2025 Grant Park 165 post-qualifying preview & betting picks

NASCAR Chicago Post-Qualifying Preview

The NASCAR Cup Series roars back onto the streets of Chicago this Sunday for the 2025 Grant Park 165, and Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) has once again proven why he’s the king of street circuits. The Kiwi ace dominated qualifying with a blistering 1:29.656 lap—nearly half a second quicker than Spire’s Michael McDowell—to claim his second Cup Series pole of the season, on top of his Xfinity Series pole and Saturday win.

Van Gisbergen is chasing a rare double after capturing Saturday’s Xfinity race with a late pass and has now won three of the five NASCAR races ever run on Chicago’s streets. His confidence and track knowledge, combined with double-duty track time, make him a formidable favorite for Sunday’s 75-lap race with the top online sportsbooks.

However, Chicago’s unique street circuit is notorious for delivering chaos, and the storylines bubbling beneath the surface promise plenty of drama. Rain remains in the forecast, meaning wet tires could become the wild card that flips the order once again—just as in the inaugural 2023 race.

Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, has suffered a brutal weekend. All four cars—including points leaders William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott—will start from the rear after practice crashes and repairs. Defending Chicago winner Alex Bowman, though 11th in qualifying, also heads to the back after repairs. That sets the stage for a massive charge through the field from the sport’s biggest names.

Further intrigue comes from the strong showing of underdogs like Spire Motorsports, with McDowell and Carson Hocevar both qualifying inside the top three. Toyota’s Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top five, confirming that this street circuit might be less predictable than ever.

Sunday’s race also doubles as Round 2 of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, where drivers battle for a $1 million payday—and valuable playoff points—on one of the series’ most treacherous layouts.

With narrow corners, bumpy streets, looming rain, and Cup stars buried deep in the grid, this year’s Grant Park 165 has the makings of another wild Chicago thriller.

Grant Park 165 Betting Odds

• Shane van Gisbergen – +110
• Michael McDowell – +850
• Tyler Reddick – +850
• Ty Gibbs – +1100
• Christopher Bell – +1100
• Carson Hocevar – +1600
• Chris Buescher – +1600
• Chase Briscoe – +2000
• Kyle Larson – +2000
• Kyle Busch – +2200
• Alex Bowman – +2200
• William Byron – +3000
• Chase Elliott – +3300
• AJ Allmendinger – +4000
• Ryan Preece – +6600
• Will Brown – +8000
• Ross Chastain – +10000
• Joey Logano – +12500
• Ryan Blaney – +12500
• Daniel Suarez – +12500
• Austin Dillon – +12500
• Brad Keselowski – +25000
• Austin Cindric – +25000
• Katherine Legge – +25000
• Josh Bilicki – +50000
• Cody Ware – +50000
• Ty Dillon – +50000
• Erik Jones – +50000
• Austin Hill – +50000
• Riley Herbst – +50000
• Noah Gragson – +50000
• Zane Smith – +50000
• John H. Nemechek – +50000
• Bubba Wallace – +50000
• Cole Custer – +50000
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr – +50000
• Todd Gilliland – +50000
• Justin Haley – +50000
• Josh Berry – +50000
• Denny Hamlin – +50000

More odds available at

Shane van Gisbergen to win

SVG has been untouchable this weekend, grabbing both poles and taking Saturday’s Xfinity win with style. His Trackhouse Chevy looks planted through the bumpy braking zones, and his late-race aggression is perfect for Chicago’s restart chaos. While +110 is short at , it’s hard to fade the king of street racing given how much speed he’s shown in both series. If it’s dry or wet, SVG is the man to beat.

NASCAR Grant Park 165 betting predictions

Michael McDowell top-3 finish

Michael McDowell is no stranger to road and street course success, and his front-row start proves Spire has a car capable of mixing it with the big dogs. He’s quietly become one of the sport’s top non-superstar road racers. Starting P2 offers him clean air, critical on this narrow circuit. He’s a strong shout for a podium at +175 odds with .

Kyle Larson Top-5 Finish

Despite a rough weekend for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson is the one driver who could still emerge from the back to claim a solid result. He qualified 14th before his team opted for repairs, sending him to the rear. His street-course talent is undeniable, and he won’t shy away from big moves in traffic. A top-five bet balances the risk of his deep start with the reality that he’s one of NASCAR’s best on street layouts. His value at +170 with is worth backing.

NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 Qualifying Results