NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Added Another Page To Our History

NASCAR and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace during Bubba’s Block Party at Douglass Park. Photo provided by NASCAR.
NASCAR and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace during Bubba’s Block Party at Douglass Park. Photo provided by NASCAR.

NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Added Another Page To Our History 

Bubba’s Annual Block Party Celebration In Douglass Park Was A Great Hit

By Tia Carol Jones

Before NASCAR’s Grant Park 165 took to the streets of Chicago, Bubba Wallace hosted his annual Bubba’s Block Party at Douglass (Anna and Frederick) Park, located at 1401 S. Sacramento, on the city’s West side.

This was the second year the event took place in Chicago. Last year, Bubba’s Block Party took place at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Washington Park on the city’s South side. The event, which is hosted by the 23XI Racing driver, is a nationwide community initiative.

 The family-friendly event featured Black-owned food vendors, businesses and resources. People were able to learn about the history of NASCAR, drive in a racing simulation and see a demonstration from a pit crew. Musical artist Twista provided live entertainment.

Wallace got into racing because his dad asked if he wanted to do it and he said he was up for it. He became competitive after a handful of races and kept climbing the ladder. With every rung on the ladder, the harder the competition was and now he is at the rung on the ladder where he is competing in NASCAR and currently ranked No. 17 in the Cup Series standings.

During a press conference, Wallace said he was happy that there was such a huge turnout for the event. He added that he believed the event would help bring awareness to the sport. Then, he talked about being at Grant Park’s 165 in 2023.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the city. Being able to wake up and walk out the door of the hotel, right outside the racetrack. That was cool, that was a different vibe,” he said. He said there is a different vibe being on a street course.

Wallace said being at Douglass Park and being able to interact with people and being able to expand visibility of the sport to Black people and people of color is what the event is all about. He said Chicago is a diverse city where people love cars, and he is happy to be able to highlight the avenues and opportunities NASCAR provides from the drivers to the pit crew and beyond.

“The drivers are made to look like superheroes every Sunday, but you got to look at how we get to the track and how our cars are able to perform and the tools we are given to perform with. It’s all because of the men and women behind the scenes that make it all happen,” he said. There are a lot of different avenues people can get involved with in NASCAR he said.

Wallace said it was cool to see young children at the event and it was a humbling experience to see the crowd come out to the event. He said representation matters.

“For me, I feel like I carry a responsibility. I am different looking than my competitors and I feel welcome when I go to the racetrack … but I don’t know if that’s the same feeling fans from different backgrounds get when they are at the race. I feel it’s my responsibility to make them feel more welcome and more comfortable,” he said.

Alex Bowman won the Grant Park 165 after the rain delays.

For more information about NASCAR, visit nascar.com.

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