Please select your home edition
Edition
V-DRY-X

SailGP set to return to Chicago's Skyline Stadium - plus NASCAR 'Water to Wheels' challenge

by Will Gaudet 25 May 2023 00:34 PDT 16-17 June 2023
NASCAR, SailGP Kick Off Chicago Summer Racing Season with Helmet Swap, Water to Wheels Challenge © SailGP

Navy Pier, Chicago's two hottest racing properties - SailGP and the NASCAR Chicago Street Race - joined forces to kick off the summer of racing in Chicago and announce a 'Water to Wheels' challenge with a ceremonial helmet swap between U.S. SailGP Team Athlete Cooper Dressler and Julie Giese, NASCAR Chicago Street Race President, and joined by Kara Bachman, executive director of the Chicago Sports Commission.

The challenge will include putting each sport's athletes to a speed 'test' to determine which feels more thrilling: flying over Lake Michigan on SailGP's turbo-charged, hydrofoiling F50 at 60 mph, or the racing through downtown Chicago in a NASCAR stock car in the simulator. The challenge, which will include NASCAR Xfinity Series driver and NBC Sports analyst Parker Kligerman and the U.S. SailGP Team, is set to take place during the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix's training day, June 15.

The 'Water to Wheels' speed challenge will kick off SailGP's Season 4 opener on Friday and Saturday, June 16-17 when the identical F50 catamarans will take over Lake Michigan in "Chicago's Skyline Stadium" (between Navy Pier and the Adler Planetarium).

SailGP is one of the fastest emerging sports properties in the world, featuring the best athletes in the sport representing national teams from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland. Chicago is the only event on the global calendar that will be raced on fresh water.

"Chicago is ready-made for racing, whether on water right in front of the skyline, or on the streets when NASCAR roars around downtown," said Dressler. "Race fans should get ready for some great action this summer, and personally I can't wait to see the reaction of Parker when he experiences what it feels like to take a turn on our F50 at the force of 3G's. This will be a fun challenge."

In turn, NASCAR's Giese enthusiastically responded with: "On behalf of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, we accept SailGP and Cooper's challenge. Let the racing begin! And make no mistake: no matter who crosses the finish line first, the city of Chicago itself will be the star of the show."

Navy Pier will be the central race village for SailGP's spectator-focused racing, hosting a great party atmosphere for Chicagoans, including live music, DJs, premium food and beverage experiences, fan shops, and fireworks. Additional "bring your own boat" packages are available, plus behind-the-scenes opportunities to check out the SailGP Technical Base. TIckets are on sale now at SailGP.com/ChicagoSailGP.com/Chicago

The first-ever Chicago Street Race Weekend will feature the NASCAR Cup Series' Grant Park 220 and NASCAR Xfinity Series' The Loop 121 competing on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course, along with full-length concerts by The Chainsmokers and Miranda Lambert with the support of The Black Crowes and Charley Crockett over Fourth of July Weekend on July 1-2.

To purchase two-day general admission or reserved tickets, visit NASCARChicago.com or call 1-888-629-7223.

Related Articles

Were the Roos Robbed in Portsmouth?
We discuss the Race 6 Penalty with SailGP's Chief Umpire Craig Mitchell The high speed, short course action of SailGP is thrilling to watch, but inevitably causes tight situations and means the Umpires have to react quickly to decide who is right and who is wrong. Posted on 22 Jul
A Day at the Races
What's it like to attend a SailGP event? On Sunday I went to the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth, sitting in the grandstand and filming with the usual camera I use for interviews to try and give you a taste of the action and atmosphere from the shoreside. Posted on 21 Jul
Black Foils steal Brits' home win
On SailGP Portsmouth debut It was not to be for Dylan Fletcher's Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as Peter Burling's Black Foils cinched victory in Portsmouth, bumping New Zealand to the top of the 2025 Season leaderboard. Posted on 20 Jul
SailGP Day 2: Black Foils score an emphatic win
Black Foils (NZL) won the Final of Emirates SailGP in Portsmouth, with a come from behind win. New Zealand's Black Foils won the Final of Emirates SailGP in Portsmouth, with a come from behind win, in the Final to eclipse the home team and Switzerland. Posted on 20 Jul
Emirates GBR storm to top of event leaderboard
After Day One of SailGP Portsmouth debut Hometown glory for Dylan Fletcher's Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as they lead the fleet after a picture perfect opening day of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth. Posted on 19 Jul
SailGP Portsmouth: Brits nail it on Day 1
Olympic Gold medalist Dylan Fletcher led his team to top the leaderboard after Day 1 The French team broke their wingsail before the start of Race 1 and are likely to be out of the regatta before it starts. Posted on 19 Jul
Emirates GBR tops Impact League standings
SailGP team wins second focus area - Accelerating Inclusion SailGP has announced the winners of the second Focus Area of its industry-leading Impact League - Emirates GBR SailGP Team - as the home-team and defending Impact League champions get set for an epic weekend of racing in Portsmouth, July 19-20. Posted on 19 Jul
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators. Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s. Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP Technologies officially launches
New center of excellence in technology & innovation in Southampton, UK SailGP today marks the official opening of SailGP Technologies – the global racing championship's center of innovation, design, and engineering, based out of Southampton, UK. Posted on 17 Jul
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSea Sure 2025Zhik 2024 December