Heavy rains flood Chicago roads and force NASCAR to cut short a downtown street race

Chicago Roads Flooded, Forcing NASCAR to Shorten Downtown Street Race

Chicago was hit by heavy rains on Sunday, causing severe flooding in the city’s streets and leading NASCAR officials to cancel the latter half of an Xfinity Series race scheduled to take place in the downtown area.

The National Weather Service issued a warning about the potentially life-threatening nature of the flooding, which resulted in numerous roads becoming impassable, creeks and streams overflowing, and basements being flooded across the Chicago region. By midday, suburban areas like Cicero and Berwyn had received up to 6 inches of rainfall, as reported by the NWS website. By the evening, most flood warnings had expired.

Due to the flooding, the Illinois State Police closed sections of Interstate 55 and Interstate 290. On Interstate 55 near Pulaski Road, a major north-south route within the city, at least 10 cars became trapped in the floodwaters. Train services were also disrupted in some parts of Chicago.

In other news, Shane van Gisbergen claimed victory in his NASCAR Cup Series debut, marking an unforgettable finish to the series’ first-ever street race. Meanwhile, Alex Palou secured his third consecutive IndyCar race win with a triumph at Mid-Ohio. Additionally, Cole Custer was declared the winner of the NASCAR Xfinity Series after persistent rain rendered the race impossible to complete. Tragically, a NASCAR contractor lost his life in an incident involving electrocution at the Chicago Street Race.

Katera Fisher experienced her car floating when she attempted to drive through the high waters. Recounting the event, Fisher told WLS-TV, “My initial instinct was to exit the vehicle. However, upon opening the door, water began flooding into the car, submerging my feet.”

Originally, NASCAR officials intended to resume the Xfinity Series race on Sunday morning after Saturday’s suspension due to lightning. However, they made the decision to cancel the race during the midday hours due to ongoing rain. Consequently, Cole Custer was announced as the winner.

Subsequently, NASCAR’s Cup Series race commenced through the streets of downtown Chicago on Sunday afternoon.

The start of the Chicago Cubs’ afternoon game against the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field remains delayed.

Ricky Castro, a meteorologist at the NWS’ Chicago office in suburban Romeoville, explained that a storm system was lingering over the area instead of moving east. This allowed the system to draw moisture from the atmosphere, resulting in heavy rainfall. Castro further highlighted that the abundance of concrete in the metropolitan region prevents the rainwater from seeping into the ground, ultimately causing flooding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about flooding

More about flooding

• Chicago Tribune – Heavy rains flood Chicago roads and force NASCAR to cut short a downtown street race
• National Weather Service – Chicago, IL
• NBC Chicago – Flooding from Heavy Rains Snarls Chicago Area Roads
• ESPN – NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Chicago shortened by rain
• ABC7 Chicago – NASCAR contractor dies after being electrocuted at Chicago Street Race
• WLS-TV – Rain, flooding in Chicago area: Flooding forces NASCAR to cut short race; drivers, fans take cover