Alex Bowman snapped an 80-race drought by winning the rain-shortened Grant Park 165 in Chicago, securing a spot in the Cup Series playoffs as the 12th different winner this season. Kyle Larson earned the pole position for the race and remains atop the driver standings, closely followed by Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick. Shane van Gisbergen, who won the inaugural event last year, was knocked out of the race after a collision but had earlier won the Xfinity Series race. This year's event saw significant street closures in Chicago, with mixed reactions from local businesses due to the disruption. Organizers expect a diverse crowd with favorable weather conditions aiding the race's competitiveness and fan experience.