By Jerry Jordan, Editor
Add Xfinity to the official “founding partners” list of major companies that have signed on to support the Chicago Street Race in July. The move was announced Thursday morning, barely a month away from the green flag for the sport’s first-ever street race.
McDonalds, along with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, are already founding partners of the event and the addition of Xfinity further strengthens NASCAR’s move into the Windy City. As part of the deal, Xfinity will have marketing rights, as well as, presentation and promotional rights for the race that will include its 10G branding prominently displayed in Turn 10 and at other locations around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn course. Blue Cross and Blue Shield will have prominent branding at the start/finish line near Buckingham Fountain. McDonald’s will also have branding near the start/finish lines but also at the fan entrances and concert stages among other locations.
The green flag falls at 4 p.m. on July 1 for the Xfinity Series race and at 4:30 p.m. on July 2 for the Cup Series. Tickets for the race are selling well with race fans confirmed from nearly every state and, at least, six countries.
“Whenever we want to do something bold to advance the sport and the fan experience, Xfinity has always been there to help us move NASCAR forward,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “The Founding Partner model is really unique to the Chicago Street Race, and we can’t think of a better organization to add to this incredible list of partners for our first-ever street race.”
The weekend will feature the NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 220 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 121. The latest partnership is another move by Xfinity to show its belief in NASCAR’s future.
“The Chicago Street Race is an incredible moment in NASCAR history, and we can’t think of a better platform to showcase the Xfinity 10G Network and Xfinity Mobile with the iconic Chicago skyline as a backdrop,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President, Xfinity Brand Partnerships.
Already a sponsor of NASCAR’s second tied racing series since 2015, Xfinity stepped up four years ago and became one of NASCAR’s premiere partners as the sanctioning body began focusing on its own NASCAR branding rather than using a single entitlement sponsorship as it had for decades. Officials have said the move helped NASCAR’s partners play a larger role in the sport.
“Over the last nine years, NASCAR and Xfinity have become intrinsically linked, and this announcement represents the next step in that proud partnership,” said Jeff Wohlschlaeger, SVP, Chief Sales Officer, NASCAR. “This is an opportunity to showcase our wonderful Founding Partners like Xfinity to a global audience of millions in a brand-new setting here in Chicago.”
Xfinity and the Chicago Street Race have committed to share future announcements on the organizations’ collaborative support for programs that will have a positive and lasting impact in the Chicago community, according to the release announcing the deal.