- Year after year, Grant Park's pastoral purpose has been eclipsed by mega events leading some to say, "our front yard is overbooked," especially in summer.

There's Lollapalooza, Blues Fest, Taste of Chicago and the thunderous sound of NASCAR.

(engines rumbling) Just another quiet evening on the lakefront.

When the NASCAR Chicago Street race was announced, there was initial resistance, even anger.

People worried about traffic and the impact on the park.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot had to play defense.

- Why was it important to bring NASCAR to your city?

- I think it's gonna be one of the most iconic race courses maybe ever.

- [Geoffrey Voiceover] And after the second year of NASCAR, the jury was still out.

But to those who think race cars don't belong on the waterfront, there is historical precedent.

(upbeat retro music) America's very first auto race started a few miles down the lakefront in Jackson Park on Thanksgiving Day, 1895.

Only six cars competed, four were gasoline powered, and two were electric.

Only two cars finished due to a surprise snowstorm and mechanical problems.

The winner completed the 50-mile course to Evanston and back in just over 10 hours with an average speed of about 5 miles an hour.

At the Chicago Street race, NASCAR drivers hit top speeds of well over 100 miles per hour.

- You want to take a picture of all of you guys?

- Daniel Suarez is one of NASCAR's top drivers.

So when you're out there racing, like do you do any sightseeing?

Like, "Oh look, it's Buckingham Fountain?"

- Oh no, no, no, no.

For me the fountain is corner number 8 and 9.

I don't see them.

- [Geoffrey] I don't look for the fountain.

- Oh no, no, no, no.

That's corner 8 and 9 this weekend.

- Here we are, how about it?

- There's the guy right here.

- Come on right in here.

Where are you from?

- I'm from Elgin.

- So I'm from Houston.

My son lives in Chicago.

- Have you ever been to a car race before?

- Yesterday I went as well because I got tickets from school.

- Have you ever been to a NASCAR race?

- This is my first NASCAR race.

- Really!

Well, whaddya think about having a race in the middle of a park?

- It's pretty cool, once in a lifetime thing, Lake Shore Drive!

- You're going to be driving on these streets next week.

And you're going to be thinking, man!

Daniel was running 170 miles right here.

(laughs) - That is 100% what I thought last year.

I could see, like, tire marks and things and I'm like, "they were just here racing right on this street!"

- And that's going to happen to you and a million other people.

So that's why I think that street racing is amazing.