The 2025 Chicago Street Race took a wild turn late in the race when a caution flag waved, not for a crash, but for a spectator medical emergency. NASCAR had to halt the race to get an ambulance across the track, right as Shane van Gisbergen passed Chase Briscoe.
The pause gave Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace a chance to save fuel, but it sparked a firestorm among fans who saw it as a glaring flaw in the street course setup. The incident exposed the logistical mess of racing on Chicago’s tight urban circuit, and fans let loose on social media.
Caution to get an ambulance to cross the track.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 6, 2025
One fan didn’t mince words: “Get off these stupid f—— street courses. No place for this. We’re not F1.” Street races like Chicago’s, with narrow streets and tight corners, aren’t built for stock cars. The urban layout makes emergency access a nightmare, unlike ovals with infield roads.
Another fan chimed in: “I have never seen a caution like that before.” On traditional tracks, ambulances zip through dedicated paths without stopping the show. Chicago’s street course, with no such infrastructure, forced NASCAR to hit pause, a jarring first for many.
Frustration wasn’t just about the caution. “I hope you mention this coverage on the TearDown it’s been Horrible…What’s wrong with Blaney And Bell,” one viewer fumed. Fans slammed the TNT broadcast for missing key moments, a recurring gripe with Fox’s coverage known for cutting away from critical action.
Another fan vented: “Good lord nascar you couldn’t have planned an alternate f—— route.” Emergency plans, like movable barriers and trackside ambulances, are standard, but the fixed concrete walls and lack of service lanes make quick access tricky, as noted by Chicago officials.
The broadcast took more heat: “So dumb that they went to commercial before taking a couple seconds to explain the caution.” Fans craved clarity on the unusual stoppage, but TNT’s commercial break left them hanging, a move that’s fueled past complaints about sloppy coverage.
Finally, one fan looked ahead, “I think this is something they gotta think about for San Diego or wherever. Whoever absolutely needs to be able to be transported, but gotta strategize how to not disrupt future races doing it.”
NASCAR’s medical director has stressed hitting incidents in 15–20 seconds, but street courses like Chicago force tough choices between safety and race flow. With 2025 possibly Chicago’s last street race, this scare’s a wake-up call for future city circuits.
This is a developing story.
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