Live from Chicago: All the updates from NASCAR's street race weekend

Welcome to Chicago.

NASCAR is in town and, for the first time in Cup Series history, we will race on a street course. Nestled in the heart of downtown Chicago, the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course in Grant Park hosts both the NASCAR Cup Series (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET, NBC) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, USA Network).

Cars will zoom down Lake Shore Drive, pass by Buckingham Fountain, jockey for position on Michigan Avenue.

This weekend isn’t just a race, though. It’s an experience as NASCAR embraces the city of Chicago with weekend concerts, a night at Wrigley Field and a Bubba Wallace Block Party event, just to name a few.

We’ll provide live updates throughout this historic weekend, so bookmark this page and come back often.

RELATED: Chicago Street Race 101 | Full weekend schedule

All times listed are Eastern.

Sunday, July 2

3 p.m.: Next up is the main event, the Grant Park 220, scheduled to begin just after 5 p.m. ET. As a reminder, Denny Hamlin will lead the Cup Series field to the green. Take a look at our guide on what to watch for later today.

1:45 p.m.: Standing water and flooding in Chicago will end The Loop 121 early, and the Xfinity Series cars won‘t resume today. Cole Custer is declared the race winner after 25 laps. It‘s Custer‘s 12th series victory, and he‘ll go into the record books as the winner of the first-ever Xfinity Series street race.

Today‘s NASCAR Cup Series race is still on schedule to begin at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

12:15 p.m.: Things are still on hold in terms of on-track activity while the course is cleared of standing water. Drivers are seated in their cars waiting for the good word.

11:30 a.m.: The gates are open, the teams are preparing their cars for liftoff, and a restart is on deck.

11 a.m.: It‘s a wet one in Chicago, but that‘s what rain tires are for. Cars are now expected to roll off the grid in a half hour or so.

10:05 a.m.: First up, at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network, the Xfinity Series will pick up at where things left off yesterday. Cole Custer‘s had command of the race so far with John Hunter Nemechek in second.

And — just saying — the two of them have a bit of history battling door-to-door for wins on road courses. In a 2016 Craftsman Truck Series race at Ontario‘s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Nemechek put the bumper (and then some) to Custer for the win … and Custer responded in the form of a swift takedown that would make a Bears offensive tackle proud.

I don‘t want to start anything, but beef that‘s seven years old is still beef.

10 a.m.: Good morning! There‘s a full day of racing and merriment ahead in Chicago.

Saturday, July 1

8:40 p.m.: What a day — and we‘ve got a full plate of Windy City action tomorrow.

8:10 p.m.: We‘ll pick the racing back up tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and the NBC Sports App.

Yes, that means two checkered flags will wave Sunday, with the Cup Series‘ Grant Park 220 going green at 5 p.m. ET just hours after the conclusion of the Xfinity Series event.

The weather has also forced the cancelation of non-racing festivities, including the post-race concert featuring The Chainsmokers.

7:05 p.m.: The racing action is in weather delay. When we‘re back at it, Cole Custer looks to continue his early strong run at the point.

5:45 p.m.: University of Chicago alum Andre Castro‘s Xfinity Series debut came to an abrupt end when his Chevrolet landed in the Turn 1 tire barrier.

5:40 p.m.: So far, it‘s been the Cole Custer show. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver collects the Stage 1 win after starting from pole position.

5:20 p.m.: It‘s a quick end of the day for Justin Marks, who had set the fastest time in practice earlier today. It seems the engine expired on the No. 10 on Lap 4, and the caution is out for cleanup. Time to grab a Chicago-style hot dog, perhaps?

5:06 p.m.: Green flag! The Loop 121 is underway and NASCAR‘s officially racing on the streets of Chicago. Names are made in the Xfinity Series — and so is history.

4:55 p.m.: The Tate Brothers deliver that oh-so-important command to fire up those engines. Time to go racing! Follow along on USA Network with our live leaderboard or NASCAR Mobile.

4:45 p.m.: Xfinity Series pre-race ceremonies are underway! Roman Banks delivered a beautiful performance of the national anthem.

4:20 p.m.: The Black Crowes are rockin‘ the place at the Mobil 1 Stage.

4:05 p.m.: One hour until the stars of the Xfinity Series hit the streets for The Loop 121 — the first time we‘ll see door-to-door racing for position in Chicago. Cole Custer will lead the field to the green (full lineup). Catch the race at 5 p.m. ET on USA Network.

3:55 p.m.: What a tense qualifying shootout! It looked like Shane van Gisbergen might have walked off with the Busch Light Pole Award in his first-ever attempt, but last-second charges by Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin bumped SVG down the chart as time expired.

Hamlin will start from pole position after posting a blazing 88.435-second lap; he‘ll go down in history as the first-ever pole winner on a street course in the NASCAR Cup Series. The last-second fast lap was reminiscent of Hamlin‘s most recent pole, which came at Sonoma last month when the No. 11 rocketed to the top of the leaderboard as time expired.

3:40 p.m.: After some cleanup for a Kevin Harvick crash, 10 drivers have 10 minutes to set a fast time. The 10 who advanced are Daniel Suárez, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, AJ Allmendinger, Jenson Button, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Christopher Bell, Michael McDowell and Joey Logano.

3:15 p.m.: Uh oh. Chase Elliott stuffs it in the Turn 8 wall while working on setting a fast qualifying time. Shane van Gisbergen, just ahead of the No. 9 on the track, won‘t get to complete his qualifying lap. Elliott‘s car was towed back to the pit area once the driver climbed out.

