Chicago Street Race Rounds Out On-Site Food Offerings with Three
Chicago-Staples for Its First-Ever Street Race During Fourth of July Weekend
CHICAGO (June 15, 2023) – Today, NASCAR announced new partnerships with Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Garrett Popcorn Shops, and Vienna Beef, to bring these three Chicago icons to the inaugural Chicago Street Race Weekend. The race weekend, which is expected to draw 100,000 people from every corner of the globe, will feature a two-day racing and music festival that will highlight local Chicago cuisine, art, entertainment, and culture on a national and international scale.
“Chicago is one of the top food tourism destinations in the world for good reason, and these three brands are must-haves for anyone who wants to experience what the Chicago food scene is all about,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “Whether our guests are coming in from across the street or across the pond, Lou Malnati’s, Garrett Popcorn, and Vienna Beef will help us provide them with the quintessential Chicago food experience throughout race weekend.”
Lou Malnati's, Garrett Popcorn, and Vienna Beef will all bring their world-famous flavors, including deep dish pizza, Garrett Mix popcorn, and Chicago dogs to racegoers at several locations throughout the Grant Park footprint.
Lou Malnati’s is considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, dating back to 1971. Still family-owned, the company is famous for its authentic, family recipe deep dish pizza with its signature buttery, flaky crust. Lou’s has grown to 80 locations across Chicagoland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Phoenix, and ships its pizzas nationwide through its website.
“From one iconic brand to another, we’re thrilled to partner with NASCAR to create the ultimate deep dish pizza experience here on the streets of Chicago. As racing fans across the globe descend upon our hometown, we’re honored to serve them our authentic deep dish, whether in one of our local restaurants or at the ground-breaking racing event,” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. “NASCAR fans are legendary themselves, and we can’t wait to welcome them into Deep Dish Nation. The Chicago Street Race is sure to be iconic, and we’re revved up with excitement to be a part of it.”
The Chicago Street Race weekend is already set to welcome travelers from 50 states, 14 countries, and five continents to Chicago for the first-ever street race in NASCAR’s 75-year history. The race is expected to generate more than $113 million in economic impact for the city of Chicago, including local restaurants, hotels, and family-owned businesses.
Garrett Popcorn Shops was started by a female entrepreneur, who developed the now-famous recipes in her family kitchen. To this day, they continue their proud traditions of hot-air popped kernels, CaramelCrisp cooked in copper kettles, and finished recipes that are hand-scooped to order.
“Garrett Popcorn is proud to sponsor such an important event for the City of Chicago and to be the Official Gourmet Popcorn of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race,” said Lance Chody, Owner of Garrett Brands. “This event will attract fans to our great city from near and far; we’re happy to help represent the very best of Chicago. Garrett Popcorn will be available on-site to delight fans, old and new, and contribute to delivering an exciting and fabulous experience for all.”
These offerings will be in addition to the wide array of options provided by the official food and beverage partner of the Chicago Street Race, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, who will showcase a variety of signature Chicago items from RPM Restaurants, Bub City, Sushi-san, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Summer House, Hub 51, The Oakville Grill & Cellar, and Tallboy Taco.
Making food memories since 1893, Vienna Beef found fame at the World’s Fair/Columbian Exposition, when two brothers debuted their sausages, made according to their Austrian-Hungarian roots. The Chicago Style Hot Dog became an institution during the Great Depression, thanks to its bounty of condiments and five-cents price tag. Today, Vienna Beef products are made right at home in Chicago, in small batches according to their traditional recipes.
“Vienna Beef has been serving Chicago hot dogs from the first horse-powered wagon in Chicago to today’s 700 horse-powered NASCAR,” said Timothy O’Brien, President, Vienna Beef. “We are excited to participate on the inaugural race in this great city.”
To learn more about Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, visit www.loumalnatis.com. For more information on Garrett Popcorn Shops, visit www.garrettpopcorn.com. To learn more about Vienna Beef, visit www.viennabeef.com.
Chicago Street Race
As part of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season, 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.
General admission and reserved tickets are on sale for the Chicago Street Race. Two-day general admission tickets start at $269 and reserved tickets that offer an array of opportunities including reserved seating and a wide variety of premium experiences start at $465. To purchase tickets, fans can log onto NASCARChicago.com or call 1-888-629-7223.
The Grant Park 220 will be nationally broadcast on NBC on Sunday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT and The Loop 121 will be broadcast nationally on USA Network at 5:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. CT.
To stay up to date with the Chicago Street Race, fans can subscribe to receive exclusive Chicago Street Race emails, follow @NASCARChicago on Twitter and Facebook and download the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest real-time updates on all aspects of the event.
About Chicago Street Race
The Chicago Street Race is the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race. Located in downtown Chicago, the event will take competitors past and through many of the city’s most renowned downtown landmarks on Michigan Avenue, South Columbus Drive, South Lake Shore Drive and the start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain. The Cup Series will be joined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival headlined by Miranda Lambert, The Chainsmokers, Charley Crockett, and The Black Crowes over the Fourth of July Weekend on July 1-2, 2023. For more information, visit NASCARChicago.com.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
About Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is a family-owned company famous for deep dish pizza and staying true to the original Chicago-style pizza recipe. The company stresses consistency in quality, service, and food, offered in a unique environment by a staff that is committed to one another, the customer, and the community. Lou Malnati’s is passionate about pizza, people and proud to support the local communities they serve one deep dish at a time. There are over 75 locations in the Chicagoland area, Arizona, Indiana, and Wisconsin. A member of the Malnati family has been running the business since it started in 1971. The Malnati’s signature deep dish is made from a secret family recipe that has been handed down through four generations. The Passion Runs Deep. For the latest dish, visit https://www.loumalnatis.com/.
About Garrett Popcorn Shops®, A Chicago Tradition Since 1949
For over seven decades, Garrett Popcorn Shops® has served gourmet popcorn using wholesome ingredients in their secret family recipes, passed down for generations. Custom grown, non-GMO butterfly and mushroom kernels are first hot-air popped in their kitchens, then enriched with flavor in seasoned, old-fashioned Copper Kettles. Because good things take time, Garrett Popcorn is handcrafted in small batches throughout the day for ultimate freshness. Signature recipes include the fan-invented, original Chicago-style popcorn, Garrett Mix®, which blends the sweetness of CaramelCrisp® with the savory goodness of CheeseCorn; plus Buttery (a vegan treat!), Plain, CheeseCorn; and CaramelCrisp. For more information including Shop and grocery locations, or to order online, visit www.GarrettPopcorn.com or call 1-888-4-POPCORN.
About Vienna Beef
Making food memories since 1893, Vienna Beef manufactures and distributes Hot Dogs and Sausages following its time-honored original recipes, with premium domestic beef hickory-smoked for authentic flavor. Austrian-Hungarian immigrants Emil Reichel and Samuel Ladany introduced their family Frankfurter recipe at the legendary Columbian Exposition/World’s Fair and the same recipe is still used 130 years later. The company also produces Pickles and Condiments, Soups and Chilis, Deli Meats, and other premium top-quality foods, distributed throughout the United States. Vienna Beef products are available at Hot Dog stands and restaurants, retail stores, online, and at the company’s factory store in Chicago.
Contact:
Brent S. Gambill
NASCAR Communications
704-348-9740
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