On July 6, 2025, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney competed in the Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course, describing it as his toughest road course challenge in NASCAR. After finishing 12th in the 75-lap road race, Blaney explained the unique difficulties of this demanding street circuit and how it tests drivers’ skills like no other track.
Blaney drove the #12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and qualified 17th out of the top 20 starters, recording a best lap time of 90.89 seconds and reaching a top speed of 87.14 mph. He was 1.23 seconds behind the pole winner, Shane van Gisbergen from New Zealand, who set a fastest time of 89.66 seconds and topped out at 88.34 mph.
Ryan Blaney Describes the Demands of the Chicago Street Course
Speaking about the experience during a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview, Blaney highlighted the technical difficulty and mental toughness required to compete on the rough, narrow streets of Chicago.
“I enjoy it. I enjoy the challenge of it. I mean, it’s tough. I think, I think Chicago is the toughest road course we go to, just because, you know, it’s people always ask me, like, what’s challenging about I’m like, well, just, you know, the roads are rough. Everything’s super rough, trying to figure out the bumps, and it’s so narrow, like there’s nowhere to bail. Like, if you kind of get in the corner too hot, smoke it in there, and you get bouncing real hard on your blocks or something, or on the shock limiters. Like, there’s no gravel trap or grass to run off to,” Blaney explained. —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
“There’s little runoffs. Like, you hope you can get slowed down, like, into four if you bail early enough, and there’s a couple others, but there’s just no room for error, like, and you have to run that place so technically correct, like, very precise, and trying to carry speed, and these tight little sections, you know. So it’s, like, really mentally challenging for me,” he concluded. —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Blaney emphasized how the track’s limited runoffs and tight corners create a constant pressure to perform flawlessly, as even small mistakes result in severe consequences. This places a premium on precision and careful management of speed, challenging even experienced NASCAR drivers.
Race Outcome and Uncertainty About Future Events at Chicago Street Course
The Grant Park 165 marked the final NASCAR race held at the Chicago Street Course under the current contract. With no announcement made about the venue for next year’s race, the future of the event remains uncertain. Despite the challenging conditions, Blaney’s solid P12 finish added valuable points to his season tally.
Ryan Blaney Responds to Criticism Over NASCAR Viewership Figures
Recently, Blaney addressed concerns raised by journalist Jeff Gluck about low television ratings for the EchoPark Speedway race, which drew about 1.6 million viewers. Gluck had suggested these numbers were disappointing for NASCAR, but Blaney offered a contrasting view by comparing them to Formula One’s Austrian Grand Prix viewership.
Blaney pointed out that NASCAR attracted roughly 500,000 more viewers than F1 in the United States for similar weekend events, underscoring the sport’s strong audience engagement despite criticisms.
“”So, we got 500k more folks tuned in. Why do people make it out to be a bad thing? We crush the parade every week, so why do we get down in the dumps by this? Nascar is currently crushing it,” stated the Hartford, Ohio, native. —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Blaney’s Performance in the Current NASCAR Cup Series Season
Through 19 starts in this season, Ryan Blaney has secured a top-10 position in the Cup Series standings, ranking seventh with 539 points. His results include one victory at Nashville Superspeedway, along with eight top-ten finishes and seven top-fives, demonstrating consistent competitiveness amid a tightly contested championship battle.
As the NASCAR season progresses, Blaney’s ability to adapt to demanding circuits like the Chicago Street Course and defend the sport’s reputation points to his growing role as a key figure within Team Penske and the broader racing community.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has Ryan Blaney ever won Talladega?
A. Blaney secured an eighth-place finish at the Charlotte Roval, which allowed him to move on to the Round of 12. In the close Talladega fall race, he beat Ryan Newman by just 0.007 seconds. Even though he had an early spin onto pit road, this win pushed him into the Round of 8.
Q. Has Ryan Blaney won at Talladega?
A. Blaney claimed victory in the Talladega fall race by narrowly beating Ryan Newman by just 0.007 seconds. This victory advanced him to the Round of 8, even though he had an earlier spin onto pit road.