2:45 p.m.: Let‘s set this lineup, shall we? The field is split into two group-qualifying sessions that span 15 minutes each. The top five drivers from each session will advance to the final 10-minute round of qualifying, where the inaugural Grant Park 220 Busch Light Pole Award winner will be crowned.

2:25 p.m.: That‘s it for Cup Series practice. Shane van Gisbergen topped the fast-lap charts, fending off Denny Hamlin and Jenson Button. What a trio! And let us again note that this is SVG‘s first-ever NASCAR event. Quite the quick learner.

2:05 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the first Cup Series driver to go to a backup car after a practice crash entering Turn 8.

1:50 p.m.: Shane van Gisbergen! The Supercars standout driving in the Project 91 entry for Trackhouse has quickly jumped to the top of the leaderboard in practice. This is his first time racing in NASCAR. We‘ll see how the Cup Series regulars respond to the speedy No. 91 as the session continues.

1:35 p.m.: How about we get some Cup Series cars roaring around this place? Practice is on deck; catch it on USA Network.

1:05 p.m.: Cole Custer wins the first-ever pole on a street course in NASCAR! With a lap of 90.421 seconds, he‘ll roll off in first place in The Loop 121 when the Xfinity Series takes the green flag just after 5 p.m. ET today. Custer won at Portland International Raceway last month.

1 p.m.: While going for the pole position, Sheldon Creed crashes. Creed had set the second-fastest lap in the final round of qualifying, and now the No. 2 team is likely facing a move to a backup car — and starting at the back of the field.

12:15 p.m.: Time to set the lineup for this afternoon‘s Xfinity Series race. The first of two qualifying groups is on track now; the fastest five drivers from each round will advance to a final 10-minute round of hot laps. Quickest lap in the final round earns pole position for this afternoon‘s race.

11:50 a.m.: That‘ll do it for the lone Xfinity Series practice! Justin Marks set the fastest lap time, going a bit quicker on slick tires in the second half of the session. Qualifying for today‘s The Loop 121 happens next.

11:30 a.m.: Xfinity Series practice has slowed for a battery on the course from the No. 92 car — the first break in the action so far. It‘s been an intriguing 20 minutes of on-track time, watching drivers translate their iRacing laps and track walks into wheeling around the real thing. Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks, in a rare one-off driving appearance in the Kaulig Racing No. 10 car, has set the fastest time with 15 minutes of practice remaining.

When action resumes, drivers will put on slick tires as the track has dried; we‘ll see if Marks‘ speedy lap holds up.

11:10 a.m.: No big deal. Just watching stock cars roaring at full song down Columbus Drive.

11:00 a.m.: This is not a drill. Cars have headed onto the track! Catch Xfinity Series practice on USA Network or follow along with Race Center or NASCAR Mobile. With some raindrops in the sky, the cars are racing with wet-weather considerations; you‘ll notice flashing red lights on the cars and treaded rain tires.

10:45 a.m.: Some lovely finishing touches. Darius Dennis, folks.

9:30 a.m.: Morning! There‘s racing in Chicago today. The NASCAR Xfinity Series cars take to the street at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local time) for practice and qualifying, airing on USA Network. It‘ll be the first time we‘ll see stock cars making laps at full speed on this beautiful course.

Friday, June 30

11 p.m.: Can you believe we‘ll have cars on track (well, on the street) when the sun comes up tomorrow morning? We‘ll leave you on this Friday night with some evening reading on how the Chicago street course came together and what drivers are expecting (hint: a lot of the unexpected).

5:30 p.m.: Here’s “The Bowman” … twice. A bus tour of the track provided quite the view of this statue, which is called “The Bowman.” Moments later, the driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Ally Chevrolet popped into view.

4:45 p.m.: Cars take to the track for the first time tomorrow. For now, drivers and teams are walking the course to get the lay of the land. (We‘ve also got a turn-by-turn guide and a video tour if you want to follow along.)

2:00 p.m.: Teams are unloading their NASCAR Xfinity Series cars … on Lake Shore Drive.

12:15 p.m.: A beautiful sight, don‘t you think?

11:30 a.m.: Here come the haulers! Race cars have entered the building. And by the building, I mean the track area. It‘s really happening.

Thursday, June 29

9:45 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads a singing-driver trio with Harrison Burton and John Hunter Nemechek in baseball‘s classic “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Nailed it, fellas. The Cubs, though, would go on to lose 3-1, despite Stenhouse‘s request to score some more runs. 

8:10 p.m.: John Hunter Nemechek starts off the Cubs game with the first pitch. Play ball! 

7:45 p.m.: It‘s NASCAR Night at Wrigley Field! The Philadelphia Phillies are in town to play the Chicago Cubs amidst plenty of NASCAR-themed fanfare.

2 p.m.: Getting those finishing touches in place.

Wednesday, June 28

8 p.m.: How to be the coolest kid on the block? Attend Bubba’s Block Party. Several thousand did just that, taking in time with Bubba, listening to Lupe Fiasco, watching live pit stops and playing on iRacing simulators. All at the historic DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, too.

Tuesday, June 27

8 p.m.: At Navy Pier, fans and stars of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series took it to the virtual #NASCARChicago streets. This weekend, it’s the real deal.

Monday, June 26

8:08 p.m.: How about a little track walk? The on-track action is five days away, but the course is really coming into shape. And how about that famous skyline as the backdrop?

RELATED: Chicago Street Race 101 | Full weekend schedule