NASCAR Declares Cole Custer Winner of Inaugural Loop 121 Race
In a surprising turn of events, NASCAR officials have decided to end the final 28 laps of the inaugural Loop 121 race and declare Cole Custer the winner. The decision was made after the race was postponed due to lightning and heavy rain in Chicago.
Custer had been leading the Xfinity Series race on Saturday before the weather forced officials to halt the event. With only 24 laps completed, the race was set to resume on Sunday morning. However, due to the heavy rain and flooding on different sections of the road course, officials had to cancel the remainder of the race.
Initially, there was consideration given to moving the race to Monday. However, after consulting with city officials, NASCAR officials decided against this option. “Throughout the entire planning process for the Chicago Street Race, our relationship with the city of Chicago has been strong and among the most valuable assets in reaching this historic weekend,” NASCAR officials said in a statement. “In the spirit of that partnership, returning on Monday for the completion of a NASCAR Xfinity Series event two laps short of halfway was an option we chose not to employ.”
One of the main concerns with moving the race to Monday was the impact it would have on the city. Around the construction of the course, significant street closures were necessary, and Chicago officials had planned to reopen northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive on Sunday night following the conclusion of the Cup Series event. Postponing the race to Monday would have required longer closures, which officials wanted to avoid.
As a result, Cole Custer has been crowned the winner of the inaugural Loop 121 race. While some may question the decision to end the race early, NASCAR officials believe it was the best course of action given the circumstances. Fans and drivers alike will have to wait until the next race to see if Custer can maintain his winning streak.