron, Elliott, or Larson will likely end up in Victory Lane, because of course.
Over his last four races, Truex has finished third, fifth, first, and second, and he has five other top-ten finishes and two 11th-place finishes this season.
He has also been a strong qualifier, starting fifth, eighth, and sixth over the last three races and inside the top 12 in eight of the last ten races.
Strong qualifying has been key this season, with 12 of the 16 race winners having started tenth or better. If Truex has another quality qualifying run on Saturday afternoon, that will only further enhance his value as a great pick for the win.
Where to Bet on the Grant Park 220
The NASCAR Chicago street race betting odds mentioned in this article came from BetOnline.ag, but they aren’t the only sports betting site out there offering Cup Series odds.
There are a number of online sportsbooks that are good for betting on NASCAR, but the above books are four that we highly recommend.