Driving Access With the NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend
July 15, 2024
For a second year in a row, rain delayed the finish of the Grant Park 165 Cup Series race that capped NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the fans.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a founding partner of the event, engaged race fans with games and health education at pop-up sites inside and outside the ticketed area.
“It’s a proud moment for us to support Chicago and NASCAR,” said BCBSIL President Stephen Harris. “Our whole mission in partnering with NASCAR is to drive access, and this year we focused on driving access to behavioral health programs in the city.”
As part of a mutual commitment to make a positive impact in Chicago communities beyond the race weekend, BCBSIL and NASCAR Chicago made $30,000 contributions to Ada S. McKinley Community Services and Family Focus to support mental health services and resources for families.
BCBSIL also recognized some of the city’s hometown heroes with exclusive access to Saturday’s race and festival. Members of the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and the Department of Streets and Sanitation were selected by their leaders to walk the track a day ahead of the event and received passes to attend.
Chicago Police Department Officer Margaret Corcoran shakes hands with NASCAR Cups Series Driver Bubba Wallace.
During the track walk, the guests got a surprise visit from Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace, who added their names to the back of his car for the race
A pop-up Blue Door Neighborhood CenterSM on the festival grounds gave race fans a look at BCBSIL’s history in the city of Chicago and statewide and the resources available at its three BDNC locations in Morgan Park, Pullman and South Lawndale.
Nicaya Rapier, manager and health educator at the BNDC in South Lawndale, greeted race fans and offered to take their photos as they posed with a NASCAR pace car. Afterward, she handed them cards and invited them to participate in a scavenger hunt to find NASCAR and BCBSIL facts for prizes.
Nicaya Rapier holds up a scavenger hunt card for an event attendee.
“One of my favorite parts of events like this is hanging out with the folks, giving them high fives, taking pictures with them — really getting them excited about what’s offered by the Blue Door Neighborhood Center,” Rapier said.
In addition to the hometown heroes, BCBSIL invited more than 20 community-based organizations the company works with to improve health and opportunities in Chicago communities. The guests packed the stands near the second turn of the track. They cheered and took photos and videos with their phones as cars sped by.
Among them was Helen Zorn, a development associate with the nonprofit A Safe Haven, whose mission is to restore hope and opportunity to people experiencing homelessness by providing treatment, housing and support services. “The partnership with BCBSIL is fantastic,” Zorn said. “And it’s very cool to be here.”
(Left to right) Hector Villalobos, his kids and scout troops Liliana and Leonardo Villalobos, and friend Jorge Santiago and his kids and scout troops Kristian and Casandra Santiago pose for a photo near a NASCAR pace car.
Hector Villalobos, leader of Boy Scout Troop 1439 in Chicago’s Clearing neighborhood, said he and his scouts looked forward to taking in everything the weekend had to offer — races, cars, music and food.
“The kids didn’t really know what to expect, but they wanted to come,” he said. “The concerts are awesome and a great add-on experience. It’s been an excellent opportunity. They’re never going to have an experience like this again.”
